his dog(狗儿莱德)-第17节
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solemn mass of conceit like Royal Crews； nor patronizing like young
Lawyer Wetherell； nor vaguely repulsive like old Cap'n Baldy Todd； who
came furtively a…courting her。 Link was different。 And she liked him。 She
liked him more and more。
Once her parents took Dorcas and her five…year…old sister； Olive； on a
Sunday afternoon ramble； which led eventually to the Ferris farm。 Link
welcomed the chance callers gladly； and showed them over the place。
Dorcas's housewifely eye rejoiced in the well…kept house； even while she
frowned inwardly at its thousand signs of bachelor inefficiency。 The stock
and the crops； too； spoke of solid industry。
But she shrank back in sudden revolt as a huge tawny collie came
bounding toward her from the fold where he had just marshaled the sheep
for the night。 The dog was beautiful。 And he meant her no harm。 He even
tried shyly to make friends with the tall and grave…eyed guest。 Dorcas saw
all that。 Yet she shrank from him with instinctive fearin spite of it。
As a child she had been bittenand bitten badlyby a nondescript
mongrel that had been chased into the Chatham backyard by a crowd of
stone…throwing boys； and which she had sought to oust with a stick from
its hiding place under the steps。 Since then Dorcas had had an
unconquerable fear and dislike of dogs。 The feeling was unconquerable
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because she had made no effort to conquer it。 She had henceforth judged
all dogs by the one whose teeth marks had left a lifelong scar on her white
forearm。
She had the good breeding not to let Ferris see her distaste for his pet
that he was just then exhibiting so proudly to the guests。 Her shrinking
was imperceptible； even to a lover's solicitous eye。 But Chum noted it。
And with a collie's odd sixth sense he knew this intruder did not like him。
Not that her aversion troubled Chum at all； but it puzzled him。 People
as a rule were effusively eager to make friends with Chum。 Andbeing
ultraconservative； like the best type of colliehe found their handling and
other attentions annoying。 He had taken a liking to Dorcas； at sight。 But
since she did not return this liking Chum was well content to keep away
from her。
He was the more content； because five…year…old Olive had flung
herself； with loud squeals of rapture； bodily on the dog； and had clasped
her fat little arms adoringly round his massive furry throat in an ecstasy of
delight。
Chum had never before been brought into such close contact with a
child。 And Link watched with some slight perturbation the baby's
onslaught。 But in a moment Ferris's mind was at rest。
At first touch of the baby's fingers the collie had become once and for
all Olive's slave。 He fairly reveled in the discomfortingly tight caress。 The
tug of the little hands in his sensitive neck fur was bliss to him。 Wiggling
all over with happiness he sought to lick the chubby face pressed so tight
against his ruff。 From that instant Chum had a divided allegiance。 His
human god was Ferris。 But this fluffy pink…and…white youngster was a
mighty close second in his list of deities。
Dorcas looked on； trembling with fear； as her little sister romped with
the adoring dog。 And she heaved a sigh of relief when at last they were
clear of the farm without mishap to the baby。 For Olive had been dearer to
Dorcas； from birth； than anyone or anything else on earth。 To the baby
sister alone Dorcas ceased to be the grave…eyed and self…assured Lady of
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Quality； and became a meek and worshiping devotee。
When Link Ferris at last mustered courage to ask Dorcas Chatham to
marry him his form of proposal would have been ruled out of any novel or
play。 It consisted chiefly of a mouthful of half…swallowed； half…exploded
words； spoken all in one panic breath； to the accompaniment of a mortal
fear that shook him to the marrow。
Any other words； thus mouthed and gargled； would have required a
full college of languages to translate them。 But the speech was along a line
perfectly familiar to every woman since Eve。 And Dorcas understood。 She
would have understood had Link voiced his proposal in the Choctaw
dialect instead of a slurringly mumbled travesty on English。
The man's stark earnestness of entreaty sent a queer flutter to the very
depths of her calm soul。 But the flutter failed to reach or to titillate the
steady eyes。 Nor did it creep into the level and self…possessed voice； as
Dorcas made quiet answer：
〃Yes。 I like you better than any other man I know。 And I'll marry you；
if you're perfectly sure you care for me that way。〃
No； it was not the sort of reply Juliet made to the same question。 It is
more than doubtful that Cleopatra answered thus； when Antony offered to
throw away the world for her sake。 But it was a wholly correct and self…
respecting response。 And Dorcas had been rehearsing it for nearly a week。
Moreover； words are of use； merely as they affect their hearers。 And all
the passion poetry of men and of angels could not have thrilled Link Ferris
as did Dorcas's correct and demure assent to his frenziedly gabbled plea。 It
went through the lovesick man's brain and heart like the breath of God。
And thus the couple became engaged。
With only a slight diminishing of his earlier fear did Link seek out Old
Man Chatham to obtain his consent to the match。 Dizzy with joy and relief
he listened to that village worthy's ungracious assent also secretly
rehearsed for some days。
For the best part of a month thereafter Link Ferris floated through a
universe of roseate lights and soft music。
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Then came the jar of awakening。
It was one Saturday evening； a week or so before the date set for the
wedding。 Dorcas broached a theme which had been much in her mind
since the beginning of the engagement。 She approached it very tactfully
indeed； leading up to it in true feminine fashion by means of a cunningly
devised series of levels which would have been the despair of a mining
engineer。 Having paved the way she remarked carelessly：
〃John Iglehart was at the store to…day； father says。 He's crazy about
that big collie of yours。〃
Instantly Link was full of glad interest。 It had been a sorrow to him
that Dorcas did not like dogs。 She had explained her dislikepurely on
general principlesearly in their acquaintance； and had told him of its
origin。 Link was certain she would come to love Chum； on intimate
acquaintance。 In the interim he did not seek to force her liking by bringing
the collie to the Chatham house when he called。
Link did not believe in crossing a bridge until he came to it。 There
would be plenty of time for Dorcas to make friends with Chum in the long
and happy days to come。 Yet； now； he rejoiced that she herself should have
been the first to broach the subject。
〃Father says John is wild about Chum；〃 went on the girl
unconcernedly； adding； 〃By the way； John asked father to tell you he'd be
glad to pay you 100 for the dog。 It's a splendid offer； isn't it！ Think of all
the things we can get for the house with 100； Link！ Why； it seems almost
providential； doesn't it？ Father says John is in earnest about it too。 He〃
〃In earnest； hey！〃 snapped Ferris； finding his voice after an instant of
utter amazement。 〃In EARNEST！ Well； that's real grand of him； ain't it！ I'd
be in earnest； too； if I was to bid ten cents for the best farm in Passaic
County。 But the feller who owned the farm wouldn't be in earnest。 He'd be
taking it as a fine joke。 Like I do； when Johnny Iglehart has the nerve to
offer 100 for a dog that wouldn't be worth a cent less'n 600even if he
was for sale。 Why； that collie of mine〃
〃If he is worth 600；〃 suggested Dorcas icily； 〃y
