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！
in front of him； he added： 〃Perhaps you would like to look a little more
closely at my eyes。 Every now and then they flash with an almost uncanny
insight。〃 For by now he had quite forgotten his modesty in the
identification he felt with the journal which was interviewing him。〃
I am fifty…eight； 〃 he added quickly； 〃but I do not look my years； though
my hair； still thick and full of vigour； is prematurely whiteso often
the case with men whose brains are。 continually on the stretch。 The
little home； far from grandiose； which forms the background to this most
interesting personality is embowered in trees。 Cats have made their mark
on its lawns； and its owner's love of animals was sharply illustrated by
the sheep…dog which lay on his feet clad in Turkish slippers。 Get up；
Blink！〃
Blink； disturbed by the motion of her master's feet； rose and gazed long
into his face。
〃Look！〃 said Mr。 Lavender；〃 she has the most beautiful eyes in the
world。〃
At this remark； which appeared to him no saner than the others he had
heardso utterly did he misjudge Mr。 Lavender's characterthe nephew
put down the notebook he had taken out of his pocket； and said：
〃Has there ever been anythingerremarkable about your family？〃
〃Indeed； yes；〃 said Mr。 Lavender。 Born of poor but lofty parentage in
the city of Rochester； my father made his living as a publisher； my
mother was a true daughter of the bards； the scion of a stock tracing its
decent from the Druids； her name was originally Jones。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the nephew Sinkin； writing。
〃She has often told me at her knee；〃 continued Mr。 Lavender； 〃that there
was a strong vein of patriotism in her family。〃
〃She did not dieinin〃
〃No； indeed；〃 interrupted Mr。 Lavender； she is still living there。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the nephew。 〃And your brothers and sisters？〃
〃One of my brothers；〃 replied Mr。 Lavender； with pardonable pride； 〃is
the editor of Cud Bits。 The other is a clergyman。〃
〃Eccentric；〃 murmured the nephew absently。 〃Tell me； Mr。 Lavender； do
you find your work a great strain？ Does it〃 and he touched the top
of his head； covered with moist black hair。
Mr。 Lavender sighed。 〃At a time like this；〃 he said； 〃we must all be
prepared to sacrifice our health。 No public man； as you know； can call
his head his own for a moment。 I should count myself singularly lacking
if I stopped to considerersuch a consideration。〃
Considerersuch a consideration；〃 repeated the nephew； jotting it
down。
〃He carries on；〃 murmured Mr。 Lavender； once more identifying himself
with the journal； 〃grappling with the intricacies of this enormous
problem； happy in the thought that nothingnot even reason itselfis
too precious to sacrifice on the altar of his duty to his country。 The
public may rest confident in the knowledge that he will so carry on till
they carry him out on his shield。〃 And aware subconsciously that the
interview could go no further than that phrase； Mr。 Lavender was silent；
gazing up with rather startled eyes。
〃I see；〃 said the nephew； 〃I am very much obliged to you。 Is your dog
safe？〃 For Blink had begun to growl in a low and uneasy manner。
〃The gentlest creature in the world；〃 replied Lavender； 〃and the most
sociable。 I sometimes think；〃 he went on in a changed voice； 〃that we
have all gone mad； and that animals alone retain the sweet reasonableness
which used to be esteemed a virtue in human society。 Don't take that
down；〃 he added quickly； 〃we are all subject to moments of weakness。 It
was just an 'obiter dictum'。〃
〃Make your mind easy；〃 said the nephew； rising； 〃it does not serve my
purpose。 Just one thing； Mr。 Lavender。〃
At this moment Blink； whose instinct had long been aware of some sinister
purpose in this tall and heavy man； whose trousers did not smell of dogs；
seeing him approach too near； bit him gently in the calf。
The nephew started back。 〃She's bitten me！〃 he said； in a hushed voice。
〃My God！〃 ejaculated Mr。 Lavender and falling back again； so stiff was
he。 〃Is it possible？ There must be some good reason。 Blink！〃
Blink wagged her little tail； thrust her nose into his hand； removed it；
and growled again。
〃She is quite well； I assure you；〃 Mr。 Lavender added hastily； 〃her nose
is icy。〃
〃She's bitten me；〃 repeated the nephew； pulling up his trouser leg。
〃There's no mark； but she distinctly bit me。〃
〃Treasure！〃 said Mr。 Lavender； endeavouring to interest him in the dog。
〃Do you notice how dark the rims of her eyes are； and how clear the
whites？ Extraordinarily well bred。 Blink！〃
Aware that she was being talked of Blink cont1inued to be torn between
the desire to wag her tail and to growl。 Unable to make up her mind； she
sighed heavily and fell on her side against her side against her master's
legs。
〃Wonderful with sheep； too；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃at least； she would be
if they would let her。。。。 You should see her with them on the Heath。
They simply can't bear her。〃
〃You will hear from me again；〃 said the nephew sourly。
〃Thank you；〃 said Mr。 Lavender。 〃I shall be glad of a proof； it is
always safer； I believe。〃
〃Good morning；〃 said the nephew。
Blink； who alone perceived the dark meaning in these words； seeing him
move towards the door began to bark and run from side to side behind him；
for all the world as if he had been a flock of sheep。
〃Keep her off！〃 said the nephew anxiously。 〃Keep her off。 I refuse to
be bitten again。〃
〃Blink！〃 called Mr。 Lavender in some agony。 Blink； whose obedience was
excessive； came back to him at once； and stood growling from under her
master's hand； laid on the white hair which flowed back from her collar；
till the nephew's footsteps had died away。 〃I cannot imagine；〃 thought
Mr。 Lavender； 〃why she should have taken exception to that excellent
journalist。 Perhaps he did not smell quite right？ One never knows。〃
And with her moustachioed muzzle pressed to his chin Mr。 Lavender sought
for explanation in the innocent and living darkness of his dog's eyes。。。。
On leaving Mr。 Lavender's the nephew forthwith returned to the castle in
Frognal； and sought his aunt。
〃Mad as a March hare； Aunt Rosie； and his dog bit me。〃
〃That dear doggie？〃
〃They're dangerous。〃
〃You were always funny about dogs； dear； said his aunt soothingly。〃 Why；
even Sealey doesn't really like you。 〃And calling to the little low
white dog she quite failed to attract his attention。 〃Did you notice his
dress。 The first time I took him for a shepherd； and the second time…！
What do you think ought to be done？〃
〃He'll have to be watched；〃 said the nephew。 〃We can't have lunatics at
large in Hampstead。〃
〃But； Wilfred；〃 said the old lady； 〃will our man…power stand it？
Couldn't they watch each other？ Or； if it would be any help； I could
watch him myself。 I took such a fancy to his dear dog。〃
〃I shall take steps；〃 said the nephew。
〃No； don't do that。 I'll go and call on the people； next door。 Their
name is Scarlet。 They'll know about him； no doubt。 We mustn't do
anything inconsiderate。
The nephew； muttering and feeling his calf； withdrew to his study。 And
the old lady； having put on her bonnet； set forth placidly； unaccompanied
by her little white dog。
On arriving at the castle embedded in acacias and laurustinus she asked
of the maid who opened：
Can I see Mrs。 Scarlet？ 〃
〃No；〃 replied the girl dispassionately； 〃she's dead。〃
〃Mr。 Scarlet； then？〃
〃No；〃 replied the girl he's a major。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said the old lady。
〃Miss Isabel's at home；〃 said the girl； who appeared； like so many people
in time of war； to be of a simple； plain…spoken nature； 〃you'll find her
in the garden。〃 And she let the old lady out through a French window。
At the far end； under an acacia； Mrs。 Sinkin could see the form of a
young lady in a blue dress； lying in a hammock； with a cigarette between
her lips and a yellow book in her hands。 She approached her thinking；
〃Dear me！ how comfortable； in these days！〃 And； putting her head a
little on one side； she said with a smile： 〃My name is Sinkin。 I hope
I'm not disturbing you。
The young lady rose with a vigorous gesture。
〃Oh； no！ Not a bit。〃
〃I do admire some people；〃 said the old lady； they seem to find time for
everything。〃
The young lady stretched herself joyously。
〃I'm taking it out before going to my new hospital。 Try it；〃 she said
touching the hammock； 〃it's not bad。 Will you have a cigarette？〃
〃I'm afraid I'm too old for both；〃 said the old lady； 〃though I've often
thought they must be delightfully soothing。 I wanted to speak to you
about your neighbour。〃
The young lady rolled her large grey eyes。 〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃he's
perfectly sweet。〃
〃I know；〃 said the old lady； 〃and has such a dear dog。 My nephew's very