Thentheydiscussedoptics,astheycalledit,andwhetheracertaininjurytothebrainwouldproduceblindnessornot,buttheycouldnotagreeaboutit,andsaidtheymusttestitbyexperimentbyandby;andnexttheydiscussedplants,andthatinterestedme,becauseinthesummerSadieandIhadplantedseeds——Ihelpedherdigtheholes,youknow——andafterdaysanddaysalittleshruboraflowercameupthere,anditwasawonderhowthatcouldhappen;butitdid,andIwishedIcouldtalk——I
wouldhavetoldthosepeopleaboutitandshownthenhowmuchIknew,andbeenallalivewiththesubject;butIdidn\'tcarefortheoptics;itwasdull,andwhenthecamebacktoitagainitboredme,andIwenttosleep.
Prettysoonitwasspring,andsunnyandpleasantandlovely,andthesweetmotherandthechildrenpattedmeandthepuppygood—by,andwentawayonajourneyandavisittotheirkin,andthemasterwasn\'tanycompanyforus,butweplayedtogetherandhadgoodtimes,andtheservantswerekindandfriendly,sowegotalongquitehappilyandcountedthedaysandwaitedforthefamily.
Andonedaythosemencameagain,andsaid,nowforthetest,andtheytookthepuppytothelaboratory,andIlimpedthree—leggedlyalong,too,feelingproud,foranyattentionshowntothepuppywasapleasuretome,ofcourse.Theydiscussedandexperimented,andthensuddenlythepuppyshrieked,andtheysethimonthefloor,andhewentstaggeringaround,withhisheadallbloody,andthemasterclappedhishandsandshouted:
\"There,I\'vewon——confessit!He\'sablindasabat!\"
Andtheyallsaid:
\"It\'sso——you\'veprovedyourtheory,andsufferinghumanityowesyouagreatdebtfromhenceforth,\"andtheycrowdedaroundhim,andwrunghishandcordiallyandthankfully,andpraisedhim.
ButIhardlysaworheardthesethings,forIranatoncetomylittledarling,andsnuggledclosetoitwhereitlay,andlickedtheblood,anditputitsheadagainstmine,whimperingsoftly,andIknewinmyheartitwasacomforttoitinitspainandtroubletofeelitsmother\'stouch,thoughitcouldnotseeme.Thenitdroppeddown,presently,anditslittlevelvetnoseresteduponthefloor,anditwasstill,anddidnotmoveanymore.
Soonthemasterstoppeddiscussingamoment,andranginthefootman,andsaid,\"Buryitinthefarcornerofthegarden,\"andthenwentonwiththediscussion,andItrottedafterthefootman,veryhappyandgrateful,forIknewthepuppywasoutofitspainnow,becauseitwasasleep.Wewentfardownthegardentothefarthestend,wherethechildrenandthenurseandthepuppyandIusedtoplayinthesummerintheshadeofagreatelm,andtherethefootmandugahole,andIsawhewasgoingtoplantthepuppy,andIwasglad,becauseitwouldgrowandcomeupafinehandsomedog,likeRobinAdair,andbeabeautifulsurpriseforthefamilywhentheycamehome;soItriedtohelphimdig,butmylamelegwasnogood,beingstiff,youknow,andyouhavetohavetwo,oritisnouse.WhenthefootmanhadfinishedandcoveredlittleRobinup,hepattedmyhead,andthereweretearsinhiseyes,andhesaid:\"Poorlittledoggie,yousavedHISchild!\"
Ihavewatchedtwowholeweeks,andhedoesn\'tcomeup!Thislastweekafrighthasbeenstealinguponme.Ithinkthereissomethingterribleaboutthis.Idonotknowwhatitis,butthefearmakesmesick,andI
cannoteat,thoughtheservantsbringmethebestoffood;andtheypetmeso,andevencomeinthenight,andcry,andsay,\"Poordoggie——dogiveitupandcomehome;don\'tbreakourhearts!\"andallthisterrifiesmethemore,andmakesmesuresomethinghashappened.AndIamsoweak;
sinceyesterdayIcannotstandonmyfeetanymore.Andwithinthishourtheservants,lookingtowardthesunwhereitwassinkingoutofsightandthenightchillcomingon,saidthingsIcouldnotunderstand,buttheycarriedsomethingcoldtomyheart.
\"Thosepoorcreatures!Theydonotsuspect.Theywillcomehomeinthemorning,andeagerlyaskforthelittledoggiethatdidthebravedeed,andwhoofuswillbestrongenoughtosaythetruthtothem:\'Thehumblelittlefriendisgonewheregothebeaststhatperish.\'\"