she had seen a lot of unwanted animals through her hands.
I could hear the firm pencilling sounds as she took notes then, "Well
now that sounds fine. He's the sort we can usually find a home for. When
can you bring him along?'
"Now,' I replied.
The misty look in Helen's eyes as I marched out with the dog under my
arm told me I was only just in time. And as I drove along the road I
couldn't put away the thought that if things had been different - the
future settled and a proper home - this little brown creature rolling on
his back on the passenger seat with his wide mouth half open and the
friendly eyes fixed questioningly on mine would never have got away from
me. Only when the occasional car trashed by did he spring upright and
look from the window with the old despairing expression. Would he ever
forget?
Sister Louisa Rose was a rather handsome woman in her late forties with
the sort of healthy smiling face I had imagined at the other end of the
phone. She reached out and took the terrier from me with the eager
gesture of the animal lover.
"Oh, he looks rather a dear, doesn't he?' she murmured.
Behind her house, a modern bungalow in the open country near the
hospital, she led me to a row of kennels with outside runs. Some of them
housed single dogs but there was one large one with an assortment of
mixed breeds playing happily together on the grass.
"I think we'll put him in here,' she said. "It'll cheer him up quicker
than anything and I'm sure he'll mix in well.' She opened a door in the
wire netting surround and pushed the little animal in. The other dogs
surrounded him and there was the usual ceremonious sniffing and
leg-cocking.
Sister Rose cupped her chin with her hand and looked down thoughtfully
through the wire. "A name, we must have a name .. . let me see .. no ..
. no .. . yes .. . Pip! We'll call him Pip!'
She looked at me with raised eyebrows and I nodded vigorously. "Yes,
definitely - just right. He looks like a Pip.'
She smiled impishly. "I think so, too, but I've had a lot of practice,
you know. I've become rather good at it.'
"I'll bet you have. I suppose you've named all this lot?'
"Of course.' She began to point them out one by one. "There's Bingo he
was a badly neglected puppy. And Fergus - just lost. That bigger
retriever is Griff - he was the survivor of a car crash where his owners
were killed. And Tessa, badly injured when she was thrown from a
fast-moving vehicle. Behind her over there is Sally Anne who really
started me in the business of Animal Sheltering. She was found heavily
pregnant with her paws bleeding so she must have run for many miles. I
took her in and managed to find homes for all her puppies and she's
still here. Placing those pups got me into contact with a lot of pet
owners and before I knew what was happening everybody had the idea that
I regularly took in stray animals. So I started and you can see the
result. I shall have to expand these premises soon.'
Pip didn't look so lonely now and after the preliminary courtesies he
joined a group watching interestedly a fierce tug-of-war on a stick
between a Collie and a crossed Labrador I laughed "You know I had no
idea you had all these dogs. How long do you keep them?'
"Till I can find a home for them. Some are only here a day, others stay
for weeks or months. And there are one or two like Sally Anne who seem
to be permanent boarders now.'
"But how on earth do you feed them all? It must be an expensive
business.'
She nodded and smiled. "Oh I run little dog shows, coffee mornings,
raffles, jumble sales, anything, but whatever my efforts I'm arraid the
strays keep munching their way into the red. But I manage.'
She managed, I guessed, by dipping deeply into her own pocket Around me
the abandoned and rejected dogs barked and ran around happily. I had
often thought when I encountered cruelty and neglect that there was a
whole army of people who did these unspeakable things, a great unheeding
horde who never spared a thought for the feelings of the helpless
creatures who depended on them. It was frightening in a way, but thank
heavens there was another army ranged on the other side, an army who
fought for the animals with everything they had - with their energy,
their time, their money.
I looked at Sister Rose, at the steady eyes in the clear-skinned,
scrubbed, nurse's face. I would have thought her profession of
dedication to the human race would have filled her life utterly with no
"Well, I'm very grateful to you, Sister,' I said. "I hope somebody will
take Pip off your hands soon and if there's anything else I can do,
please let me know.'
She smiled. "Oh don't worry, I have a feeling this little chap won't be
here very long.'
Before leaving I leaned on the wire and took another look at the Border
terrier. He seemed to be settling all right but every now and then he
stopped and looked up at me with those questioning eyes which pulled so
hard. I had the nasty feeling that I, too, was letting him down. His
owners, then me, then Sister Rose, all in a couple of days . .. I hoped
it would work out for him.
Chapter Eighteen.
I found it difficult to get that dog out of my mind and I lasted only a
week before dropping in at the Animal Shelter. Sister Rose in an old
mackintosh and Wellingtons was filling the feed bowls in one of the
kennels.
"You've come about Pip, I expect,' she said, putting down her bucket.
"Well he went yesterday. I thought I'd have no trouble. A very nice
couple called round They wanted to give a home to a stray and they
picked him out straight away., She pushed the hair back from her
forehead. "In fact I've had a good week. I've found excellent homes for
Griff and Fergus too.'
"Fine, fine. That's great.' I paused for a moment. "I was wondering .. .
er .. . about Pip. Has he gone out of the district?'
Oh, no, he's right here in Darrowby. The people are called Plenderleith
he's a retired civil servant, quite high up I believe and he gave a
generous donation to the centre though I didn't expect one. They've
bought one of those nice little houses on the Houlton Road and there's a
lovely garden for Pip to play. I gave them your name, by the way, so no
doubt they'll be coming round to see you.'
A wave of totally irrational pleasure swept over me.
"Ah well, I'm glad to hear that. I'll be able to see how he's getting
on.'
I didn't have long to wait. It was less than a week later that I opened
the waiting-room door and saw an elderly couple sitting there with Pip
on the end of a very new lead. He adopted his usual gambit of rolling on
to his back as soon as he saw me, but this time there was no helpless
appeal in his expression but sheer joyous abandon with the comical
little face split across by a wide panting grin. As I went through the
ritual of chest rubbing I noticed he was wearing a new collar, too
expensive looking, with a shining medallion bearing his name, address
and telephone number. I lifted him and we all went through to the
consulting room.
"Well now, what's the trouble?' I asked.
"No trouble, really,' the man replied. He was plump, and the pink face,
grave eyes and immaculate dark suit accorded perfectly with my idea of a
top civil servant.
"I have recently acquired this small animal and should be grateful for
your advice about him. By the way, my name is Plenderleith and may I
introduce my wife.
Mrs Plenderleith was plump too, but it was a giggly plumpness. She
didn't look such a solid citizen as her husband.
"Firstly,' he continued, "I should like you to give him a thorough
check-up.'
I had already done this, but went through it again, though Pip made
things difficult by rolling over every time I got the stethoscope on his
chest. And as I took his temperature I noticed that Mr Plenderleith ran
his hand repeatedly over the brown hair of the back while his wife,
looking over his shoulder, made encouraging noises and nodded
reassuringly at the little dog.
"Absolutely sound in wind and limb,' I pronounced as I finished.
"Splendid,' the man said. "Er ... there was this little brown mark on
his abdomen .. .' A touch of anxiety showed in his eyes.
"Just a patch of pigment. Nothing, I assure you.'
"Ah yes, good, good.' Mr Plenderleith cleared~his throat. "I have to
confess, Mr Herriot, that my wife and I have never owned an animal
before. Now I believe in doing things thoroughly, so in order to give
him proper care and attention I have decided to study the matter. With
this in view I have purchased some book~ on the subject.' He produced
some shiny volumes from under his arm. (- The Dog, The Dog in Sickness
shied away from this imposing case I liked the way things were going. I
had the growing vas on a good wicket here.
<, ~ ~ned a considerable amount from my reading,' Mr Plen .'~ ~ l
believe it is desirable that he be inoculated against he is a stray so
there is no means of ascertaining ,~, ~ done.'
', '0 = C~act I was going to suggest that.' I produced a phial she s
Still he~. ~O ~; ta syringe.
and before I kne~ ~ ~ Nhan his owners as I gently injected the content5
took in stray animals. , ~0, ~is face rigid with apprehension, kept
patting expand these premises soo~. ~ ,ther end stroked the hind limbs
and adjured After I had put the syringe away. Mr Plenderleith, visibly
relieved, recommenced his investigations. "Let me see now.' He put on
his spectacles, produced a gold pencil and snapped open a leather bound
pad where I could see a long list of neatly written notes. "I have one
or two queries here.'
And he had indeed. He grilled me at length on feeding, housing,
exercise, the relative values of wicker dog baskets and metal frame
beds, the salient features of the common ailments, often referring to
his shiny books. "I have a note here concerning page 143, line 9. It
says .. .'
I answered him patiently, leaning across the table. I had a waiting list
of farm visits including several fairly urgent jobs but I listened with
growing contentment. I had hoped for concerned and responsible persons
to take this little animal over and these people were right out of the
blueprint.
When at length Mr Plenderleith had finished he put away his note-book
and pencil and removed his spectacles with the firm precise movements
which seemed part of him.
"One of the reasons I desired a dog, Mr Herriot,' he went on, 'was to
provide myself with exercise. Don't you think that is a good idea?'
"It certainly is. One of the surest ways to keep fit is to own an active
little animal like this. You simply have to take him out and just think
of all the lovely grassy tracks over the hills around here. On Sunday
afternoons when other people are lying asleep in their chairs under
their newspapers you'll be out there striding the fells, rain, hail or
snow.'
Mr Plenderleith squared his shoulders and his jaw jutted as though he
already saw himself battling through a blizzard.
"And another thing,' his wife giggled, 'it'll take some of this off.'
She thumped him irreverently on his bulging waistline.
"Now now, my dear,' he admonished her gravely, but I had seen the
makings of a sheepish grin which completely belied his stuffed shirt
image. Mr Plenderleith, I felt, was all right.
He put his books under his arm and reached out for the little dog.
"Come, Pip, we mustn't delay Mr Herriot any longer.' But his wife was
too quick for him. She gathered the terrier into her arms and as we
walked along the passage she held the rough face against her own.
Outside the surgery door I saw them installed in a spotless little
family saloon and as they drove away Mr Plenderleith inclined his head
gravely, his wife gave a gay wave, but Pip, his hind legs on her knee,
feet on the dashboard, gazing eagerly through the windscreen was too
busy and interested to look at me.
As they rounded the corner I had the impression of a little cycle coming
to a happy end. And of course the main cog in the sequence of events had
been Sister Rose. This was just one of the helpless creatures she had
salvaged. Her Animal Shelter would grow and expand and daily she would
work harder without gain to herself. There were other people like her
all over the country, other Shelters; and I felt I had been given a
privileged glimpse of that selfless army which battled ceaselessly and
untiringly on the side of the great throng of dependent animals.
But right now I was concerned only with one thing. Pip had come home for
good.
Chapter Nineteen.
"Double Bezique!' Helen said, laying out the two queens of spades and
the jacks of diamonds And she looked across at me with a grin of
triumph.
She had the right kind of mouth, wide and generous, for such a grin and
there was no doubt she had cause for jubilation.
"Well that's torn it,' I grunted moodily. "I've been wondering where
those cards were and now I know. But why didn't you declare them
separately?'
"It's better fun this way,' my wife replied with a callous laugh. "I
wanted to see your face when I put them all out at once.'
"O.K., O.K.,' I said. "Gloat all you want. I didn't realise I had
married a sadist.'
With a sinking heart I saw her move her little peg five hundred points
up the board. It was a body blow and one from which I knew I would never
recover. She had already won two games tonight - I was being thrashed.
Still, there were compensations. There was a subdued excitement in just
sitting there by our fireside on a black winter's night like this and
listening to the wind buffeting the tall old house. I think it was the
nearness of the wild that made the coals burn brighter and the room seem
cosier, the awareness of the towering bare hills close by and the
night
wind shrieking over the high tops and over the vast white emptiness of
the moors where it was cold, cold, and a man could quite easily lose
himself and die.
I dealt the next hand and looked with disgust at the rubbish I had given
myself. I stole a glance at Helen. The faintest trace of smugness showed
in her face as she viewed her hand. This wasn't going to be my night.
We played a lot of Bezique on those dark evenings. There wasn't much to
do in Darrowby but boredom was never a problem. in the beginning, in the
summer days, we walked every day along the grassy tracks in the hills
which make Yorkshire the finest walking country in England. We started
to cultivate a piece of the long garden behind the house for our own use
and I discovered an undreamed-of fascination in peas and broad beans. We
picked mushrooms which may not sound very exciting but I have warm
memories of the two of us wandering around sunlit fields with carrier
bags and stopping now and then to look at the beautynearby. In those
days before the old permanent pastures were ploughed up and artificial
fertilisers were scarcely used mushrooms grew abundantly; and they were
marvelous to eat. There was tennis, too, and at weekends Helen came with
me on my rounds.
But when the winter closed in Bezique was the thing. I studied my cards
again and listened to the wind. It made a soft whistling noise down in
the tiled passage far below. It was always as cold as the street in that
passage and not much warmer in the graceful sitting room where the wind
would tug at the heavy curtains over the french windows and perhaps send
fugitive gusts up the stairs to Siegfried's and Tristan's rooms and then
up to us on the top.
And the wind would push its fingers up under the tiles into the two
empty silent rooms which lay even higher than us. Rooms where the dust
lay thick beneath their tiny windows and the wind would stir the rafters
and pull at the little bell hanging from the great coiled spring. I
could hear the faint tinkling which in the days of the old house's glory
would summon a little maidservant from her high nest.
But now the bell went unheeded in the empty darkness. There was nobody
to answer it. The six servants who used to look after the Georgian
elegance of Skeldale House were only a memory among the older folk of
Darrowby and there was only Mrs Hall the housekeeper in her room at the
end of the offshoot.
"Royal marriage,' I said stiffly, putting out the king and queen of
trumps and advancing my peg a paltry forty points.
Helen nodded and I could see she was trying not to look condescending.
She hadn't declared anything for some time now and I had a nasty feeling
she was building up to something big. She bent over and poked the fire.
There was too much coal on it because I had laid the fire this evening.
We had a system that whoever was first home did that job. We had to
arrange something like this because Helen was a working girl now. There
wasn't much to do in our two rooms and our finances were at a low ebb so
she had taken a job as secretary to the local millers. The mill was on
the roadside down by the river and passers-by could see the big mill
wheel turning in the water and hear the great stones grinding the corn
in the room upstairs with the opening on to the road where the lorries
came to collect the loaded bags.
Helen's office was behind the mill shop, a floury, dusty, mealy place
stacked tightly with sacks of cow cake, sheep nuts, hen pellets and
drums of black treacle and when I slowed down outside I could often
catch a glimpse of her redsweatered back as she bent over her books.
Tonight I had been first home and Helen had come in as I was lighting my