his dog(狗儿莱德)-第18节
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〃If he is worth 600；〃 suggested Dorcas icily； 〃you'd better not lose
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any time before you find someone who will pay that for him。 He's no use
to us。 And 600 is too much money to carry on four legs。 He〃
〃No use to us？〃 echoed Link。 〃Why； Chum's worth the pay of a hired
man to me； besides all the fondness I've got for him！ He handles the sheep；
and he〃
〃So you've told me；〃 interposed Dorcas with no show of interest。 〃I
remember the first few times you came to see me you didn't talk of
anything else； hardly； except that dog。 Everybody says the same thing。 It's
a joke all through Hampton； the silly way you're forever singing his
praises。〃
〃Why shouldn't I？〃 demanded Link sturdily。 〃There's not a dandier；
better pal anywhere； than what Chum's been to me。 He〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 assented Dorcas； 〃I know。 I don't doubt it。 But； after all；
he's only a dog； you know。 And if you can get a good price for him； as you
say； then the only thing to do is to sell him。 In hard times like these〃
〃Times ain't hard；〃 denied Link tersely。 〃And Chum ain't for sale。
That's all there is to it。〃
If one of her father's sleek cart horses had suddenly walked out of its
stall with a shouted demand that it be allowed to do the driving； henceforth；
and that its owners do the hauling； Dorcas Chatham could not have been
much more surprised than at this unlooked…for speech from her humble
suitor。
Up to now； Link Ferris had treated the girl as though he were
unworthy to breathe the same air as herself。 He had been pathetically
eager to concede any and every mooted point to her； with a servile
abasement which had roused her contempt； even while it had gratified her
sense of power。
She had approached with tact the sub ject of Chum's disposal。 But she
had done so with a view to the saving of Link's feelings； not with the
faintest idea that her love…bemused slave could venture to oppose her。 She
knew his fondness for the dog and she had not wished to bring matters to
an issue； if tact would serve as well。
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To punish her serf and to crush rebellion once and for all； as well as to
be avenged for her wasted diplomacy； Dorcas cast aside her kindlier intent
and drove straight to the point。 Her calm temper was ruffled； and she
spoke with a new heat：
〃There is something you and I may as well settle； here and now； Link；〃
she said。 〃It will save bickerings and misunderstandings； later on。 I've told
you how I hate dogs。 They are savage and treacherous and〃
〃Chum ain't！〃 declared Link stoutly。
〃Why； that dog〃
〃I hate dogs；〃 she went on； 〃and I'm horribly afraid of them。 I won't
live in the same house with one。 I don't want to hurt your feelings； Link；
but you'll have to get rid of that great brown brute before you marry me。
That is positive。 So please let's say no more about it。〃
The man was staring at her with under jaw ajar。 Her sharp air of
finality grated on his every nerve。 Her ultimatum concerning Chum left
him dumfounded。 But he forced himself to rally to the defense。
This glorious sweetheart of his did not understand dogs。 He had hoped
to teach her later to like and appreciate them。 But apparently she must be
taught at once that Chum could not be sold and that the collie must remain
an honored member of the Ferris household。 Marshaling his facts and his
words； he said ：
〃I never told you about the time I was coming back home one night
from the tavern here at Hampton； after I'd just cashed my pay check from
the Pat'son market。 I've never blabbed much about it； because I was drunk。
Yes； it was back in them days。 Just after I'd got Chum。 A couple of fellers
had got me drunk。 And they set on me in a lonesome patch of the road by
the lake； and they had me down and was taking the money away from me；
when Chum sailed into them and druv them off。 He had follered me；
without me knowing。 In the scrimmage I got tumbled headfirst into the
lake。 I was too drunk to get out； and my head was stuck in the mud； 'way
under water。 I'd 'a' drowned if Chum hadn't of pulled me out with his teeth
in the shoulder of my coat。 And that's the dog you're wanting me to sell？〃
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〃You aren't likely to need such help again； I hope；〃 countered the girl
loftily； 〃now that you have stopped drinking and made a man of yourself。
So Chum won't be needed for〃
〃I stopped drinking；〃 answered Link； 〃because I got to seeing how
much more of a beast I was than the fine clean dog that was living with me。
He made me feel 'shamed of myself。 And he was such good comp'ny
round the house that I didn't get lonesome enough to sneak down to the
tavern all the time。 It wasn't me that 'made a man of myself。' It was Chum
made a man of me。 Maybe that sounds foolish to you。 But 〃
〃It does；〃 said Dorcas serenely。 〃Very foolish indeed。 You don't seem
to realize that a dog is only an animal。 If you can get a nice home for the
colliesuch as John Iglehart will give him〃
〃Iglehart！〃 raged Link； momentarily losing hold over himself。 〃If that
mangy； wall…eyed slob comes slinking round my farm again； making
friends with Chum； I'll sick the dog onto him； and have him run Iglehart
all the way to his own shack！ He's！ There！ I didn't mean to cut loose like
that！〃 he broke off at Dorcas's shudder of dismay。 〃Only it riles me
something terrible to have him trying to get Chum away from me。〃
〃There is no occasion to go losing your temper and shouting；〃
reproved the girl。 〃Nothing is to be gained that way。 Besides； that isn't the
point。 The point is this； since you force me to say it： You must get rid of
that dog。 And you must do it before you marry me。 I won't set foot in your
house until your dog is goneand gone for good。 I am sorry to speak so；
but it had to be said。〃
She paused to give her slave a chance to wilt。 But Link only sat； blank…
faced； staring at her。 His mind was in a muddle。 All his narrow world was
upside down。 He couldn't make his brain grasp in full the situation。
All he could visualize for the instant was a shadowy mental image of
Chum's expectant face； the tulip ears pricked forward； expectant； the jaws
〃laughing〃； the deepset brown eyes abrim with gay affection and deathless
loyalty for the man who was now asked to get rid of him。 It didn't make
sense。 Half under his breath Link Ferris began to talkor rather to ramble。
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〃There was one of the books over to the lib'ry；〃 he heard himself
meandering on； 〃with a queer story in it。 I got to reading it through； one
night last winter。 It was about a feller named 'Fed'rigo。' A wop of some
kind； I guess。 He got so hard up he didn't have anything left but a pet
falcon。 Whatever a falcon may be。 Whatever it was； it must'a been good
to eat。 But he set a heap of store by it。 Him and it was chums。 Same as me
and Chum are。 Then along come a lady he was in love with。 And she
stopped to his house for dinner。 There wasn't anything in the house fit for
her to eat。 So he fed her the falcon。 Killed the pet that was his chum； so's
he could feed the dame he was stuck on。 I thought； when I read it； that that
feller was more kinds of a swine than I'd have time to tell you。 But he
wasn't any worse'n I'd be if I was to〃
〃I'm sorry you care so little for me；〃 intervened Dorcas； her voice very
sweet and very cold； and her slender nose whitening a little at the corners
of the nostrils。 〃Of course if you prefer a miserable dog to me； there's
nothing more to be said。 I〃
〃No！〃 almost yelled the miserable man。 〃You've got me all wrong；
dearie。 Honest； you have。 Can't you understand？ Your li
