按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
us in violent hysterics about every two months； having learned the
tragedy from the tradespeople； and naturally 〃seen a somethink〃
immediately afterward。
Still it is a pleasant house； and I can now almost forgive the
landlord for what I shall always consider an act of gross selfishness
on his part。
In the country； even so near town； a next…door neighbor is something
more than a mere numeral； he is a possible acquaintance； who will at
least consider a new…comer as worth the experiment of a call。 I soon
knew that 〃Shuturgarden；〃 the next house to our own； was occupied by a
Colonel Currie； a retired Indian officer； and often； as across the low
boundary wall I caught a glimpse of a graceful girlish figure flitting
about among the rose…bushes in the neighbouring garden； I would lose
myself in pleasant anticipations of a time not too far distant when
the wall which separated us would be （metaphorically） levelled。
I rememberah； how vividly！the thrill of excitement with which I
heard from my mother； on returning from town one evening； that the
Curries had called； and seemed disposed to be all that was neighbourly
and kind。
I remember； too； the Sunday afternoon on which I returned their call
alone； as my mother had already done so during the week。 I was
standing on the steps of the colonel's villa； waiting for the door to
open； when I was startled by a furious snarling and yapping behind；
and； looking round； discovered a large poodle in the act of making for
my legs。
He was a coal…black poodle； with half of his right ear gone； and
absurd little thick moustaches at the end of his nose； he was shaved
in the shamlion fashion； which is considered； for some mysterious
reason； to improve a poodle； but the barber had left sundry little
tufts of hair； which studded his haunches capriciously。
I could not help being reminded； as I looked at him； of another black
poodle； which Faust entertained for a short time with unhappy results；
and I thought that a very moderate degree of incantation would be
enough to bring the fiend out of this brute。
He made me intensely uncomfortable； for I am of a slightly nervous
temperament； with a constitutional horror of dogs； and a liability to
attacks of diffidence on performing the ordinary social rites under
the most favourable conditions； and certainly the consciousness that a
strange and apparently savage dog was engaged in worrying the heels of
my boots was the reverse of reassuring。
The Currie family received me with all possible kindness。 〃So charmed
to make your acquaintance； Mr。 Weatherhead；〃 said Mrs。 Currie； as I
shook hands。 〃I see；〃 she added； pleasantly； 〃you've brought the
doggie in with you。〃 As a matter of fact； I had brought the doggie in
at the ends of my coat…tails； but it was evidently no unusual
occurrence for visitors to appear in this undignified manner； for she
detached him quite as a matter of course； and as soon as I was
sufficiently collected we fell into conversation。
I discovered that the colonel and his wife were childless； and the
slender willowy figure I had seen across the garden wall was that of
Lilian Roseblade； their niece and adopted daughter。 She came into the
room shortly afterward； and I felt； as I went through the form of an
introduction； that her sweet； fresh face； shaded by soft masses of
dusky…brown hair； more than justified all the dreamy hopes and fancies
with which I had looked forward to that moment。
She talked to me in a pretty； confidential； appealing way； which I
have heard her dearest friends censure as childish and affected； but I
thought then that her manner had an indescribable charm and
fascination about it； and the memory of it makes my heart ache now
with a pang that is not all pain。
Even before the colonel made his appearance I had begun to see that my
enemy； the poodle； occupied an exceptional position in that household。
It was abundantly clear by the time I took my leave。
He seemed to be the centre of their domestic system； and even lovely
Lilian revolved contentedly around him as a kind of satellite； he
could do no wrong in his owner's eyes； his prejudices （and he was a
narrow…minded animal） were rigorously respected； and all domestic
arrangements were made with a primary view to his convenience。
I may be wrong； but I cannot think that it is wise to put any poodle
upon such a pedestal as that。 How this one in particular； as ordinary
a quadruped as ever breathed； had contrived to impose thus upon his
infatuated proprietors； I never could understand； but so it was； he
even engrossed the chief part of the conversation； which after any
lull seemed to veer round to him by a sort of natural law。
I had to endure a long biographical sketch of him；what a society
paper would call an 〃anecdotal photo；〃and each fresh anecdote seemed
to me to exhibit the depraved malignity of the beast in a more glaring
light； and render the doting admiration of the family more astounding
than ever。
〃Did you tell Mr。 Weatherhead； Lily； about Bingo〃 （Bingo was the
poodle's preposterous name） 〃and Tacks？ No？ Oh； I /must/ tell him
that； it'll make him laugh。 Tacks is our gardener down in the village
（d' ye know Tacks？）。 Well； Tacks was up here the other day； nailing up
some trellis…work at the top of a ladder； and all the time there was
Master Bingo sitting quietly at the foot of it looking on； wouldn't
leave it on any account。 Tacks said he was quite company for him。
Well； at last； when Tacks had finished and was coming down； what do
you thing that rascal there did？ Just sneaked quietly up behind and
nipped him in both calves and ran off。 Been looking out for that the
whole time！ Ha； ha！deep that； eh？〃
I agreed； with an inward shudder； that it was very deep； thinking
privately that； if this was a specimen of Bingo's usual treatment of
the natives； it would be odd if he did not find himself deeper still
beforeprobably /just/ beforehe died。
〃Poor； faithful old doggie！〃 murmured Mrs。 Currie； 〃he thought Tacks
was a nasty burglar； didn't he？ He wasn't going to see master robbed
was he？〃
〃Capital house…dog； sir；〃 struck in the colonel。 〃Gad； I shall never
forget how he made poor Heavisides run for it the other day！ Ever met
Heavisides of the Bombay Fusileers？ Well； Heavisides was staying here；
and the dog met him one morning as he was coming down from the bath…
room。 Didn't recognise him in 'pajamas' and a dressing…gown； of
course； and made at him。 He kept poor old Heavisides outside the
landing window on top of the cistern for a quarter of an hour； till I
had to come and raise the siege！〃
Such were the stories of that abandoned dog's blunderheaded ferocity
to which I was forced to listen； while all the time the brute sat
opposite me on the hearth…rug； blinking at me from under his shaggy
mane with his evil； bleared eyes； and deliberating where he would have
me when I rose to go。
This was