My opinion is this: that ere wolf is a- idin of, somewheres. The
gard ner wot didn t remember said he was a-gallopin northward faster
than a horse could go; but I don t believe him, for, yer see, sir,
wolves don t 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 that s 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 ain t been used to fightin or even to providin for
hisself, and more like he s somewhere round the Park a- idin an
a-shiverin of, and, if he thinks at all, wonderin where he is to get
his breakfast from; or maybe he s got down some area and is in a
coal-cellar. My eye, won t some cook get a rum start when she sees his
green eyes a-shining at her out of the dark! If he can t get food he s
bound to look for it, and mayhap he may chance to light on a butcher s
shop in time. If he doesn t, and some nursemaid goes a-walkin orf with
a soldier, leavin of the hinfant in the perambulator--well, then I
shouldn t be surprised if the census is one babby the less. That s
all.
I was handing him the half-sovereign, when something came bobbing up
against the window, and Mr. Bilder s face doubled its natural length
with surprise.
God bless me! he said. If there ain t 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 as peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all
picture-wolves--Red Riding Hood s quondam friend, whilst moving her
confidence in masquerade.
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