Part 3 (1/2)
It is fear. Each day inevitably, at the end of the village street, he meets the dog that belongs to the big butcher, and each day his heart shrivels and his legs grow weak at the sight. It is not the pig man's dog ever attacks or menaces him. He just sits peaceably on the threshold of his master's shop. But he is black, and his eyes are fixed and bloodshot, and sharp, white teeth show beneath his baboon jaws. He is terrifying. And then he sits there in the midst of all sorts of meat cut up for pies and hashes, and seems the more terrible on that account. Of course no one supposes he has been the cause of all this carnage, but he presides over it. He's a fierce dog, the pig man's. And so, as far away as Frederick can see him in the doorway, he picks up a big stone, following the example of men he has seen arm themselves in this way against surly dogs, and goes hugging the wall of the house across the street from the pig butcher's closely.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THEY SING LIKE THE NIGHTINGALE BECAUSE THEIR HEARTS ARE GAY. THEY SING AN OLD SONG THAT THEIR GRANDMOTHERS SANG WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE GIRLS AND WHICH ONE DAY THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WILL SING, FOR SONGS ARE FRAIL IMMORTALS WHICH FLY FROM LIP TO LIP THROUGHOUT THE AGES.
_Printed in France_]
This time he has followed this practice, but Louisa mocks at him.
She has taken none of these violent precautions, against which people always arm themselves more violently still. No, she doesn't even speak to him, but keeps on singing, only changing her tone in such a mocking way that Frederick grows red to his ears. Then there is great travail in his little head. He understands that he must fear fear as much as danger. And he is afraid to be afraid.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
And so, when school is out, and he sees the pig man's dog again, he stalks by that astonished animal proudly.
History adds that he looked at Louisa out of the corner of his eye to see if she were looking. It must be admitted that with no ladies or young maidens in the world men might be less brave.
CATHERINE'S DAY
Five o'clock, and Miss Catherine is receiving her dolls. It is her day at home. The dolls don't talk: the little genius that gave them smiles refused them speech. It must have been done for the good of the world, for if dolls could talk people would listen to no one else. However, the circle to-day is very animated. Miss Catherine talks for her visitors as well as for herself. She makes the questions and gives the answers.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
”How are you, madame?--Very well, madame. I broke my arm yesterday morning going to buy some gloves, but it's cured now.--Oh, that's good.
And how is your little girl?--She has the whooping cough.--Oh, what a pity! Does she cough much?--No, it's a whooping cough that has no cough.
You know, madame, I had two children last week?--Really? That makes four.--Four or five, I don't know which. When you have so many you get confused.--You have a very pretty dress on.--Oh, I have still nicer ones at home--Do you go to the theatre?--Every evening.--I went yesterday to the opera, but Punch did not act, because a wolf ate him up.--I, my dear, go to a dance every day.--That's very amusing.--Yes, I wear a blue dress and I dance with all the young people, the very nicest, generals, princes, confectioners.--You are as pretty as heart could wish to-day, little one.--It's the springtime.--Yes, but too bad it snows.--I like the snow, because it's so white.--Oh, but this is black snow.--Yes, isn't it a horrid kind?”
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LITTLE GENIUS THAT GAVE THEM SMILES REFUSED THEM SPEECH. IT MUST HAVE BEEN DONE FOR THE GOOD OF THE WORLD. FOR IF DOLLS COULD TALK PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO NO ONE ELSE. HOWEVER, THE CIRCLE TO-DAY IS VERY ANIMATED. MISS CATHERINE TALKS FOR HER VISITORS AS WELL AS FOR HER SELF.
_Printed in France_]