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and envies every ragged boy who can hit to leg。 Whereas Porthos
would have every class keep its place； and though fond of going
down into the kitchen； always barks at the top of the stairs for
a servile invitation before he graciously descends。 Most of the
servants in our street have had the loan of him to be
photographed with； and I have but now seen him stalking off for
that purpose with a proud little housemaid who is looking up to
him as if he were a warrior for whom she had paid a shilling。
〃Again； when David and Porthos are in their bath； praise is due
to the one and must be withheld from the other。 For David； as I
have noticed； loves to splash in his bath and to slip back into
it from the hands that would transfer him to a towel。 But
Porthos stands in his bath drooping abjectly like a shamed figure
cut out of some limp material。
〃Furthermore； the inventiveness of David is beyond that of
Porthos； who cannot play by himself； and knows not even how to
take a solitary walk； while David invents playfully all day long。
Lastly； when David is discovered of some offence and expresses
sorrow therefor； he does that thing no more for a time； but looks
about him for other offences； whereas Porthos incontinently
repeats his offence； in other words； he again buries his bone in
the backyard； and marvels greatly that I know it； although his
nose be crusted with earth。
〃Touching these matters； therefore； let it be granted that David
excels Porthos； and in divers similar qualities the one is no
more than a match for the other； as in the quality of curiosity；
for； if a parcel comes into my chambers Porthos is miserable
until it is opened； and I have noticed the same thing of David。
〃Also there is the taking of medicine。 For at production of the
vial all gaiety suddenly departs from Porthos and he looks the
other way； but if I say I have forgotten to have the vial
refilled he skips joyfully； yet thinks he still has a right to a
chocolate； and when I remarked disparagingly on this to David he
looked so shy that there was revealed to me a picture of a
certain lady treating him for youthful maladies。
〃A thing to be considered of in both is their receiving of
punishments； and I am now reminded that the girl Irene （whom I
take in this matter to be your mouthpiece） complains that I am
not sufficiently severe with David； and do leave the chiding of
him for offences against myself to her in the hope that he will
love her less and me more thereby。 Which we have hotly argued in
the Gardens to the detriment of our dignity。 And I here say that
if I am slow to be severe to David； the reason thereof is that I
dare not be severe to Porthos； and I have ever sought to treat
the one the same with the other。
〃Now I refrain from raising hand or voice to Porthos because his
great heart is nigh to breaking if he so much as suspects that
all is not well between him and me； and having struck him once
some years ago never can I forget the shudder which passed
through him when he saw it was I who had struck； and I shall
strike him； ma'am； no more。 But when he is detected in any
unseemly act now； it is my stern practice to cane my writing
table in his presence； and even this punishment is almost more
than he can bear。 Wherefore if such chastisement inflicted on
David encourages him but to enter upon fresh trespasses （as the
girl Irene avers）； the reason must be that his heart is not like
unto that of the noble Porthos。
〃And if you retort that David is naturally a depraved little boy；
and so demands harsher measure； I have still my answer； to wit；
what is the manner of severity meted out to him at home？ And
lest you should shuffle in your reply I shall mention a notable
passage that has come to my ears。
〃As thus； that David having heard a horrid word in the street；
uttered it with unction in the home。 That the mother threatened
corporal punishment； whereat the father tremblingly intervened。
That David continuing to rejoice exceedingly in his word； the
father spoke darkly of a cane； but the mother rushed between the
combatants。 That the problematical chastisement became to David
an object of romantic interest。 That this darkened the happy
home。 That casting from his path a weeping mother； the goaded
father at last dashed from the house yelling that he was away to
buy a cane。 That he merely walked the streets white to the lips
because of the terror David must now be feeling。 And that when
he returned； it was David radiant with hope who opened the door
and then burst into tears because there was no cane。 Truly；
ma'am； you are a fitting person to tax me with want of severity。
Rather should you be giving thanks that it is not you I am
comparing with Porthos。
〃But to make an end of this comparison； I mention that Porthos is
ever wishful to express gratitude for my kindness to him； so that
looking up from my book I see his mournful eyes fixed upon me
with a passionate attachment； and then I know that the well…nigh
unbearable sadness which comes into the face of dogs is because
they cannot say Thank you to their masters。 Whereas David takes
my kindness as his right。 But for this； while I should chide him
I cannot do so； for of all the ways David has of making me to
love him the most poignant is that he expects it of me as a
matter of course。 David is all for fun； but none may plumb the
depths of Porthos。 Nevertheless I am most nearly doing so when I
lie down beside him on the floor and he puts an arm about my
neck。 On my soul； ma'am； a protecting arm。 At such times it is
as if each of us knew what was the want of the other。
〃Thus weighing Porthos with David it were hard to tell which is
the worthier。 Wherefore do you keep your boy while I keep my
dog； and so we shall both be pleased。〃
XXI
William Paterson
We had been together； we three； in my rooms； David telling me
about the fairy language and Porthos lolling on the sofa
listening； as one may say。 It is his favourite place of a dull
day； and under him were some sheets of newspaper； which I spread
there at such times to deceive my housekeeper； who thinks dogs
should lie on the floor。
Fairy me tribber is what you say to the fairies when you want
them to give you a cup of tea； but it is not so easy as it looks；
for all the r's should be pronounced as w's； and I forget this so
often that David believes I should find difficulty in making
myself understood。
〃What would you say；〃 he asked me； 〃if you wanted them to turn
you into a hollyhock？〃 He thinks the ease with which they can
turn you into things is their most engaging quality。
The answer is Fairy me lukka； but though he had often told me
this I again forgot the lukka。
〃I should never dream；〃 I said （to cover my discomfiture）； 〃of
asking them to turn me into anything。 If I was a hollyhock I
should soon wither； David。〃
He himself had provided me with this objection not long before；
but now he seemed to think it merely silly。 〃Just before the
time to wither begins；〃 he said airily； 〃you say to them Fairy me
bola。〃
Fairy me bola means 〃Turn me back again；〃 and David's discovery
made me uncomfortable； for I knew he had hitherto kept his
distance of the fairies mainly because of a feeling that their
conversions are permanent。
So I returned him to his home。 I send him home from my rooms
under the care of Porthos。 I may walk on the other side unknown
to them； but they have no need of me； for at such times nothing
would induce Porthos to depart from the care of David。 If anyone
addresses them he growls softly and shows the teeth that crunch
bones as if they were biscuits。 Thus amicably the two pass on to
Mary's house； where Porthos barks his knock…and…ring bark till
the door is opened。 Sometimes he goes in with David； but on this
occasion he said good…bye on the step。 Nothing remarkable in
this； but he did not return to me； not that day nor next day nor
in weeks and months。 I was a man distraught； and David wore his
knuckles in his eyes。 Conceive it； we had lost our dear Porthos
at leastwellsomething disquieting happened。 I don't quite know
what to think of it even now。 I know what David thinks。
However； you shall think as you choose。
My first hope was that Porthos had strolled to the Gardens and
got locked in for the night； and almost as soon as Lock…out was
over I was there to make inquiries。 But there was no news of
Porthos； though I learned that someone was believed to have spent
the night in the Gardens； a young gentleman who walked out
hastily the moment the gates were opened。 He had said nothing；
however； of having seen a dog。 I feared an accident now； for I
knew no thief could steal him； yet even an accident seemed
incredible； he was always so cautious at crossings； also there
could not possibly have been an accident to Porth