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Matthew pointed out was quite a small one standing by itself。 There
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
seemed to be a big garden around it； and this garden was much higher than
the road； so you had to go up a flight of steps in the wall before you
reached the front gate at the top。 I could see that there were many fine fruit
trees in the garden； for their branches hung down over the wall in places。
But the wall was so high I could not see anything else。
When we reached the house Matthew went up the steps to the front
gate and I followed him。 I thought he was going to go into the garden； but
the gate was locked。 A dog came running down from the house； and he
took several pieces of meat which the cat's…meat…man pushed through the
bars of the gate； and some paper bags full of corn and bran； I noticed that
this dog did not stop to eat the meat； as any ordinary dog would have done；
but he took all the things back to the house and disappeared。 He had a
curious wide collar round his neck which looked as though it were made
of brass or something。 Then we came away。
〃The Doctor isn't back yet；〃 said Matthew； 〃or the gate wouldn't be
locked。〃
〃What were all those things in paper…bags you gave the dog？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； those were provisions；〃 said Matthew〃things for the animals to
eat。 The Doctor's house is simply full of pets。 I give the things to the dog；
while the Doctor's away； and the dog gives them to the other animals。〃
〃And what was that curious collar he was wearing round his neck？〃
〃That's a solid gold dog…collar；〃 said Matthew。 〃It was given to him
when he was with the Doctor on one of his voyages long ago。 He saved a
man's life。〃
〃How long has the Doctor had him？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； a long time。 Jip's getting pretty old now。 That's why the Doctor
doesn't take him on his voyages any more。 He leaves him behind to take
care of the house。 Every Monday and Thursday I bring the food to the gate
here and give it him through the bars。 He never lets any one come inside
the garden while the Doctor's awaynot even me； though he knows me
well。 But you'll always be able to tell if the Doctor's back or not because
if he is； the gate will surely be open。〃
So I went off home to my father's house and put my squirrel to bed in
an old wooden box full of straw。 And there I nursed him myself and took
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
care of him as best I could till the time should come when the Doctor
would return。 And every day I went to the little house with the big garden
on the edge of the town and tried the gate to see if it were locked。
Sometimes the dog； Jip； would come down to the gate to meet me。 But
though he always wagged his tail and seemed glad to see me； he never let
me come inside the garden。
THE THIRD CHAPTER
THE DOCTOR'S HOME
ONE Monday afternoon towards the end of April my father asked me
to take some shoes which he had mended to a house on the other side of
the town。 They were for a Colonel Bellowes who was very particular。
I found the house and rang the bell at the front door。 The Colonel
opened it； stuck out a very red face and said； 〃Go round to the tradesmen's
entrancego to the back door。〃 Then he slammed the door shut。
I felt inclined to throw the shoes into the middle of his flower…bed。 But
I thought my father might be angry； so I didn't。 I went round to the back
door； and there the Colonel's wife met me and took the shoes from me。
She looked a timid little woman and had her hands all over flour as though
she were making bread。 She seemed to be terribly afraid of her husband
whom I could still hear stumping round the house somewhere； grunting
indignantly because I had come to the front door。 Then she asked me in a
whisper if I would have a bun and a glass of milk。 And I said； 〃Yes；
please。〃 After I had eaten the bun and milk； I thanked the Colonel's wife
and came away。 Then I thought that before I went home I would go and
see if the Doctor had come back yet。 I had been to his house once already
that morning。 But I thought I'd just like to go and take another look。 My
squirrel wasn't getting any better and I was beginning to be worried about
him。
So I turned into the Oxenthorpe Road and started off towards the
Doctor's house。 On the way I noticed that the sky was clouding over and
that it looked as though it might rain。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
I reached the gate and found it still locked。 I felt very discouraged。 I
had been coming here every day for a week now。 The dog； Jip； came to the
gate and wagged his tail as usual； and then sat down and watched me
closely to see that I didn't get in。
I began to fear that my squirrel would die before the Doctor came back。
I turned away sadly； went down the steps on to the road and turned
towards home again。
I wondered if it were supper…time yet。 Of course I had no watch of my
own； but I noticed a gentleman coming towards me down the road； and
when he got nearer I saw it was the Colonel out for a walk。 He was all
wrapped up in smart overcoats and mufflers and bright…colored gloves。 It
was not a very cold day but he had so many clothes on he looked like a
pillow inside a roll of blankets。 I asked him if he would please tell me the
time。
He stopped； grunted and glared down at mehis red face growing
redder still； and when he spoke it sounded like the cork coming out of a
gingerbeer…bottle。
〃Do you imagine for one moment；〃 he spluttered； 〃that I am going to
get myself all unbuttoned just to tell a little boy like you THE TIME！〃 And
he went stumping down the street； grunting harder than ever。
I stood still a moment looking after him and wondering how old I
would have to be； to have him go to the trouble of getting his watch out。
And then； all of a sudden； the rain came down in torrents。
I have never seen it rain so hard。 It got dark； almost like night。 The
wind began to blow； the thunder rolled； the lightning flashed； and in a
moment the gut