“He gave tongue so very unexpectedly,” I said. “Poor fellow! Poor
fellow!”
I was speaking to the dog, but I did not go towards him. The faint
disgust with which he had already inspired me in the Park was stronger
now that I was with him in a room. I was conscious of an almost
invincible desire to go straight out of the house, to get into the open
air, quickly, without delay. But with this feeling blended another,
more subtle, one that surprised me by its force.
I longed, before I went, to untie that crouching dog, to let him escape
from the room, the house, to set him free. With the disgust of him
mingled a curious pity for him that was inexplicable to me then.
I think Lord Elyn shared my feelings, but he acted differently from me.
For, whereas I now moved away to go, he suddenly, with determination,
walked forward towards the spaniel. Seeing this, I stopped just outside
the door in the corridor. From there I witnessed a sight that increased
my sensation of pity, and at the same time deepened my sensation of
disgust.
Lord Elyn, when he was near the spaniel, bent down a little, snapping
his fingers and saying, “Poor beast! poor beast!” whereupon the dog
suddenly sprang up from the floor against his breast, in an obvious
attempt to nestle into his arms as if for protection against some
danger. Lord Elyn, surprised, tried to hold him, but failed, and let
him drop heavily to the floor.
Vernon interposed. Going forward quickly he said, “I’m awfully sorry,
Lord Elyn. He’s muddied you. Come out and Cragg shall brush it off.”
The dog shrank back against the curtain.
“Oh, it doesn’t matter,” Lord Elyn began.
But Vernon took his arm and drew him with a sort of gentle
inflexibility towards the door and into the corridor where I was
standing.
“Cragg,” Vernon called; “Cragg.”
“Sir,” said the man coming from the hall.
Vernon shut the door of the study sharply.
“Just get a brush, will you? The dog has put his dirty paws on Lord
Elyn’s coat.”
“Certainly, Sir.”
He turned on the electric light. Lord Elyn stood under it to be
brushed. I noticed that his face looked very white, but thought it
might be the effect of the light upon it. When Cragg had finished, Lord
Elyn said—
“Good-night, Vernon,” and walked hastily towards the hall door.
“May I come with you?” I said.
“Do.”
I bade Vernon good-bye with a word and a hand-grasp, and in a moment
Lord Elyn and I were out in the street.
“Ouf!” said Lord Elyn, blowing out his breath.
He stood still, looking towards that part of the house which had been
Deeming’s.
“By Jove!” he said, as if speaking to himself.