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jeremy-第10部分
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very vague idea as to the nature of a play; they had often dressed
up at home and pretended to be different things and people; and; of
course; he knew by heart the whole history of Dick Whittington; but
this knowledge and experience did not in the least force him to
realise that this performance of Mr。 Denny's was simply a larger;
more developed 〃dressing up〃 and pretending。 In some mysterious but
nevertheless direct fashion Dick Whittington was coming to
Polchester。 It was just as he had heard for a long time of the
existence of Aunt Emily who lived in Manchesterand then one day
she appeared in a black bonnet and a shawl; and gave them wet kisses
and sixpence apiece。
Dick Whittington was coming; having perhaps heard that Polchester
was a very jolly place。 So might come any day Jack of the Beanstalk;
Cinderella; Queen Victoria; and God。
There were questions meanwhile that he would like to ask; but he was
already a victim to that properly English fear of making a fool of
himself; so he asked nothing。 He dragged out his toy village and
tried to make it a bridge in his imagination between the nursery and
Whittington's world。 As the village opened a door from the nursery;
so might Whittington open a door from the village。
He considered Hamlet and wondered whether he knew anything about it。
Hamlet; in spite of his mongrel appearance; was a very clever dog。
He had his especial corners in the garden; the kitchen and the
nursery。 He never misbehaved; was never in the way; and was able to
amuse himself for hours together。 Although he attached himself quite
deliberately to Jeremy; he did this in no sentimental fashion; and
in his animosities towards the Jampot; Aunt Amy and the boy who
helped with the boots and the knives; he was always restrained and
courteous。 He did indeed growl at Aunt Amy; but always with such a
sense of humour that everyone (except Aunt Amy) was charmed; and he
never actually supported the children in their rebellions against
the Jampot; although you could see that he liked and approved of
such things。 The Jampot hated him with a passion that caused the
nursery to quiver with emotion。 Was he not the cause of her
approaching departure; his first appearance having led her into a
tempest of passion that had caused her to offer a 〃notice〃 that she
had never for an instant imagined would be accepted? Was he not a
devilish dog who; with; his quiet movements and sly expressions; was
more than human? 〃Mark my words;〃 she said in the kitchen; 〃there's
a devil in that there animal; and so they'll find before they're
many years older'Amlet indeeda 'eathenish name and a 'eathenish
beast。〃
Her enemy had discovered that in one corner of the nursery there
were signs and symbols that witnessed to something in the nature of
a mouse or a rat。 That nursery corner became the centre of all his
more adventurous instincts。 It happened to be just the corner where
the Jampot kept her sewing machine; and you would think; if you came
to the nursery as a stranger; and saw him sitting; his eyes fixed
beamingly upon the machine; his tail erect; and his body here and
there quivering a little; that from duties of manly devotion he was
protecting the Jampot's property。 She knew better; she regarded; in
some undefined way; this continued contemplation by him of her
possessions as an ironical insult。 She did everything possible to
drive him from the corner; he inevitably returned; and as he always
delicately stepped aside when she approached; it could not be said
that he was in her way。 Once she struck him; he looked at her in
such a fashion that 〃her flesh crept。〃 。 。 。 She never struck him
again。
For Jeremy he became more and more of a delight。 He understood so
much。 He sympathised; he congratulated; he sported; always at the
right moment。 He would sit gravely at Jeremy's feet; his body
pressed against Jeremy's leg; one leg stuck out square; his eyes
fixed inquisitively upon the nursery scene。 He would be motionless;
then suddenly some thought would electrify himhis ears would cock;
his eyes shine; his nose quiver; his tail tumble。 The crisis would
pass; he would be composed once more。 He would slide down to the
floor; his whole body collapsing; his head would rest upon Jeremy's
foot; he would dream of cats; of rats; of birds; of the Jampot; of
beef and gravy; of sugar; of being washed; of the dogs' Valhalla; of
fire and warmth; of Jeremy; of walks when every piece of flying
paper was a challenge; of dogs; dogs that he had known of when he
was a puppy; of doing things he shouldn't; of punishment and wisdom;
pride and anger; of love…affairs of his youth; of battle; of
settling…down; of love… affairs in the future; again of cats and
beef; and smellssmellssmells; again of Jeremy; whom he loved。
And Jeremy; watching him now; thus sleeping; and thinking of Dick
Whittington; wondered why it was that a dog would understand so
easily; without explanations; the thoughts and desires he had; and
that all grown…up people would not understand; and would demand so
many explanations; and would laugh at one; and pity one; and despise
one。 Why was it? he asked himself。
〃I know;〃 he suddenly cried; turning upon Helen; 〃it can be your
birthday treat!〃
〃What can?〃 she asked。
〃Why; going to Dick Whittingtonall of us。〃
Helen had; most unfortunately for herself; a birthday only a week
after Christmas; the result being that; in her own opinion at any
rate; she never received 〃proper presents〃 on either of those two
great present…giving occasions。 She was always allowed; however; a
〃treat〃; her requests were generally in the nature of food; once of
a ride in the train; once even a visit to the Polchester Museum。 。 。
It was difficult in those days to find 〃treats〃 in Polchester。
〃Oh; do you think they'd let us?〃 she said; her eyes wide。
〃We can try;〃 said Jeremy。 〃I heard Aunt Amy say the other day that
she didn't think it was right for children to see acting; and Mother
always does the opposite to what Aunt Amy says; so p'r'aps it will
be all right。 I wish Hamlet could go;〃 he added。
〃Don't be silly!〃 said Helen。
〃It isn't silly;〃 Jeremy said indignantly。 〃It's all about a cat;
anyway; and he'd love to see all the rats and things。 He wouldn't
bark if we told him not to; and I held his collar。〃
〃If Aunt Amy sat next him he would;〃 said Mary。
〃Oh; bother Aunt Amy;〃 said Jeremy。
After this Helen needed a great deal of urging; but she heard that
Lucy and Angela; the aforesaid daughters of the Dean; were going;
and the spirit of rivalry drove her forward。
It happened that the Dean himself one day said something to Mr。 Cole
about 〃supporting a very praiseworthy effort。 They are presenting; I
understand; the proceeds of the first performance to the Cathedral
Orphanage。〃
Helen was surprised at the readiness with which her request was
granted。
〃We'll all go;〃 said Mr。 Cole; in his genial; pastoral fashion。
〃Good for us 。 。 。 good for us 。 。 。 to see the little ones laugh 。
。 。 good for us all。〃
Only Uncle Samuel said 〃that nothing would induce him〃
II
I pass swiftly over Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; and the day after;
although I should like to linger upon these sumptuous dates。 Jeremy
had a sumptuous time; Hamlet had a sumptuous time (a whole sugar
rat; plates and plates of bones; and a shoe of Aunt Amy's); Mary and
Helen had sumptuous times in their own feminine fashion。
Upon the evening of Christmas Eve; when the earth was snow…lit; and
the street…lamps sparkled with crystals; and the rime on the
doorsteps crackled beneath one's feet; Jeremy accompanied his mother
on a present…leaving expedition。 The excitement of that! The
wonderful shapes and sizes of the parcels; the mysterious streets;
the door… handles and the door…bells; the glittering stars; the
maidservants; the sense of the lighted house; as though vou opened a
box full of excitements and then hurriedly shut the lid down again。
Jeremy trembled and shook; not with cold; but with exalting;
completely satisfying happiness。
There followed the Stocking; the Waits; the Carols; the Turkey; the
Christmas Cake; the Tree; the Presents; Snapdragon; Bed。 。 。 There
followed Headache; Ill… temper; Smacking of Mary; Afternoon Walk;
Good Temper again; Complete Weariness; Hamlet sick on the Golden
Cockatoos; Hamlet Beaten; Five minutes with Mother downstairs; Bed。
。 。 Christmas was over。
From that moment of the passing of Boxing Day it was simply the
counting of the minutes to 〃Dick Whittington。〃 Six days from Boxing
Day。 Say you slept from eight to seveneleven hours; that left
thirteen hours; six thirteen hours was; so Helen said; seventy…
eight。 Seventy…eight hours; and Sunday twice as long as the other
days; and that made thirteen more; ninety…one; said Helen; her nose
in the air。
The week dragged along; very difficult work for everybody; and even
Hamlet felt the excitement and watched his corner with the Jampot's
sewing machine in it with more quivering intensity than ever。 The
Day Before The Day arrived; the evening before The Day; the last
supper before The Day; the last bed before The Day。 。 。 Suddenly;
like a Jack…in…the…Box; The Da
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