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doing。 His father had no influence over him at all； whilst Uncle
Samuel could make him do whatever he wantedand this； as Aunt Amy
said； 〃was really a pity。〃
〃It's a good thing he's going to school in September；〃 sighed his
mother。 〃He's getting out of women's hands。〃
Mary longed with feverish longing to share in his adventures。 If
only he would tell her what he did on these walks of his。 But no；
only Hamlet knew。 Perhaps； if he did not go with the dog he would go
with her。 When this idea crept into her brain she seized it and
clutched it。 That was all he wanteda companion！ Were Hamlet not
there he would take her。 Were Hamlet not there。 。 。 She began to
brood over this。 She wandered。 。 。 She considered。 She shuddered at
her own wickedness； she tried to drive the thoughts from her head；
but they kept coming。
After all； no one need know。 For a day or two Jeremy would be sorry
and then he would forget。 She knew the man who went round selling
dogsselling dogs and buying them。
She shuddered at her wickedness。
III
The last days of August came； and with them the last week of the
holiday。 Already there was a scent of autumn in the air； leaves were
turning gold and red； and the evenings came cool and sudden； upon
the hot summer afternoons。 Mary was not very well； she had caught a
cold somewhere； and existed in the irritating condition of going out
one day and being held indoors the next。 This upset her temper； and
at night she had nightmares； in which she saw clouds of smoke
crawling in at her window； snakes on the floor； and crimson flames
darting at her from the ceiling。 It was because she was in an
abnormal condition of health that the idea of doing something with
Hamlet had gained such a hold upon her。 She considered the matter
from every point of view。 She did not want to be cruel to the dog；
she supposed that after a week or two he would be quite happy with
his new master； and； in any case； he had strolled in so casually
upon the Cole family that he was accustomed to a wandering life。
She did not intend that anyone should know。 It was to be a deep
secret all of her own。
Jeremy was going to school in September； and before then she must
make him friendly to her again。 She saw stretching in front of her
all the lonely autumn without him and her own memories of the
miserable summer to make her wretched。 She was an extremely
sentimental little girl。
As always happens when one is meditating with a placated conscience
a wicked deed； the opportunity was suddenly offered to Mary of
achieving her purpose。 One morning Jeremy； after refusing to listen
to one of Mary's long romances； lost his temper。
〃I can't stop；〃 he said。 〃You bother and bother and bother。 Aunt Amy
says you nearly make her mad。〃
〃I don't care what Aunt Amy says；〃 Mary on the edge of tears
replied。
〃Hamlet and I are going out。 And I'm sick of your silly old
stories。〃 Then he suddenly stopped and gazed at Mary； who was
beginning； as usual； to weep。
〃Look here； Mary； what's been the matter with you lately？ You're
always crying now or something。 And you look at me as though I'd
done something dreadful。 I haven't done anything。〃
〃Ineversaid youhad；〃 Mary gulped out。 He rubbed his nose in a
way that he had when he was puzzled。
〃If it's anything I do； tell me。 It's so silly always crying。 The
holidays will be over soon； and you've done nothing but cry。〃
〃You'reneverwith menow；〃 Mary sobbed。
〃Well； I've been busy。〃
〃You haven't。 You can't be busy allby yourself。〃
〃Oh； yes； you can。〃 He was getting impatient。 〃Anyway； you might let
Hamlet and me alone。 You're always bothering one of us。〃
〃No； I'm not。〃 She choked an enormous sob and burst out with： 〃It's
always Hamlet now。 I wish he'd nevercome。 It was much nicer
before。〃
Then he lost his temper。 〃Oh； you're a baby！ I'm sick of you and
your nonsense；〃 he cried； and stamped off。
In Mary's red…rimmed eyes； as she watched him go； determination
grew。
It happened that upon the afternoon of that same day Miss Jones
announced that she would take Mary for a walk； then； just as they
passed through the farm gates； Hamlet； rushing out； joined them。 He
did not often honour them with his company； despising women most
especially when they walked； but to…day his master was busy digging
for worms in the vegetable garden； and； after a quarter of an hour's
contemplation of this fascinating occupation； he had wandered off in
search of a livelier game。 He decided to join Miss Jones； he could
do what he pleased； he could amuse himself with her ineffectual
attempts to keep him in order； and he could irritate Mary； so he
danced along； with his tail in the air； barking at imaginary rats
and poking his nose into hedges。
Mary； with a sudden tightened clutching of the heart； realised that
her hour was upon her。 She felt so wicked as she realised this that
she wondered that the ground didn't open up and swallow her； as it
had done with those unfortunate people in the Bible。 But no； the
world was calm。 Little white milky clouds raced in lines and circles
across the sky； and once and again a leaf floated from a tree； hung
for a moment suspended； and then turned slowly to the ground。 The
hedges were a dark black…green； high and thick above the dusty road；
there had been no rain for weeks。 Truly a stable world。 Mary；
glaring at Fate； wondered how it could be so。
Miss Jones； who was happy and optimistic to…day； talked in a
tenderly reminiscent tone of her youth。 This vein of reminiscence
Mary； on her normal day； loved。 To…day she did not hear a word that
Miss Jones said。
〃I remember my mother saying so well to my dear brother： 'Do what
you like； my boy。 I trust you。' And indeed Alfred was to be trusted
if ever a boy was。 It is a remarkable thing； but I cannot remember a
single occasion of dishonesty on Alfred's part。 'A white lie；' he
would often say； 'is a lie； and a lie is a sinwhite or black；
always a sin'； and I remember that he would often put mother to a
serious inconvenience by his telling callers that she was in when
she had wished it to be said that she was not at home。 He felt it
his serious duty； and so he told Mother。 'Don't ask me to tell a
lie； Mother；' I remember his saying。 'I cannot do it。'〃
〃Like George Washington；〃 said Mary； suddenly catching the last
words of Miss Jones's sentence。
〃He was like many famous characters in history； I used to think。
Once I remember reading about Oliver Cromwell。 。 。 〃Where is that
dog？ Hamlet！ Hamlet！ Perhaps he's gone after the sheep。 Ah！ there he
is！ Hamlet； you naughty dog！〃
They were approaching one of their favourite pieces of country
Mellot Wood。 Here； on the wood's edge； the ground broke away；
running down in a field of corn to a little green valley with
clustered trees that showed only their heads； so thickly embedded
were they； and beyond the valley the sea。 The sea looked quite close
here； although it was in reality four miles distant。 Never was such
a place as this view for light and shadow。 The clouds raced like the
black wings of enormous birds across the light green valley； and the
red…gold of the cornfield was tossed in