Jeremywasnot，perhaps，sotactfulashemighthavebeen。“Ohbother，Mary！“hewouldsay。“You’vegoneandwakedHamletup！“or“Don’tstrokeHamletthatway，Mary；hehatesit！“or“No，I’mgoingforawalkwithHamlet；wedon’twantanyone！“OrHamlethimselfwouldsuddenlybarkatherasthoughhehatedher，orwouldbarehisteethandgrinatherinamocking，sarcasticwaythathehad。Atfirst，asananswertothis，shehadtheridiculousideaofherselfadoptingananimal，andsheselected，forthispurpose，thekitchencat，adull，somnolentbeast，whosesleekblackhairwasfurtive，andgreen，crookedeyesmalignant。ThecatshowednosignsofaffectionforMary，norcouldsheherselfhonestlycareforit。Whenshebroughtitwithherintotheschoolroom，Hamlettreateditinascornful，sarcasticfashionthatwasworsethanoutrageousattack。
Thecatwasuncleanly，andwasspeedilybanishedbackintothekitchen。Mary’sjealousyofHamletthengrewapace，andwiththatjealousy，unfortunately，hersecretappreciationofhissplendours。
Shecouldnothelpadmittingtoherselfthathewasthemostattractivedogintheworld。Shewouldlookathimfromunderherspectacleswhenshewassupposedtobereadingandwatchhimasherolled，kickinghislegsintheair，orlaystretchedout，hisblackwetnoseagainsthispaws，hiseyesgleaming，hisgazefixedlikethepointofadaggerraisedtostrike，uponsometrophy，orenemy，orspoil，orsat，solemnandpompous，liketheLordMayorholdingameeting，asJeremysaid，upagainsthismaster’sleg，squareandsolidasthoughhewerecutoutofwood，hispeakedbeardsupercilious，hisveryearsatapatronisingangle；or，asMarylovedbestofalltoseehim，whenhewassimplychildish，playing，asthoughhewasstillanew-foundpuppy，withpiecesofpaperorballsofstring，rollingandchoking，growling，purring，staggeringandtumbling。Atsuchtimes，againandagain，herimpulsewouldbetogoforwardandapplaudhim，andthen，theinstinctthatshewouldbecheckedbyJeremystayedher。
SheknewverywellthatJeremyrealisednothingofthis。Jeremywasnotgiventotheconsiderationofotherpeople’smotives——hisownindependencesavedhimfromanxietyaboutothers。HehadtheEnglishcharacteristicoffancyingthatothersmustlikeanddislikeashehimselflikedanddisliked。Ofsentimenthehadnoknowledgewhatever。
AsthisyeargrewtowardssummerMaryhadthefeelingthatJeremywasslippingawayfromher。Shedidnotknowwhathadhappenedtohim。Intheolddayshehadaskedheropinionaboutmanythings；hehadscornedtoenjoythelongstoriesthatshehadtoldhim——atanyrate，hehadlistenedtothemverypolitely——andhehadaskedhertosuggestgamesortoplaywithhistoys。Nowasthesummerdrewnear，hedidnoneofthesethings。Hewasfranklyimpatientwithherstories，neveraskedheradviceaboutanything，andneverplayedwithher。Washegrowingveryconceited？Wasitbecausehewasgoingtoschool，andthoughthimselftoooldforhissisters？No，hedidnotseemtobeconceited——hehadalwaysbeenproud，butneverconceited。Itwasratherasthoughhehadlatelyhadthoughtsofhisown，almostagainsthiswill，andthatthesehadshuthimofffromthepeopleroundhim。