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.""