第4章
Thentheydiscussedoptics,astheycalledit,andwhetheracertaininjurytothebrainwouldproduceblindnessornot,buttheycouldnotagreeaboutit,andsaidtheymusttestitbyexperimentbyandby;andnexttheydiscussedplants,andthatinterestedme,becauseinthesummerSadieandIhadplantedseeds——Ihelpedherdigtheholes,youknow——andafterdaysanddaysalittleshruboraflowercameupthere,anditwasawonderhowthatcouldhappen;butitdid,andIwishedIcouldtalk——I
wouldhavetoldthosepeopleaboutitandshownthenhowmuchIknew,andbeenallalivewiththesubject;butIdidn"tcarefortheoptics;itwasdull,andwhenthecamebacktoitagainitboredme,andIwenttosleep.
Prettysoonitwasspring,andsunnyandpleasantandlovely,andthesweetmotherandthechildrenpattedmeandthepuppygood—by,andwentawayonajourneyandavisittotheirkin,andthemasterwasn"tanycompanyforus,butweplayedtogetherandhadgoodtimes,andtheservantswerekindandfriendly,sowegotalongquitehappilyandcountedthedaysandwaitedforthefamily.
Andonedaythosemencameagain,andsaid,nowforthetest,andtheytookthepuppytothelaboratory,andIlimpedthree—leggedlyalong,too,feelingproud,foranyattentionshowntothepuppywasapleasuretome,ofcourse.Theydiscussedandexperimented,andthensuddenlythepuppyshrieked,andtheysethimonthefloor,andhewentstaggeringaround,withhisheadallbloody,andthemasterclappedhishandsandshouted:
"There,I"vewon——confessit!He"sablindasabat!"
Andtheyallsaid:
"It"sso——you"veprovedyourtheory,andsufferinghumanityowesyouagreatdebtfromhenceforth,"andtheycrowdedaroundhim,andwrunghishandcordiallyandthankfully,andpraisedhim.
ButIhardlysaworheardthesethings,forIranatoncetomylittledarling,andsnuggledclosetoitwhereitlay,andlickedtheblood,anditputitsheadagainstmine,whimperingsoftly,andIknewinmyheartitwasacomforttoitinitspainandtroubletofeelitsmother"stouch,thoughitcouldnotseeme.Thenitdroppeddown,presently,anditslittlevelvetnoseresteduponthefloor,anditwasstill,anddidnotmoveanymore.
Soonthemasterstoppeddiscussingamoment,andranginthefootman,andsaid,"Buryitinthefarcornerofthegarden,"andthenwentonwiththediscussion,andItrottedafterthefootman,veryhappyandgrateful,forIknewthepuppywasoutofitspainnow,becauseitwasasleep.Wewentfardownthegardentothefarthestend,wherethechildrenandthenurseandthepuppyandIusedtoplayinthesummerintheshadeofagreatelm,andtherethefootmandugahole,andIsawhewasgoingtoplantthepuppy,andIwasglad,becauseitwouldgrowandcomeupafinehandsomedog,likeRobinAdair,andbeabeautifulsurpriseforthefamilywhentheycamehome;soItriedtohelphimdig,butmylamelegwasnogood,beingstiff,youknow,andyouhavetohavetwo,oritisnouse.WhenthefootmanhadfinishedandcoveredlittleRobinup,hepattedmyhead,andthereweretearsinhiseyes,andhesaid:"Poorlittledoggie,yousavedHISchild!"
Ihavewatchedtwowholeweeks,andhedoesn"tcomeup!Thislastweekafrighthasbeenstealinguponme.Ithinkthereissomethingterribleaboutthis.Idonotknowwhatitis,butthefearmakesmesick,andI
cannoteat,thoughtheservantsbringmethebestoffood;andtheypetmeso,andevencomeinthenight,andcry,andsay,"Poordoggie——dogiveitupandcomehome;don"tbreakourhearts!"andallthisterrifiesmethemore,andmakesmesuresomethinghashappened.AndIamsoweak;
sinceyesterdayIcannotstandonmyfeetanymore.Andwithinthishourtheservants,lookingtowardthesunwhereitwassinkingoutofsightandthenightchillcomingon,saidthingsIcouldnotunderstand,buttheycarriedsomethingcoldtomyheart.
"Thosepoorcreatures!Theydonotsuspect.Theywillcomehomeinthemorning,andeagerlyaskforthelittledoggiethatdidthebravedeed,andwhoofuswillbestrongenoughtosaythetruthtothem:"Thehumblelittlefriendisgonewheregothebeaststhatperish.""