But Mary spoilt it all, when I sent David back to her in the morning, by inquiring too curiously1 into his person and discovering that I had put his combinations on him with the buttons to the front. For this I wrote her the following insulting letter. When Mary does anything that specially2 annoys me I send her an insulting letter. I once had a photograph taken of David being hanged on a tree. I sent her that. You can’t think of all the subtle ways of grieving her I have. No woman with the spirit of a crow would stand it.
“Dear Madam [I wrote]: It has come to my knowledge that when you walk in the Gardens with the boy David you listen avidly3 for encomiums of him and of your fanciful dressing4 of him by passers-by, storing them in your heart the while you make vain pretence5 to regard them not: wherefore lest you be swollen6 by these very small things I, who now know David both by day and by night, an minded to compare him and Porthos the one with the other, both in this matter and in other matters of graver account. And touching7 this matter of outward show, they are both very lordly, and neither of them likes it to be referred to, but they endure in different ways. For David says ‘Oh, bother!’ and even at times hits out, but Porthos droops8 his tail and lets them have their say. yet is he extolled9 as beautiful and a darling ten times for the once that David is extolled.
“The manners of Porthos are therefore prettier than the manners of David, who when he has sent me to hide from him behind a tree sometimes comes not in search, and on emerging tamely from my concealment10 I find him playing other games entirely11 forgetful of my existence. Whereas Porthos always comes in search. Also if David wearies of you he scruples12 not to say so, but Porthos, in like circumstances, offers you his paw, meaning ‘Farewell,’ and t o bearded men he does this all the time (I think because of a hereditary13 distaste for goats), so that they conceive him to be enamoured of them when he is only begging them courteously14 to go. Thus while the manners of Porthos are more polite it may be argued that those of David are more efficacious.
“In gentleness David compares ill with Porthos. For whereas the one shoves and has been known to kick on slight provocation15, the other, who is noisily hated of all small dogs by reason of his size, remonstrates16 not, even when they cling in froth and fury to his chest, but carries them along tolerantly until they drop off from fatigue17. Again, David will not unbend when in the company of babies, expecting them unreasonably18 to rise to his level, but contrariwise Porthos, though terrible to tramps, suffers all things of babies, even to an exploration of his mouth in an attempt to discover what his tongue is like at the other end. The comings and goings of David are unnoticed by perambulators, which lie in wait for the advent19 of Porthos. The strong and wicked fear Porthos but no little creature fears him, not the hedgehogs he conveys from place to place in his mouth, nor the sparrows that steal his straw from under him.
“In proof of which gentleness I adduce his adventure with the rabbit. Having gone for a time to reside in a rabbit country Porthos was elated to discover at last something small that ran from him, and developing at once into an ecstatic sportsman he did pound hotly in pursuit, though always overshooting the mark by a hundred yards or so and wondering very much what had become of the rabbit. There was a steep path, from the top of which the rabbit suddenly came into view, and the practice of Porthos was to advance up it on tiptoe, turning near the summit to give me a knowing look and then bounding forward. The rabbit here did something tricky20 with a hole in the ground, but Porthos tore onwards in full faith that the game was being played fairly, and always returned panting and puzzling but glorious.
“I sometimes shuddered22 to think of his perplexity should he catch the rabbit, which however was extremely unlikely; nevertheless he did catch it, I know not how, but presume it to have been another than the one of which he was in chase. I found him with it, his brows furrowed23 in the deepest thought. The rabbit, terrified but uninjured, cowered24 beneath him. Porthos gave me a happy look and again dropped into a weighty frame of mind. ‘What is the next thing one does?’ was obviously the puzzle with him, and the position was scarcely less awkward for the rabbit, which several times made a move to end this intolerable suspense25. Whereupon Porthos immediately gave it a warning tap with his foot, and again fell to pondering. The strain on me was very great.
“At last they seemed to hit upon a compromise. Porthos looked over his shoulder very self- consciously, and the rabbit at first slowly and then in a flash withdrew. Porthos pretended to make a search for it, but you cannot think how relieved he looked. He even tried to brazen26 out his disgrace before me and waved his tail appealingly. But he could not look me in the face, and when he saw that this was what I insisted on he collapsed27 at my feet and moaned. There were real tears in his eyes, and I was touched, and swore to him that he had done everything a dog could do, and though he knew I was lying he became happy again. For so long as I am pleased with him, ma’am, nothing else greatly matters to Porthos. I told this story to David, having first extracted a promise from him that he would not think the less of Porthos, and now I must demand the same promise of you. Also, an admission that in innocence28 of heart, for which David has been properly commended, he can nevertheless teach Porthos nothing, but on the contrary may learn much from him.
“And now to come to those qualities in which David excels over Porthos--the first is that he is no snob29 but esteems30 the girl Irene (pretentiously called his nurse) more than any fine lady, and envies every ragged31 boy who can hit to leg. Whereas Porthos would have every class keep its place, and though fond of going down into the kitchen, always barks at the top of the stairs for a servile invitation before he graciously descends32. Most of the servants in our street have had the loan of him to be photographed with, and I have but now seen him stalking off for that purpose with a proud little housemaid who is looking up to him as if he were a warrior33 for whom she had paid a shilling.
“Again, when David and Porthos are in their bath, praise is due to the one and must be withheld34 from the other. For David, as I have noticed, loves to splash in his bath and to slip back into it from the hands that would transfer him to a towel. But Porthos stands in his bath drooping35 abjectly36 like a shamed figure cut out of some limp material.
“Furthermore, the inventiveness of David is beyond that of Porthos, who cannot play by himself, and knows not even how to take a solitary37 walk, while David invents playfully all day long. Lastly, when David is discovered of some offence and expresses sorrow therefor, he does that thing no more for a time, but looks about him for other offences, whereas Porthos incontinently repeats his offence, in other words, he again buries his bone in the back-yard, and marvels38 greatly that I know it, although his nose be crusted with earth.
“Touching these matters, therefore, let it be granted that David excels Porthos; and in divers39 similar qualities the one is no more than a match for the other, as in the quality of curiosity; for, if a parcel comes into my chambers40 Porthos is miserable41 until it is opened, and I have noticed the same thing of David.
“Also there is the taking of medicine. For at production of the vial all gaiety suddenly departs from Porthos and he looks the other way, but if I say I have forgotten to have the vial refilled he skips joyfully42, yet thinks he still has a right to a chocolate, and when I remarked disparagingly43 on this to David he looked so shy that there was revealed to me a picture of a certain lady treating him for youthful maladies.
“A thing to be considered of in both is their receiving of punishments, and I am now reminded that the girl Irene (whom I take in this matter to be your mouthpiece) complains that I am not sufficiently44 severe with David, and do leave the chiding45 of him for offences against myself to her in the hope that he will love her less and me more thereby46. Which we have hotly argued in the Gardens to the detriment47 of our dignity. And I here say that if I am slow to be severe to David, the reason thereof is that I dare not be severe to Porthos, and I have ever sought to treat the one the same as the other.
“Now I refrain from raising hand or voice to Porthos because his great heart is night to breaking if he so much as suspects that all is not well between him and me, and having struck him once some years ago never can I forget the shudder21 which passed through him when he saw it was I who had struck, and I shall strike him, ma’am, no more. But when he is detected in any unseemly act now, it is my stern practice to cane48 my writing-table in his presence, and even this punishment is almost more than he can bear. Wherefore if such chastisement49 inflicted50 on David encourages him but to enter on fresh trespasses51 (as the girl Irene avers), the reason must be that his heart is not like unto that of the noble Porthos.
“And if you retort that David is naturally a depraved little boy, and so demands harsher measure, I have still my answer, to wit, what is the manner of severity meted52 out to him at home? And lest you should shuffle53 in your reply I shall mention a notable passage that has come to my ears.
“As thus, that David having heard a horrid54 word in the street, uttered it with unction in the home. That the mother threatened corporal punishment, whereat the father tremblingly intervened. That David continuing to rejoice exceedingly in his word, the father spoke55 darkly of a cane, but the mother rushed between the combatants. That the problematical chastisement became to David an object of romantic interest. That this darkened the happy home. That casting from his path a weeping mother, the goaded56 father at last dashed from the house yelling that he was away to buy a cane. That he merely walked the streets white to the lips because of the terror David must now be feeling. And that when he returned, it was David radiant with hope who opened the door and then burst into tears because there was no cane. Truly, ma’am, you are a fitting person to tax me with want of severity. Rather should you be giving thanks that it is not you I am comparing with Porthos.
“But to make an end of this comparison, I mention that Porthos is ever wishful to express gratitude57 for my kindness to him, so that looking up from my book I see his mournful eyes fixed58 upon me with a passionate59 attachment60, and then I know that the well-night unbearable61 sadness which comes into the face of dogs is because they cannot say Thank you to their masters. Whereas David takes my kindness as his right. But for this, while I should chide62 him I cannot do so, for of all the ways David has of making me to love him the most poignant63 is that he expects it of me as a matter of course. David is all for fun, but none may plumb64 the depths of Porthos. Nevertheless I am most nearly doing so when I lie down beside him on the floor and he puts an arm about my neck. On my soul, ma’am, a protecting arm. At such times it is as if each of us knew what was the want of the other.
“Thus weighing Porthos with David it were hard to tell which is the worthier65. Wherefore do you keep your boy while I keep my dog, and so we shall both be pleased.”
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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avidly
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| adv.渴望地，热心地 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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droops
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的名词复数 ) | |
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extolled
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| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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remonstrates
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的第三人称单数 )；告诫 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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unreasonably
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| adv. 不合理地 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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tricky
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| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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snob
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| n.势利小人，自以为高雅、有学问的人 | |
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esteems
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| n.尊敬，好评( esteem的名词复数 )v.尊敬( esteem的第三人称单数 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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abjectly
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| 凄惨地； 绝望地； 糟透地； 悲惨地 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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disparagingly
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| adv.以贬抑的口吻，以轻视的态度 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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chiding
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的现在分词 ) | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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48
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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trespasses
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| 罪过( trespass的名词复数 )； 非法进入 | |
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52
meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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54
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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56
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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chide
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| v.叱责；谴责 | |
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poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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worthier
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| 应得某事物( worthy的比较级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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