stories by english authors in london(英国作家在伦敦的故事)-第5章
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tears before I could reach the door。
〃Is it your doing again； sir？〃 William cried。
〃William！〃 I said； fiercely。
〃We owe everything to you；〃 he insisted。 〃The port wine〃
〃Because I had no room for it in my cellar。〃
〃The money for the nurse in London〃
〃Because I objected to being waited on by a man who got no sleep。〃
〃These lodgings〃
〃Because I wanted to do something for my old nurse。〃
〃And now； sir； a fortnight's holiday！〃
〃Good…bye； William！〃 I said； in a fury。
But before I could get away Mrs。 Hicking signed to William to leave
the room； and then she kissed my hand。 She said something to me。 It was
about my wife。 Somehow I What business had William to tell her about
my wife？
They are all back in Drury Lane now； and William tells me that his
wife sings at her work just as she did eight years ago。 I have no interest in
this； and try to check his talk of it； but such people have no sense of
propriety； and he even speaks of the girl Jenny； who sent me lately a gaudy
pair of worsted gloves worked by her own hand。 The meanest advantage
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they took of my weakness； however； was in calling their baby after me。 I
have an uncomfortable suspicion； too； that William has given the other
waiters his version of the affair； but I feel safe so long as it does not reach
the committee。
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THE BLACK POODLE
BY F。 ANSTEY
I have set myself the task of relating in the course of this story； without
suppressing or altering a single detail； the most painful and humiliating
episode of my life。
I do this； not because it will give me the least pleasure； but simply
because it affords me an opportunity of extenuating myself； which has
hitherto been wholly denied to me。
As a general rule； I am quite aware that to publish a lengthy
explanation of one's conduct in any questionable transaction is not the best
means of recovering a lost reputation； but in my own case there is one to
whom I shall nevermore be permitted to justify by word of moutheven if
I found myself able to attempt it。 And as she could not possibly think
worse of me than she does at present； I write this； knowing it can do me no
harm； and faintly hoping that it may come to her notice and suggest a
doubt whether I am quite so unscrupulous a villain； so consummate a
hypocrite； as I have been forced to appear in her eyes。
The bare chance of such a result makes me perfectly indifferent to all
else； I cheerfully expose to the derision of the whole reading world the
story of my weakness and my shame； since by doing so I may possibly
rehabilitate myself somewhat in the good opinion of one person。
Having said so much； I will begin my confession without further delay。
My name is Algernon Weatherhead； and I may add that I am in one of
the government departments； that I am an only son； and live at home with
my mother。
We had had a house at Hammersmith until just before the period
covered by this history； when； our lease expiring； my mother decided that
my health required country air at the close of the day； and so we took a
〃desirable villa residence〃 on one of the many new building estates which
have lately sprung up in such profusion in the home counties。
We have called it 〃Wistaria Villa。〃 It is a pretty little place； the last of a
row of detached villas； each with its tiny rustic carriage… gate and gravel
sweep in front； and lawn enough for a tennis…court behind； which lines the
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road leading over the hill to the railway… station。
I could certainly have wished that our landlord； shortly after giving us
the agreement； could have found some other place to hang himself in than
one of our attics； for the consequence was that a housemaid left 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
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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
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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 compa
