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consider that first half-sovereign worked off, and this brother of his is waiting to be claimed when youve told me what you think will happen. Right yare, Sir, he said briskly. Yell excoose me, I know, for a-chaffin of ye, but the old woman her winked at me, which was as much as telling me to go on. Well, I never! said the old lady. My opinion is this. That ere wolf is aidin of, somewheres. The gardner wot didnt remember said he was a-gallopin northward faster than a horse could go, but I dont believe him, for, yer see, Sir, wolves dont gallop no more nor dogs does, they not bein built that way. Wolves is fine things in a storybook, and I dessay when they gets in packs and does be chivyin somethin thats more afeared than they is they can make a devil of a noise and chop it up, whatever it is. But, Lor bless you, in real life a wolf is only a low creature, not half so clever or bold as a good dog, and not half a quarter so much fight in im. This one aint been used to fightin or even to providin for hisself, and more like hes somewhere round the Park ahidin an ashiverin of, and if he thinks at all, wonderin where he is to get his breakfast from. Or maybe hes got down some area and is in a coal cellar. My eye, wont some cook get a rum start when she sees his green eyes a-shinin at her out of the dark! If he cant get food hes bound to look for it, and mayhap he may chance to light on a butchers shop in time. If he doesnt, and some nursemaid goes out walkin or orf with a soldier, leavin of the hinfant in the perambulator--well, then I shouldnt be surprised if the census is one babby the less. Thats all. I was handing him the half-sovereign, when something came bobbing up against the window, and Mr. Bilders face doubled its natural length with surprise. God bless me! he said. If there aint old Bersicker come back by isself! He went to the door and opened it, a most unnecessary proceeding it seemed to me. I have always thought that a wild animal never looks so well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us. A personal experience has intensified rather than diminished that idea. After all, however, there is nothing like custom, for neither Bilder nor his wife thought any more of the wolf than I should of a dog. The animal itself was a peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all picture- wolves, Red Riding Hoods quondam friend, whilst moving her confidence in masquerade. The whole scene was a unutterable mixture of comedy and pathos. The wicked wolf that for a half a day had paralyzed London and set all the children in town shivering in their shoes, was there in a sort of penitent mood,and was received and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal son. Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent said, There, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of trouble. Didnt I say it all along? Heres his head all cut and full of broken glass. Es been a-gettin over some bloomin wall or other. Its a shyme that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles. This eres what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker. He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece of meat that satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary conditions of the fatted calf, and went off to report. I came off too,to report the only exclusive information that is given today regarding the strange escapade at the Zoo. Dr. Sewards Diary17 September.--I was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy, had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open,and |
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