tattine-第1部分

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Tattine

by　Ruth　Ogden　＇Mrs。　Charles　W。　Ide＇




CHAPTER　I。　TROUBLE　NO。　1

Whether　you　happen　to　be　four　or　five；　or　six；　or　seven；　or　even　older　than
that；　no　doubt　you　know　by　this　time　that　a　great　many　things　need　to　be
learned　in　this　world；　everything；　in　fact；　and　never　more　things　than　at
seven。　At　least；　so　thought　little　Tattine；　and　what　troubled　her　the　most　was
that　some　of　the　things　seemed　quite　wrong；　and　yet　no　one　was　able　to　right
them。　All　her　little　life　Tattine's　Mother　had　been　setting　things　straight
for　her；　drying　every　tear；　and　unravelling　every　tangle；　so　that　Tattine　was
pretty　downhearted　the　day　she　discovered　that　there　were　some　things　that
were　quite　beyond　even　her　Mother's　power　to　alter。　It　was　on　a　lovely　June
morning　that　Tattine　made　the　first　of　her　unwelcome　discoveries。　She　was
feeling　particularly　happy　too；　until　she　made　it。　She　was　sitting　up　in　an
apple…tree；　sketching；　and　doing　it　very　well。　She　had　taken　only　a　few
drawing…lessons　but　had　taken　to　them　immensely；　and　now　with　one　limb　of　the
tree　for　a　seat　and　another　one　for　an　easel；　she　was　working　away　at　a　pretty
chime　tower；　that　stood　on　a　neighbor's　land。

Down　on　the　grass　beneath　her　Betsy　and　Doctor　were　lying。　Betsy　was　a　dear；
homely　red…and…white　Laverack　setter；　and　Doctor；　black…and…white　and　better
looking；　was　her　son。　Doctor's　beautiful　grandmother　Tadjie　was　lying；　alas！
under　the　grass　instead　of　on　it；　not　very　far　away。　It　was　a　sad　day　for　the
dog　world　when　Tadjie　left　it；　for　although　she　was　very　old；　she　was　very
beautiful　up　to　the　last　with　a　glossy　silky　coat；　a　superbly　feathered　tail；
and　with　brown　eyes　so　soft　and　entreating；　they　fairly　made　you　love　her；
whether　you　were　fond　of　dogs　or　no。

Well；　Tattine　was　sketching　away　and　was　quite　absorbed　in　it；　but　Doctor；　who
was　little　more　than　a　puppy；　thought　it　very　dull。　He　lay　with　his　head
between　his　paws；　and；　without　moving　a　muscle；　rolled　his　eyes　round　and
round；　now　gazing　up　at　Tattine；　and　then　at　his　mother；　trying　to　be　happy
though　quiet。　Finally　he　stretched　himself；　got　on　his　feet；　cocked　up　his
ears；　and　came　and　stood　in　front　of　Betsy；　and　although　not　a　sound　was
heard；　he　said；　so　that　Betsy　perfectly　understood　him；　〃I　can't　stand　this
any　longer。　If　you　have　any　love　for　me　do　please　come　for　a　run。〃

Then　Betsy　took　one　long　stretch　and　with　motherly　self…sacrifice　reluctantly
got　up；　prepared　to　humor　this　lively　boy　of　hers。　Suddenly　Doctor　craned　his
head　high　in　the　air；　and　gave　a　little　sniff；　and　then　Betsy　craned　her　head
and　sniffed。　Then　they　stole　as　stealthily　away　as　though　stepping　upon　eggs；
and　Tattine　never　knew　that　they　had　gone。　It　was　no　stealthy　treading　very
long；　however。　No　sooner　had　they　crossed　the　roadway　than　they　made　sure　of
the　scent　they　thought　they　had　discovered；　and　made　one　wild　rush　down
through　the　sumach　and　sweet…fern　to　the　ravine。　In　a　few　moments　it　was　one
wild　rush　up　again　right　to　the　foot　of　Tattine's　apple…tree；　and　Tattine
looked　down　to　see　Doctoroh；　could　she　believe　her　two　blue　eyes！with　a
dear　little　rabbit　clinched　firmly　between　his　teeth；　and　his　mother　（think　of
it；　his　mother！）　actually　standing　proudly　by　and　wildly　waving　her　tail　from
side　to　side；　in　the　most　delighted　manner　possible。　As　for　Tattine；　she
simply　gave　one　horrified　little　scream　and　was　down　from　the　tree　in　a　flash；
while　the　scream　fortunately　brought　Maggie　hurrying　from　the　house；　and　as
Maggie　was　Doctor's　confidential　friend　（owing　to　certain　choice　little
morsels；　dispensed　from　the　butler's　pantry　window　with　great　regularity　three
times　a　day）；　he　at　once；　at　her　command；　relaxed　his　hold　on　the　little
jack…rabbit。　The　poor　little　thing　was　still　breathing；　breathing　indeed　with
all　his　might　and　main；　so　that　his　heart　thumped　against　his　little　brown
sides　with　all　the　regularity　of　a　Rider　Engine。　Tattine's　first　thought　was
for　the　rabbit；　and　she　held　it　close　to　her；　stroking　it　with　one　little
brown　trembling　hand　and　saying；　〃There！　there！　Hush；　you　little　dear；　you're
safe　now；　don't　be　frightened！　Tattine　wouldn't　hurt　you　for　the　world。〃　Her
next　thought　was　for　Doctor；　and　she　turned　on　him　with　a　torrent　of　abuse；
that　ought　to　have　made　the　hair　of　that　young　M。D。　stand　on　end。　〃Oh；　you
cruel；　CRUEL　dog！　whatever　made　you　do　such　a　thing　as　this？　I　never　dreamt　it
of　you；　never。〃　At　this　Betsy's　tail　dropped　between　her　legs；　for　she　was　a
coward　at　heart；　but　Doctor　held　his　ground；　his　tail　standing　on　end；　as　his
hair　should　have　done；　and　his　eyes　all　the　while　fairly　devouring　the　little
rabbit。　〃And　the　worst　of　it；〃　continued　Tattine；　〃is　that　no　matter　how　sorry
you　may　feel〃　（Betsy　was　the　only　one　who　showed　any　signs　of　sorrow；　and　she
was　more　scared　than　sorry）；　〃no　matter　how　sorry　you　may　feel；　that　will　not
mend　things。　You　do　not　know　where　this　baby　lived；　and　who　are　its　father　and
mother；　and　like　as　not　it　is　too　young　to　live　at　all　away　from　them　and　will
die；〃　and　Tattine　raised　one　plump　little　hand　and　gave　Doctor　a　slap　that　at
least　made　him　〃turn　tail；〃　and　slink　rather　doggedly　away　to　his　own
particular　hole　under　the　laundry　steps。　And　now　it　was　time　to　find　Mamma
high　time；　for　it　seemed　to　Tattine　she　would　choke　with　all　the　feelings；
sorrowful　and　angry；　welling　up　within　her。　Mamma　was　not　far　afieldthat　is；
she　was　very　near；　at　her　desk　in　the　cosy　little　alcove　of　the　upstairs
hall…way；　and　Tattine　soon　found　her。

〃Now；　Mamma；〃　she　asked　excitedly；　〃did　you　know　that　Betsy　or　Doctor　would　do
such　a　thing　as　this？〃

The　trembling　little　rabbit　in　Tattine's　hands　showed　what　was　meant　by　THIS。

Mrs。　Gerald　paused　a　moment；　then　she　said　reluctantly；　〃Yes；　Tattine；　I　did。〃

〃Have　they　done　it　before；　Mamma？〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　say　they　have。〃

〃Have　you　seen　them　bring　struggling　rabbits　dangling　in　their　mouths　right　up
to　the　house　here；　Mamma？〃

Mrs。　Gerald　merely　shook　her　head。　She　felt　so　sorry　to　have　to　own　to　such　a
sight。

〃Why　did　I　never　know　it；　Mamma？〃

〃You　have　never　chanced　to　be　on　the　spot；　dear；　when　it　happened；　and　I　was
in　no　hurry　to　tell　you　anything　that　I　knew　would　make　you　sad。〃

〃I　think　it　would　have　been　better　to　tell　me。　It's　awful　to　find　such　a　thing
out　suddenly　about　dogs　you've　trusted；　and　to　think　how　good　and　gentle　they
look　when　they　come　and　put　their　heads　in　your　lap　to　be　petted；　just　as
though　they　would　not　hurt　a　fly；　but　then；　of　course；　anyone　who　has　eyes
knows　that　they　do　lure　flies；　snapping　at　them　all　day　long；　and　just　for　the
fun　of　it　too；　not　because　they　need　them　for　food；　as　birds　do。　Mamma；　I
don't　believe　there's　anything　meaner　than　a　Laverack　setter。　Still；　Tadjie
would　never　have　done　such　a　thing；　I　know。〃　Mrs。　Gerald　was　silent；　and
Tattine；　expecting　her　to　confirm　what　she　had　said；　grew　a　little　suspicious。
〃Would　Tadjie；　Mamma？〃　with　a　directness　that　would　not　admit　of　indirectness。

〃Yes；　Tattine；　Tadjie　would。　She　was　trained　to　hunt　before　ever　she　was　given
to　Papa；　and　so　were　her　ancestors　before　her。　That　is　why　Doctor　and　Betsy；
who　have　never　been　trained　to　hunt；　go　wild　over　the　rabbits。　They　have
inherited　the　taste。〃

〃Trained　to　hunt；〃　said　Tattine　thoughtfully。　〃Do　you　mean　that　men　just　went
to　work　to　teach　them　to　be　so　cruel？〃

〃Well；　I　suppose　in　a　way　setters　are　natural　hunters；　Tattine；　but　then　their
training　has　doubtless　a　great　deal　to　do　with　it；　but　I　want　to　tell　you
something　that　I　think　will　give　you　just　a　grain　of　comfort。　I　read　the　other
day　that　Sir　John　Franklin；　the　great　Arctic　explorer；　who　almost　lost　his
life　in　being　attacked　by　some　huge　animalit　must　have　been　a　bear；　I
thinksays　that　the　animal　when　he　first　gets　you　in　his　teeth　gives　you　such
a　shake　that　it　paralyzes　your　nervesthis　is；　it　benumbs　all　your　feelings；
so；　that；　strange　as　it　may　seem；　you　really　do　not　suffer。　So　let　us　hope
that　it　was　that　way　with　this　little　rabbit。〃

〃But　there's　a　little　blood　here　on　one　side；　Mamma。〃

〃That　doesn't　always　prove　suffering；　either；　Tattine。　Soldiers　are　sometimes
wounded　without　ever　knowing　it　until　they　see　a　little　sign　of　blood
somewhere。〃

Tattine　listened　attentively　to　all　this；　and　was　in　a　measure　comforted。　It
seemed　that　Mamma　was　still　able　to　better　things；　even　though　not　able　to　set
everything　perfectly　right。　〃Now；〃　Tattine　said；with　a　little　sigh　of
relief；　〃I　think　I　will　try　and　see　what　I　can　do　for　Bunny。　Perhaps　he　would
first　like　a　drink；〃　so　downstairs　she　went；　and　putting　some　milk　in　a
shallow　tea…cup；　she　dipped　Bunny's　nose　in　it；　and　it　seemed　to　her　as　though
he　did　take　a　little　of　it。　Then　she　trudged　up　to　the　garret　for　a　box；　and；
putting　a　layer　of　cotton…batting　in　the　bottom；　laid　Bunny　in　one　corner。
Then　she　went　to　the　garden　and　pulled　a　leaf　or　two　of　the　youngest；　greenest
lettuce；　and　put　it　right　within　reach　of　Bunny's　nose；　and　a　little　saucer　of
water　beside　it。　Then　she　went　down　to　tell　the　gardener's　little　boy　all
about　the　sorrowful　thing　that　had　happened。

The　next　morning　Bunny　was　still　breathing；　but　the　lettuce　was　un…nibbled；　he
had　not　moved　an　inch；　and　he　was　trembling　like　a　leaf。　〃Mamma；〃　she　called
upstairs；　〃I　think　I'll　put　BUN　in　the　sun〃　（she　was　trying　not　to　be　too
down…hearted）；　〃he　seems　to　be　a　little　chilly。〃　Then　she　sat　herself　down　in
the　sun　to　watch　him。　Soon　Bunny　ceased　to　tremble。　〃Patrick；〃　she　called　to
the　old　man　who　was　using　the　lawn　mower；　〃is　this　little　rabbit　dead？〃

〃Yes；　miss；　shure；〃　taking　the　little　thing　gently　in　his　hand。

〃Very　well；〃　she　answered　quietly。　Tattine　used　those　two　little　words　very
often；　they　meant　that　she　accepted　the　situation；　if　you　happen　to　know　what
that　means。　〃Now　I　think　I　will　not　trouble　Mamma　about　it；〃　she　said　to
herself　thoughtfully；　so　she　went　to　the　closet　under　the　stairs；　got　a　little
empty　box　she　knew　was　there；　and；　taking　it　out　of　doors；　she　put　the　little
rabbit　in　it；　and　then　trudged　down　to　the　tool…house　for　her　spade　and　rake。

〃Bunny　is　dead；　Joey；〃　she　called　to　the　gardener's　little