按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
could feel or look more pleased with himself。 He does not do any
real work； the human being does the pushing； he does the barking；
that is his idea of division of labour。 What he says to himself
is：
〃The old man can't bark； but he can shove。 Very well。〃
The interest and the pride he takes in the business is quite
beautiful to see。 Another dog passing by makes； maybe； some
jeering remark； casting discredit upon the creaminess of the milk。
He stops suddenly； quite regardless of the traffic。
〃I beg your pardon； what was that you said about our milk？〃
〃I said nothing about your milk；〃 retorts the other dog； in a tone
of gentle innocence。 〃I merely said it was a fine day； and asked
the price of chalk。〃
〃Oh； you asked the price of chalk； did you？ Would you like to
know？〃
〃Yes； thanks； somehow I thought you would be able to tell me。〃
〃You are quite right； I can。 It's worth〃
〃Oh； do come along！〃 says the old lady； who is tired and hot； and
anxious to finish her round。
〃Yes； but hang it all； did you hear what he hinted about our milk？〃
〃Oh； never mind him！ There's a tram coming round the corner： we
shall all get run over。〃
〃Yes； but I do mind him； one has one's proper pride。 He asked the
price of chalk； and he's going to know it！ It's worth just twenty
times as much〃
〃You'll have the whole thing over； I know you will；〃 cries the old
lady； pathetically； struggling with all her feeble strength to haul
him back。 〃Oh dear； oh dear！ I do wish I had left you at home。〃
The tram is bearing down upon them； a cab…driver is shouting at
them； another huge brute； hoping to be in time to take a hand； is
dragging a bread cart； followed by a screaming child； across the
road from the opposite side； a small crowd is collecting； and a
policeman is hastening to the scene。
〃It's worth；〃 says the milk dog； 〃just twenty…times as much as
you'll be worth before I've done with you。〃
〃Oh； you think so； do you？〃
〃Yes； I do； you grandson of a French poodle； you cabbage…eating〃
〃There！ I knew you'd have it over；〃 says the poor milk…woman。 〃I
told him he'd have it over。〃
But he is busy； and heeds her not。 Five minutes later； when the
traffic is renewed； when the bread girl has collected her muddy
rolls； and the policeman has gone off with the name and address of
everybody in the street； he consents to look behind him。
〃It IS a bit of an upset；〃 he admits。 Then shaking himself free of
care； he adds； cheerfully； 〃But I guess I taught him the price of
chalk。 He won't interfere with us again； I'm thinking。〃
〃I'm sure I hope not；〃 says the old lady； regarding dejectedly the
milky road。
But his favourite sport is to wait at the top of the hill for
another dog； and then race down。 On these occasions the chief
occupation of the other fellow is to run about behind； picking up
the scattered articles； loaves； cabbages； or shirts； as they are
jerked out。 At the bottom of the hill； he stops and waits for his
friend。
〃Good race； wasn't it？〃 he remarks； panting； as the Human comes up；
laden to the chin。 〃I believe I'd have won it； too； if it hadn't
been for that fool of a small boy。 He was right in my way just as
I turned the corner。 YOU NOTICED HIM？ Wish I had； beastly brat！
What's he yelling like that for？ BECAUSE I KNOCKED HIM DOWN AND
RAN OVER HIM？ Well； why didn't he get out of the way？ It's
disgraceful； the way people leave their children about for other
people to tumble over。 Halloa！ did all those things come out？ You
couldn't have packed them very carefully； you should see to a thing
like that。 YOU DID NOT DREAM OF MY TEARING DOWN THE HILL TWENTY
MILES AN HOUR？ Surely； you knew me better than to expect I'd let
that old Schneider's dog pass me without an effort。 But there； you
never think。 You're sure you've got them all？ YOU BELIEVE SO？ I
shouldn't 'believe' if I were you； I should run back up the hill
again and make sure。 YOU FEEL TOO TIRED？ Oh； all right！ don't
blame me if anything is missing； that's all。〃
He is so self…willed。 He is cock…sure that the correct turning is
the second on the right； and nothing will persuade him that it is
the third。 He is positive he can get across the road in time； and
will not be convinced until he sees the cart smashed up。 Then he
is very apologetic； it is true。 But of what use is that？ As he is
usually of the size and strength of a young bull； and his human
companion is generally a weak…kneed old man or woman； or a small
child； he has his way。 The greatest punishment his proprietor can
inflict upon him is to leave him at home； and take the cart out
alone。 But your German is too kind…hearted to do this often。
That he is harnessed to the cart for anybody's pleasure but his own
it is impossible to believe； and I am confident that the German
peasant plans the tiny harness and fashions the little cart purely
with the hope of gratifying his dog。 In other countriesin
Belgium； Holland and FranceI have seen these draught dogs ill…
treated and over…worked； but in Germany； never。 Germans abuse
animals shockingly。 I have seen a German stand in front of his
horse and call it every name he could lay his tongue to。 But the
horse did not mind it。 I have seen a German； weary with abusing
his horse； call to his wife to come out and assist him。 When she
came； he told her what the horse had done。 The recital roused the
woman's temper to almost equal heat with his own； and standing one
each side of the poor beast； they both abused it。 They abused its
dead mother； they insulted its father； they made cutting remarks
about its personal appearance； its intelligence； its moral sense；
its general ability as a horse。 The animal bore the torrent with
exemplary patience for awhile； then it did the best thing possible
to do under the circumstances。 Without losing its own temper； it
moved quietly away。 The lady returned to her washing； and the man
followed it up the street； still abusing it。
A kinder…hearted people than the Germans there is no need for。
Cruelty to animal or child is a thing almost unknown in the land。
The whip with them is a musical instrument； its crack is heard from
morning to night； but an Italian coachman that in the streets of
Dresden I once saw use it was very nearly lynched by the indignant
crowd。 Germany is the only country in Europe where the traveller
can settle himself comfortably in his hired carriage； confident
that his gentle； willing friend between the shafts will be neither
over…worked nor cruelly treated。
CHAPTER XI
Black Forest House： and the sociability thereinIts perfume
George positively declines to remain in bed after four o'clock in
the morningThe road one cannot missMy peculiar extra instinct
An ungrateful partyHarris as a scientistHis cheery confidence
The village： where it was； and where it ought to have been
George： his planWe promenade a la FrancaisThe German coachman
asleep and awakeThe man who spreads the English language abroad。
There was one night when； tired out and far from town or village；
we slept in a Black Forest farmhouse。 The great charm about the
Black Forest house is its soci