CONTENTS
THESHE-WOLF
LAURA
THEBOAR-PIG
THEBROGUE
THEHEN
THEOPENWINDOW
THETREASURE-SHIP
THECOBWEB
THELULL
THEUNKINDESTBLOW
THEROMANCERS
THESCHARTZ-METTERKLUMEMETHOD
THESEVENTHPULLET
THEBLINDSPOT
DUSK
ATOUCHOFREALISM
COUSINTERESA
THEYARKANDMANNER
THEBYZANTINEOMELETTE
THEFEASTOFNEMESIS
THEDREAMER
THEQUINCETREE
THEFORBIDDENBUZZARDS
THESTAKE
CLOVISONPARENTALRESPONSIBILITIES
AHOLIDAYTASK
THESTALLEDOX
THESTORY-TELLER
ADEFENSIVEDIAMOND
THEELK
"DOWNPENS"
THENAME-DAY
THELUMBERROOM
FUR
THEPHILANTHROPISTANDTHEHAPPYCAT
ONAPPROVAL
BeastsandSuper-BeastsTHESHE-WOLF
LEONARDBILSITERwasoneofthosepeoplewhohavefailedtofindthisworldattractiveorinteresting，andwhohavesoughtcompensationinan"unseenworld"oftheirownexperienceorimagination-orinvention。
Childrendothatsortofthingsuccessfully，butchildrenarecontenttoconvincethemselves，anddonotvulgarisetheirbeliefsbytryingtoconvinceotherpeople。
LeonardBilsiter'sbeliefswerefor"thefew，"thatistosay，anyonewhowouldlistentohim。
Hisdabblingsintheunseenmightnothavecarriedhimbeyondthecustomaryplatitudesofthedrawing-roomvisionaryifaccidenthadnotreinforcedhisstock-in-
tradeofmysticallore。Incompanywithafriend，whowasinterestedinaUralminingconcern，hehadmadeatripacrossEasternEuropeatamomentwhenthegreatRussianrailwaystrikewasdevelopingfromathreattoareality；itsoutbreakcaughthimonthereturnjourney，somewhereonthefurthersideofPerm，anditwaswhilewaitingforacoupleofdaysatawaysidestationinastateofsuspendedlocomotionthathemadetheacquaintanceofadealerinharnessandmetalware，whoprofitablywhiledawaythetediumofthelonghaltbyinitiatinghisEnglishtravellingcompanioninafragmentarysystemoffolk-lorethathehadpickedupfromTrans-Baikaltradersandnatives。LeonardreturnedtohishomecirclegarrulousabouthisRussianstrikeexperiences，butoppressivelyreticentaboutcertaindarkmysteries，whichhealludedtoundertheresoundingtitleofSiberianMagic。Thereticenceworeoffinaweekortwoundertheinfluenceofanentirelackofgeneralcuriosity，andLeonardbegantomakemoredetailedallusionstotheenormouspowerswhichthisnewesotericforce，tousehisowndescriptionofit，conferredontheinitiatedfewwhoknewhowtowieldit。Hisaunt，CeciliaHoops，wholovedsensationperhapsratherbetterthanshelovedthetruth，gavehimasclamorousanadvertisementasanyonecouldwishforbyretailinganaccountofhowhehadturnedavegetablemarrowintoawoodpigeonbeforeherveryeyes。Asamanifestationofthepossessionofsupernaturalpowers，thestorywasdiscountedinsomequartersbytherespectaccordedtoMrs。Hoops'powersofimagination。
HoweverdividedopinionmightbeonthequestionofLeonard'sstatusasawonderworkeroracharlatan，hecertainlyarrivedatMaryHampton'shouse-partywithareputationforpre-eminenceinoneorotherofthoseprofessions，andhewasnotdisposedtoshunsuchpublicityasmightfalltohisshare。Esotericforcesandunusualpowersfiguredlargelyinwhateverconversationheorhisaunthadasharein，andhisownperformances，pastandpotential，werethesubjectofmysterioushintsanddarkavowals。
"Iwishyouwouldturnmeintoawolf，Mr。
Bilsiter，"saidhishostessatluncheonthedayafterhisarrival。
"MydearMary，"saidColonelHampton，"Ineverknewyouhadacravinginthatdirection。"
"Ashe-wolf，ofcourse，"continuedMrs。Hampton；itwouldbetooconfusingtochangeone'ssexaswellasone'sspeciesatamoment'snotice。"
"Idon'tthinkoneshouldjestonthesesubjects，"
saidLeonard。
"I'mnotjesting，I'mquiteserious，Iassureyou。
Onlydon'tdoitto-day；wehaveonlyeightavailablebridgeplayers，anditwouldbreakuponeofourtables。
To-morrowweshallbealargerparty。To-morrownight，afterdinner-"
"InourpresentimperfectunderstandingofthesehiddenforcesIthinkoneshouldapproachthemwithhumblenessratherthanmockery，"observedLeonard，withsuchseveritythatthesubjectwasforthwithdropped。
ClovisSangrailhadsatunusuallysilentduringthediscussiononthepossibilitiesofSiberianMagic；afterlunchheside-trackedLordPabhamintothecomparativeseclusionofthebilliard-roomanddeliveredhimselfofasearchingquestion。
"Haveyousuchathingasashe-wolfinyourcollectionofwildanimals？Ashe-wolfofmoderatelygoodtemper？"
LordPabhamconsidered。"ThereisLoiusa，"hesaid，"aratherfinespecimenofthetimber-wolf。IgothertwoyearsagoinexchangeforsomeArcticfoxes。Mostofmyanimalsgettobefairlytamebeforethey'vebeenwithmeverylong；IthinkIcansayLouisahasanangelictemper，asshe-wolvesgo。Whydoyouask？"
"Iwaswonderingwhetheryouwouldlendhertomeforto-morrownight，"saidClovis，withthecarelesssolicitudeofonewhoborrowsacollarstudoratennisracquet。
"To-morrownight？"
"Yes，wolvesarenocturnalanimals，sothelatehourswon'thurther，"saidClovis，withtheairofonewhohastakeneverythingintoconsideration；"oneofyourmencouldbringheroverfromPabhamParkafterdusk，andwithalittlehelpheoughttobeabletosmuggleherintotheconservatoryatthesamemomentthatMaryHamptonmakesanunobtrusiveexit。"
LordPabhamstaredatClovisforamomentinpardonablebewilderment；thenhisfacebrokeintoawrinklednetworkoflaughter。
"Oh，that'syourgame，isit？YouaregoingtodoalittleSiberianMagiconyourownaccount。AndisMrs。
Hamptonwillingtobeafellow-conspirator？"
"Maryispledgedtoseemethroughwithit，ifyouwillguaranteeLouisa'stemper。"
"I'llanswerforLouisa，"saidLordPabham。
Bythefollowingdaythehouse-partyhadswollentolargerproportions，andBilsiter'sinstinctforself-
advertisementexpandeddulyunderthestimulantofanincreasedaudience。Atdinnerthateveningheheldforthatlengthonthesubjectofunseenforcesanduntestedpowers，andhisflowofimpressiveeloquencecontinuedunabatedwhilecoffeewasbeingservedinthedrawing-
roompreparatorytoageneralmigrationtothecard-room。
Hisauntensuredarespectfulhearingforhisutterances，buthersensation-lovingsoulhankeredaftersomethingmoredramaticthanmerevocaldemonstration。
"Won'tyoudosomethingtoCONVINCEthemofyourpowers，Leonard？"shepleaded；"changesomethingintoanothershape。Hecan，youknow，ifheonlychoosesto，"
sheinformedthecompany。
"Oh，do，"saidMavisPellingtonearnestly，andherrequestwasechoedbynearlyeveryonepresent。Eventhosewhowerenotopentoconvictionwereperfectlywillingtobeentertainedbyanexhibitionofamateurconjuring。
Leonardfeltthatsomethingtangiblewasexpectedofhim。
"Hasanyonepresent，"heasked，"gotathree-pennybitorsomesmallobjectofnoparticularvalue-？"
"You'resurelynotgoingtomakecoinsdisappear，orsomethingprimitiveofthatsort？"saidCloviscontemptuously。
"Ithinkitveryunkindofyounottocarryoutmysuggestionofturningmeintoawolf，"saidMaryHampton，asshecrossedovertotheconservatorytogivehermacawstheirusualtributefromthedessertdishes。
"Ihavealreadywarnedyouofthedangeroftreatingthesepowersinamockingspirit，"saidLeonardsolemnly。
"Idon'tbelieveyoucandoit，"laughedMaryprovocativelyfromtheconservatory；"Idareyoutodoitifyoucan。Idefyyoutoturnmeintoawolf。"
Asshesaidthisshewaslosttoviewbehindaclumpofazaleas。
"Mrs。Hampton-"beganLeonardwithincreasedsolemnity，buthegotnofurther。Abreathofchillairseemedtorushacrosstheroom，andatthesametimethemacawsbrokeforthintoear-splittingscreams。
"Whatonearthisthematterwiththoseconfoundedbirds，Mary？"exclaimedColonelHampton；atthesamemomentanevenmorepiercingscreamfromMavisPellingtonstampededtheentirecompanyfromtheirseats。Invariousattitudesofhelplesshorrororinstinctivedefencetheyconfrontedtheevil-lookinggreybeastthatwaspeeringatthemfromamidasettingoffernandazalea。
Mrs。Hoopswasthefirsttorecoverfromthegeneralchaosoffrightandbewilderment。
"Leonard！"shescreamedshrillytohernephew，"turnitbackintoMrs。Hamptonatonce！Itmayflyatusatanymoment。Turnitback！"
"I-Idon'tknowhowto，"falteredLeonard，wholookedmorescaredandhorrifiedthananyone。
"What！"shoutedColonelHampton，"you'vetakentheabominablelibertyofturningmywifeintoawolf，andnowyoustandtherecalmlyandsayyoucan'tturnherbackagain！"
TodostrictjusticetoLeonard，calmnesswasnotadistinguishingfeatureofhisattitudeatthemoment。
"IassureyouIdidn'tturnMrs。Hamptonintoawolf；nothingwasfartherfrommyintentions，"heprotested。
"Thenwhereisshe，andhowcamethatanimalintotheconservatory？"demandedtheColonel。
"Ofcoursewemustacceptyourassurancethatyoudidn'tturnMrs。Hamptonintoawolf，"saidClovispolitely，"butyouwillagreethatappearancesareagainstyou。"
"Arewetohavealltheserecriminationswiththatbeaststandingtherereadytotearustopieces？"wailedMavisindignantly。
"LordPabham，youknowagooddealaboutwildbeasts-"suggestedColonelHampton。
"ThewildbeaststhatIhavebeenaccustomedto，"
saidLordPabham，"havecomewithpropercredentialsfromwell-knowndealers，orhavebeenbredinmyownmenagerie。I'veneverbeforebeenconfrontedwithananimalthatwalksunconcernedlyoutofanazaleabush，leavingacharmingandpopularhostessunaccountedfor。
AsfarasonecanjudgefromOUTWARDcharacteristics，"hecontinued，"ithastheappearanceofawell-grownfemaleoftheNorthAmericantimber-wolf，avarietyofthecommonspeciesCANISLUPUS。"
"Oh，neverminditsLatinname，"screamedMavis，asthebeastcameasteportwofurtherintotheroom；
"can'tyouenticeitawaywithfood，andshutitupwhereitcan'tdoanyharm？"
"IfitisreallyMrs。Hampton，whohasjusthadaverygooddinner，Idon'tsupposefoodwillappealtoitverystrongly，"saidClovis。
"Leonard，"beseechedMrs。Hoopstearfully，"evenifthisisnoneofyourdoingcan'tyouuseyourgreatpowerstoturnthisdreadfulbeastintosomethingharmlessbeforeitbitesusall-arabbitorsomething？"
"Idon'tsupposeColonelHamptonwouldcaretohavehiswifeturnedintoasuccessionoffancyanimalsasthoughwewereplayingaroundgamewithher，"interposedClovis。
"Iabsolutelyforbidit，"thunderedtheColonel。
"MostwolvesthatI'vehadanythingtodowithhavebeeninordinatelyfondofsugar，"saidLordPabham；"ifyoulikeI'lltrytheeffectonthisone。"
HetookapieceofsugarfromthesaucerofhiscoffeecupandflungittotheexpectantLouisa，whosnappeditinmid-air。Therewasasighofrelieffromthecompany；awolfthatatesugarwhenitmightattheleasthavebeenemployedintearingmacawstopieceshadalreadyshedsomeofitsterrors。Thesighdeepenedtoagaspofthanks-givingwhenLordPabhamdecoyedtheanimaloutoftheroombyapretendedlargesseoffurthersugar。
Therewasaninstantrushtothevacatedconservatory。
TherewasnotraceofMrs。Hamptonexcepttheplatecontainingthemacaws'supper。
"Thedoorislockedontheinside！"exclaimedClovis，whohaddeftlyturnedthekeyasheaffectedtotestit。
EveryoneturnedtowardsBilsiter。
"Ifyouhaven'tturnedmywifeintoawolf，"saidColonelHampton，"willyoukindlyexplainwhereshehasdisappearedto，sincesheobviouslycouldnothavegonethroughalockeddoor？IwillnotpressyouforanexplanationofhowaNorthAmericantimber-wolfsuddenlyappearedintheconservatory，butIthinkIhavesomerighttoinquirewhathasbecomeofMrs。Hampton。"
Bilsiter'sreiterateddisclaimerwasmetwithageneralmurmurofimpatientdisbelief。
"Irefusetostayanotherhourunderthisroof，"
declaredMavisPellington。
"Ifourhostesshasreallyvanishedoutofhumanform，"saidMrs。Hoops，"noneoftheladiesofthepartycanverywellremain。Iabsolutelydeclinetobechaperonedbyawolf！"
"It'sashe-wolf，"saidClovissoothingly。
Thecorrectetiquettetobeobservedundertheunusualcircumstancesreceivednofurtherelucidation。
ThesuddenentryofMaryHamptondeprivedthediscussionofitsimmediateinterest。
"Someonehasmesmerisedme，"sheexclaimedcrossly；
"Ifoundmyselfinthegamelarder，ofallplaces，beingfedwithsugarbyLordPabham。Ihatebeingmesmerised，andthedoctorhasforbiddenmetotouchsugar。"
Thesituationwasexplainedtoher，asfarasitpermittedofanythingthatcouldbecalledexplanation。
"ThenyouREALLYdidturnmeintoawolf，Mr。
Bilsiter？"sheexclaimedexcitedly。
ButLeonardhadburnedtheboatinwhichhemightnowhaveembarkedonaseaofglory。Hecouldonlyshakehisheadfeebly。
"ItwasIwhotookthatliberty，"saidClovis；"yousee，IhappentohavelivedforacoupleofyearsinNorth-EasternRussia，andIhavemorethanatourist'sacquaintancewiththemagiccraftofthatregion。Onedoesnotcaretospeakaboutthesestrangepowers，butonceinaway，whenonehearsalotofnonsensebeingtalkedaboutthem，oneistemptedtoshowwhatSiberianmagiccanaccomplishinthehandsofsomeonewhoreallyunderstandsit。Iyieldedtothattemptation。MayI
havesomebrandy？theefforthasleftmeratherfaint。"
IfLeonardBilsitercouldatthatmomenthavetransformedClovisintoacockroachandthenhavesteppedonhimhewouldgladlyhaveperformedbothoperations。
LAURA
"YOUarenotreallydying，areyou？"askedAmanda。
"Ihavethedoctor'spermissiontolivetillTuesday，"saidLaura。
"Butto-dayisSaturday；thisisserious！"gaspedAmanda。
"Idon'tknowaboutitbeingserious；itiscertainlySaturday，"saidLaura。
"Deathisalwaysserious，"saidAmanda。
"IneversaidIwasgoingtodie。IampresumablygoingtoleaveoffbeingLaura，butIshallgoonbeingsomething。Ananimalofsomekind，Isuppose。Yousee，whenonehasn'tbeenverygoodinthelifeonehasjustlived，onereincarnatesinsomelowerorganism。AndI
haven'tbeenverygood，whenonecomestothinkofit。
I'vebeenpettyandmeanandvindictiveandallthatsortofthingwhencircumstanceshaveseemedtowarrantit。"
"Circumstancesneverwarrantthatsortofthing，"
saidAmandahastily。
"Ifyoudon'tmindmysayingso，"observedLaura，"Egbertisacircumstancethatwouldwarrantanyamountofthatsortofthing。You'remarriedtohim-that'sdifferent；you'vesworntolove，honour，andendurehim：
Ihaven't。"
"Idon'tseewhat'swrongwithEgbert，"protestedAmanda。
"Oh，Idaresaythewrongnesshasbeenonmypart，"
admittedLauradispassionately；"hehasmerelybeentheextenuatingcircumstance。Hemadeathin，peevishkindoffuss，forinstance，whenItookthecolliepuppiesfromthefarmoutforaruntheotherday。"
"TheychasedhisyoungbroodsofspeckledSussexanddrovetwosittinghensofftheirnests，besidesrunningallovertheflowerbeds。Youknowhowdevotedheistohispoultryandgarden。"
"Anyhow，heneedn'thavegoneonaboutitfortheentireeveningandthenhavesaid，`Let'ssaynomoreaboutit'justwhenIwasbeginningtoenjoythediscussion。That'swhereoneofmypettyvindictiverevengescamein，"addedLaurawithanunrepentantchuckle；"IturnedtheentirefamilyofspeckledSussexintohisseedlingshedthedayafterthepuppyepisode。"
"Howcouldyou？"exclaimedAmanda。
"Itcamequiteeasy，"saidLaura；"twoofthehenspretendedtobelayingatthetime，butIwasfirm。"
"Andwethoughtitwasanaccident！"
"Yousee，"resumedLaura，"IreallyHAVEsomegroundsforsupposingthatmynextincarnationwillbeinalowerorganism。Ishallbeananimalofsomekind。Ontheotherhand，Ihaven'tbeenabadsortinmyway，soI
thinkImaycountonbeinganiceanimal，somethingelegantandlively，withaloveoffun。Anotter，perhaps。"
"Ican'timagineyouasanotter，"saidAmanda。
"Well，Idon'tsupposeyoucanimaginemeasanangel，ifitcomestothat，"saidLaura。
Amandawassilent。Shecouldn't。
"PersonallyIthinkanotterlifewouldberatherenjoyable，"continuedLaura；"salmontoeatalltheyearround，andthesatisfactionofbeingabletofetchthetroutintheirownhomeswithouthavingtowaitforhourstilltheycondescendtorisetotheflyyou'vebeendanglingbeforethem；andanelegantsveltefigure-"
"Thinkoftheotterhounds，"interposedAmanda；"howdreadfultobehuntedandharriedandfinallyworriedtodeath！"
"Ratherfunwithhalftheneighbourhoodlookingon，andanyhownotworsethanthisSaturday-to-Tuesdaybusinessofdyingbyinches；andthenIshouldgoonintosomethingelse。IfIhadbeenamoderatelygoodotterI
supposeIshouldgetbackintohumanshapeofsomesort；
probablysomethingratherprimitive-alittlebrown，unclothedNubianboy，Ishouldthink。"
"Iwishyouwouldbeserious，"sighedAmanda；"youreallyoughttobeifyou'reonlygoingtolivetillTuesday。"
AsamatteroffactLauradiedonMonday。
"Sodreadfullyupsetting，"Amandacomplainedtoheruncle-in-law，SirLulworthQuayne。"I'veaskedquitealotofpeopledownforgolfandfishing，andtherhododendronsarejustlookingtheirbest。"
"Lauraalwayswasinconsiderate，"saidSirLulworth；
"shewasbornduringGoodwoodweek，withanAmbassadorstayinginthehousewhohatedbabies。"
"Shehadthemaddestkindofideas，"saidAmanda；
"doyouknowiftherewasanyinsanityinherfamily？"
"Insanity？No，Ineverheardofany。HerfatherlivesinWestKensington，butIbelievehe'ssaneonallothersubjects。"
"Shehadanideathatshewasgoingtobereincarnatedasanotter，"saidAmanda。
"Onemeetswiththoseideasofreincarnationsofrequently，evenintheWest，"saidSirLulworth，"thatonecanhardlysetthemdownasbeingmad。AndLaurawassuchanunaccountablepersoninthislifethatIshouldnotliketolaydowndefiniterulesastowhatshemightbedoinginanafterstate。"
"Youthinkshereallymighthavepassedintosomeanimalform？"askedAmanda。Shewasoneofthosewhoshapetheiropinionsratherreadilyfromthestandpointofthosearoundthem。
JustthenEgbertenteredthebreakfast-room，wearinganairofbereavementthatLaura'sdemisewouldhavebeeninsufficient，initself，toaccountfor。
"FourofmyspeckledSussexhavebeenkilled，"heexclaimed；"theveryfourthatweretogototheshowonFriday。OneofthemwasdraggedawayandeatenrightinthemiddleofthatnewcarnationbedthatI'vebeentosuchtroubleandexpenseover。Mybestflowerbedandmybestfowlssingledoutfordestruction；italmostseemsasifthebrutethatdidthedeedhadspecialknowledgehowtobeasdevastatingaspossibleinashortspaceoftime。"
"Wasitafox，doyouthink？"askedAmanda。
"Soundsmorelikeapolecat，"saidSirLulworth。
"No，"saidEgbert，"thereweremarksofwebbedfeetallovertheplace，andwefollowedthetracksdowntothestreamatthebottomofthegarden；evidentlyanotter。"
AmandalookedquicklyandfurtivelyacrossatSirLulworth。
Egbertwastooagitatedtoeatanybreakfast，andwentouttosuperintendthestrengtheningofthepoultryyarddefences。
"Ithinkshemightatleasthavewaitedtillthefuneralwasover，"saidAmandainascandalisedvoice。
"It'sherownfuneral，youknow，"saidSirLulworth；
"it'sanicepointinetiquettehowfaroneoughttoshowrespecttoone'sownmortalremains。"
Disregardformortuaryconventionwascarriedtofurtherlengthsnextday；duringtheabsenceofthefamilyatthefuneralceremonytheremainingsurvivorsofthespeckledSussexweremassacred。Themarauder'slineofretreatseemedtohaveembracedmostoftheflowerbedsonthelawn，butthestrawberrybedsinthelowergardenhadalsosuffered。
"Ishallgettheotterhoundstocomehereattheearliestpossiblemoment，"saidEgbertsavagely。
"Onnoaccount！Youcan'tdreamofsuchathing！"
exclaimedAmanda。"Imean，itwouldn'tdo，sosoonafterafuneralinthehouse。"
"It'sacaseofnecessity，"saidEgbert；"onceanottertakestothatsortofthingitwon'tstop。"
"Perhapsitwillgoelsewherenowtherearenomorefowlsleft，"suggestedAmanda。
"Onewouldthinkyouwantedtoshieldthebeast，"
saidEgbert。
"There'sbeensolittlewaterinthestreamlately，"
objectedAmanda；"itseemshardlysportingtohuntananimalwhenithassolittlechanceoftakingrefugeanywhere。"
"Goodgracious！"fumedEgbert，"I'mnotthinkingaboutsport。Iwanttohavetheanimalkilledassoonaspossible。"
EvenAmanda'soppositionweakenedwhen，duringchurchtimeonthefollowingSunday，theottermadeitswayintothehouse，raidedhalfasalmonfromthelarderandworrieditintoscalyfragmentsonthePersianruginEgbert'sstudio。
"Weshallhaveithidingunderourbedsandbitingpiecesoutofourfeetbeforelong，"saidEgbert，andfromwhatAmandaknewofthisparticularottershefeltthatthepossibilitywasnotaremoteone。
OntheeveningprecedingthedayfixedforthehuntAmandaspentasolitaryhourwalkingbythebanksofthestream，makingwhatsheimaginedtobehoundnoises。Itwascharitablysupposedbythosewhooverheardherperformance，thatshewaspractisingforfarmyardimitationsattheforth-comingvillageentertainment。
Itwasherfriendandneighbour，AuroraBurret，whobroughthernewsoftheday'ssport。
"Pityyouweren'tout；wehadquiteagoodday。Wefoundatonce，inthepooljustbelowyourgarden。"
"Didyou-kill？"askedAmanda。
"Rather。Afineshe-otter。Yourhusbandgotratherbadlybittenintryingto'tailit。'Poorbeast，Ifeltquitesorryforit，ithadsuchahumanlookinitseyeswhenitwaskilled。You'llcallmesilly，butdoyouknowwhothelookremindedmeof？Mydearwoman，whatisthematter？"
WhenAmandahadrecoveredtoacertainextentfromherattackofnervousprostrationEgberttookhertotheNileValleytorecuperate。Changeofscenespeedilybroughtaboutthedesiredrecoveryofhealthandmentalbalance。Theescapadesofanadventurousotterinsearchofavariationofdietwereviewedintheirproperlight。
Amanda'snormallyplacidtemperamentreasserteditself。
Evenahurricaneofshoutedcurses，comingfromherhusband'sdressing-room，inherhusband'svoice，buthardlyinhisusualvocabulary，failedtodisturbherserenityasshemadealeisurelytoiletoneeveninginaCairohotel。
"Whatisthematter？Whathashappened？"sheaskedinamusedcuriosity。
"Thelittlebeasthasthrownallmycleanshirtsintothebath！WaittillIcatchyou，youlittle-"
"Whatlittlebeast？"askedAmanda，suppressingadesiretolaugh；Egbert'slanguagewassohopelesslyinadequatetoexpresshisoutragedfeelings。
"AlittlebeastofanakedbrownNubianboy，"
splutteredEgbert。
AndnowAmandaisseriouslyill。
THEBOAR-PIG
"THEREisabackwayontothelawn，"saidMrs。
PhilidoreStossentoherdaughter，"throughasmallgrasspaddockandthenthroughawalledfruitgardenfullofgooseberrybushes。Iwentallovertheplacelastyearwhenthefamilywereaway。Thereisadoorthatopensfromthefruitgardenintoashrubbery，andonceweemergefromtherewecanminglewiththeguestsasifwehadcomeinbytheordinaryway。It'smuchsaferthangoinginbythefrontentranceandrunningtheriskofcomingbangupagainstthehostess；thatwouldbesoawkwardwhenshedoesn'thappentohaveinvitedus。"
"Isn'titalotoftroubletotakeforgettingadmittancetoagardenparty？"
"Toagardenparty，yes；toTHEgardenpartyoftheseason，certainlynot。Everyoneofanyconsequenceinthecounty，withtheexceptionofourselves，hasbeenaskedtomeetthePrincess，anditwouldbefarmoretroublesometoinventexplanationsastowhyweweren'ttherethantogetinbyaroundaboutway。IstoppedMrs。
CuveringintheroadyesterdayandtalkedverypointedlyaboutthePrincess。Ifshedidn'tchoosetotakethehintandsendmeaninvitationit'snotmyfault，isit？
Hereweare：wejustcutacrossthegrassandthroughthatlittlegateintothegarden。"
Mrs。Stossenandherdaughter，suitablyarrayedforacountygardenpartyfunctionwithaninfusionofAlmanackdeGotha，sailedthroughthenarrowgrasspaddockandtheensuinggooseberrygardenwiththeairofstatebargesmakinganunofficialprogressalongaruraltroutstream。Therewasacertainamountoffurtivehastemingledwiththestatelinessoftheiradvance，asthoughhostilesearch-lightsmightbeturnedonthematanymoment；and，asamatteroffact，theywerenotunobserved。MatildaCuvering，withthealerteyesofthirteenyearsoldandtheaddedadvantageofanexaltedpositioninthebranchesofamedlartree，hadenjoyedagoodviewoftheStossenflankingmovementandhadforeseenexactlywhereitwouldbreakdowninexecution。
"They'llfindthedoorlocked，andthey'lljollywellhavetogobackthewaytheycame，"sheremarkedtoherself。"Servesthemrightfornotcominginbytheproperentrance。WhatapityTarquinSuperbusisn'tlooseinthepaddock。Afterall，aseveryoneelseisenjoyingthemselves，Idon'tseewhyTarquinshouldn'thaveanafternoonout。"
Matildawasofanagewhenthoughtisaction；shesliddownfromthebranchesofthemedlartree，andwhensheclamberedbackagainTarquin，thehugewhiteYorkshireboar-pig，hadexchangedthenarrowlimitsofhisstyeforthewiderrangeofthegrasspaddock。ThediscomfitedStossenexpedition，returninginrecriminatorybutotherwiseorderlyretreatfromtheunyieldingobstacleofthelockeddoor，cametoasuddenhaltatthegatedividingthepaddockfromthegooseberrygarden。
"Whatavillainous-lookinganimal，"exclaimedMrs。
Stossen；"itwasn'ttherewhenwecamein。"
"It'stherenow，anyhow，"saidherdaughter。"Whatoneartharewetodo？Iwishwehadnevercome。"
Theboar-pighaddrawnnearertothegateforacloserinspectionofthehumanintruders，andstoodchampinghisjawsandblinkinghissmallredeyesinamannerthatwasdoubtlessintendedtobedisconcerting，and，asfarastheStossenswereconcerned，thoroughlyachievedthatresult。
"Shoo！Hish！Hish！Shoo！"criedtheladiesinchorus。
"Iftheythinkthey'regoingtodrivehimawaybyrecitinglistsofthekingsofIsraelandJudahthey'relayingthemselvesoutfordisappointment，"observedMatildafromherseatinthemedlartree。AsshemadetheobservationaloudMrs。Stossenbecameforthefirsttimeawareofherpresence。Amomentortwoearliershewouldhavebeenanythingbutpleasedatthediscoverythatthegardenwasnotasdesertedasitlooked，butnowshehailedthefactofthechild'spresenceonthescenewithabsoluterelief。
"Littlegirl，canyoufindsomeonetodriveaway-
"shebeganhopefully。
"COMMENT？COMPRENDSPAS，"wastheresponse。
"Oh，areyouFrench？ETESVOUSFRANCAISE？"
"PASDETOUS。'SUISANGLAISE。"
"ThenwhynottalkEnglish？Iwanttoknowif-"
"PERMETTEZ-MOIEXPLIQUER。Yousee，I'mratherunderacloud，"saidMatilda。"I'mstayingwithmyaunt，andI
wastoldImustbehaveparticularlywellto-day，aslotsofpeoplewerecomingforagardenparty，andIwastoldtoimitateClaude，that'smyyoungcousin，whoneverdoesanythingwrongexceptbyaccident，andthenisalwaysapologeticaboutit。ItseemstheythoughtIatetoomuchraspberrytrifleatlunch，andtheysaidClaudenevereatstoomuchraspberrytrifle。Well，Claudealwaysgoestosleepforhalfanhourafterlunch，becausehe'stoldto，andIwaitedtillhewasasleep，andtiedhishandsandstartedforciblefeedingwithawholebucketfulofraspberrytriflethattheywerekeepingforthegarden-party。Lotsofitwentontohissailor-suitandsomeofitontothebed，butagooddealwentdownClaude'sthroat，andtheycan'tsayagainthathehasneverbeenknowntoeattoomuchraspberrytrifle。
ThatiswhyIamnotallowedtogototheparty，andasanadditionalpunishmentImustspeakFrenchalltheafternoon。I'vehadtotellyouallthisinEnglish，astherewerewordslike`forciblefeeding'thatIdidn'tknowtheFrenchfor；ofcourseIcouldhaveinventedthem，butifIhadsaidNOURRITUREOBLIGATOIREyouwouldn'thavehadtheleastideawhatIwastalkingabout。MAISMAINTENANT，NOUSPARLONSFRANCAIS。"
"Oh，verywell，TRESBIEN，"saidMrs。Stossenreluctantly；inmomentsofflurrysuchFrenchassheknewwasnotunderverygoodcontrol。"LA，AL'AUTRECOTEDE
LAPORTE，ESTUNCOCHON-"
"UNCOCHON？AH，LEPETITCHARMANT！"exclaimedMatildawithenthusiasm。
"MAISNON，PASDUTOUTPETIT，ETPASDUTOUT
CHARMANT；UNBETEFEROCE-"
"UNEBETE，"correctedMatilda；"apigismasculineaslongasyoucallitapig，butifyouloseyourtemperwithitandcallitaferociousbeastitbecomesoneofusatonce。Frenchisadreadfullyunsexinglanguage。"
"Forgoodness'sakeletustalkEnglishthen，"saidMrs。Stossen。"Isthereanywayoutofthisgardenexceptthroughthepaddockwherethepigis？"
"Ialwaysgooverthewall，bywayoftheplumtree，"saidMatilda。
"Dressedaswearewecouldhardlydothat，"saidMrs。Stossen；itwasdifficulttoimagineherdoingitinanycostume。
"Doyouthinkyoucouldgoandgetsomeonewhowoulddrivethepigaway？"askedMissStossen。
"IpromisedmyauntIwouldstayheretillfiveo'clock；it'snotfouryet。"
"Iamsure，underthecircumstances，yourauntwouldpermit-"
"Myconsciencewouldnotpermit，"saidMatildawithcolddignity。
"Wecan'tstayheretillfiveo'clock，"exclaimedMrs。Stossenwithgrowingexasperation。
"ShallIrecitetoyoutomakethetimepassquicker？"askedMatildaobligingly。"`Belinda，thelittleBreadwinner，'isconsideredmybestpiece，or，perhaps，itoughttobesomethinginFrench。HenriQuatre'saddresstohissoldiersistheonlythingI
reallyknowinthatlanguage。"
"IfyouwillgoandfetchsomeonetodrivethatanimalawayIwillgiveyousomethingtobuyyourselfanicepresent，"saidMrs。Stossen。
Matildacameseveralincheslowerdownthemedlartree。
"Thatisthemostpracticalsuggestionyouhavemadeyetforgettingoutofthegarden，"sheremarkedcheerfully；"ClaudeandIarecollectingmoneyfortheChildren'sFreshAirFund，andweareseeingwhichofuscancollectthebiggestsum。"
"Ishallbeverygladtocontributehalfacrown，verygladindeed，"saidMrs。Stossen，diggingthatcoinoutofthedepthsofareceptaclewhichformedadetachedoutworkofhertoilet。
"Claudeisalongwayaheadofmeatpresent，"
continuedMatilda，takingnonoticeofthesuggestedoffering；"yousee，he'sonlyeleven，andhasgoldenhair，andthoseareenormousadvantageswhenyou'reonthecollectingjob。OnlytheotherdayaRussianladygavehimtenshillings。Russiansunderstandtheartofgivingfarbetterthanwedo。IexpectClaudewillnetquitetwenty-fiveshillingsthisafternoon；he'llhavethefieldtohimself，andhe'llbeabletodothepale，fragile，not-long-for-this-worldbusinesstoperfectionafterhisraspberrytrifleexperience。Yes，he'llbeQUITEtwopoundsaheadofmebynow。"
Withmuchprobingandpluckingandmanyregretfulmurmursthebeleagueredladiesmanagedtoproduceseven-
and-sixpencebetweenthem。
"Iamafraidthisisallwe'vegot，"saidMrs。
Stossen。
Matildashowednosignofcomingdowneithertotheearthortotheirfigure。
"Icouldnotdoviolencetomyconscienceforanythinglessthantenshillings，"sheannouncedstiffly。
Motheranddaughtermutteredcertainremarksundertheirbreath，inwhichtheword"beast"wasprominent，andprobablyhadnoreferencetoTarquin。
"IfindIHAVEgotanotherhalf-crown，"saidMrs。
Stosseninashakingvoice；"hereyouare。Nowpleasefetchsomeonequickly。"
Matildaslippeddownfromthetree，tookpossessionofthedonation，andproceededtopickupahandfulofover-ripemedlarsfromthegrassatherfeet。Thensheclimbedoverthegateandaddressedherselfaffectionatelytotheboar-pig。
"Come，Tarquin，dearoldboy；youknowyoucan'tresistmedlarswhenthey'rerottenandsquashy。"
Tarquincouldn't。BydintofthrowingthefruitinfrontofhimatjudiciousintervalsMatildadecoyedhimbacktohisstye，whilethedeliveredcaptiveshurriedacrossthepaddock。
"Well，Inever！Thelittleminx！"exclaimedMrs。
Stossenwhenshewassafelyonthehighroad。"Theanimalwasn'tsavageatall，andasforthetenshillings，Idon'tbelievetheFreshAirFundwillseeapennyofit！"
Thereshewasunwarrantablyharshinherjudgment。
Ifyouexaminethebooksofthefundyouwillfindtheacknowledgment："CollectedbyMissMatildaCuvering，2s。
6d。"
THEBROGUE
THEhuntingseasonhadcometoanend，andtheMulletshadnotsucceededinsellingtheBrogue。Therehadbeenakindoftraditioninthefamilyforthepastthreeorfouryears，asortoffatalistichope，thattheBroguewouldfindapurchaserbeforethehuntingwasover；butseasonscameandwentwithoutanythinghappeningtojustifysuchill-foundedoptimism。TheanimalhadbeennamedBerserkerintheearlierstagesofitscareer；ithadbeenrechristenedtheBroguelateron，inrecognitionofthefactthat，onceacquired，itwasextremelydifficulttogetridof。Theunkinderwitsoftheneighbourhoodhadbeenknowntosuggestthatthefirstletterofitsnamewassuperfluous。TheBroguehadbeenvariouslydescribedinsalecataloguesasalight-
weighthunter，alady'shack，and，moresimply，butstillwithatouchofimagination，asausefulbrowngelding，standing15。1。TobyMullethadriddenhimforfourseasonswiththeWestWessex；youcanridealmostanysortofhorsewiththeWestWessexaslongasitisananimalthatknowsthecountry。TheBrogueknewthecountryintimately，havingpersonallycreatedmostofthegapsthatweretobemetwithinbanksandhedgesformanymilesround。Hismannersandcharacteristicswerenotidealinthehuntingfield，buthewasprobablyrathersafertoridetohoundsthanhewasasahackoncountryroads。AccordingtotheMulletfamily，hewasnotreallyroad-shy，buttherewereoneortwoobjectsofdislikethatbroughtonsuddenattacksofwhatTobycalledtheswervingsickness。Motorsandcycleshetreatedwithtolerantdisregard，butpigs，wheelbarrows，pilesofstonesbytheroadside，perambulatorsinavillagestreet，gatespaintedtooaggressivelywhite，andsometimes，butnotalways，thenewerkindofbeehives，turnedhimasidefromhistracksinvividimitationofthezigzagcourseofforkedlightning。IfapheasantrosenoisilyfromtheothersideofahedgerowtheBroguewouldspringintotheairatthesamemoment，butthismayhavebeenduetoadesiretobecompanionable。TheMulletfamilycontradictedthewidelyprevalentreportthatthehorsewasaconfirmedcrib-biter。
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