Problem at Pollensa Bay - Agatha Christie [56]
‘Well, what does he want to think for? It isn’t a dog’s business to think. He’d be well enough in his proper place, tied up in the yard to keep off burglars. All this cuddling! He ought to be put away, miss–that’s what I say.’
‘No, no, no. Never. Never!’
‘Please yourself,’ said Mrs Barnes. She took the cup from the table, retrieved the saucer from the floor where Terry had just finished his share, and stalked from the room.
‘Terry,’ said Joyce. ‘Come here and talk to me. What are we going to do, my sweet?’
She settled herself in the rickety armchair, with Terry on her knees. She threw off her hat and leaned back. She put one of Terry’s paws on each side of her neck and kissed him lovingly on his nose and between his eyes. Then she began talking to him in a soft low voice, twisting his ears gently between her fingers.
‘What are we going to do about Mrs Barnes, Terry? We owe her four weeks–and she’s such a lamb, Terry–such a lamb. She’d never turn us out. But we can’t take advantage of her being a lamb, Terry. We can’t do that. Why does Barnes want to be out of work? I hate Barnes. He’s always getting drunk. And if you’re always getting drunk, you are usually out of work. But I don’t get drunk, Terry, and yet I’m out of work.
‘I can’t leave you, darling. I can’t leave you. There’s not even anyone I could leave you with–nobody who’d be good to you. You’re getting old, Terry–twelve years old–and nobody wants an old dog who’s rather blind and a little deaf and a little–yes, just a little–bad-tempered. You’re sweet to me, darling, but you’re not sweet to everyone, are you? You growl. It’s because you know the world’s turning against you. We’ve just got each other, haven’t we, darling?’
Terry licked her cheek delicately.
‘Talk to me, darling.’
Terry gave a long lingering groan–almost a sigh, then he nuzzled his nose in behind Joyce’s ear.
‘You trust me, don’t you, angel? You know I’d never leave you. But what are we going to do? We’re right down to it now, Terry.’
She settled back further in the chair, her eyes half closed.
‘Do you remember, Terry, all the happy times we used to have? You and I and Michael and Daddy. Oh, Michael–Michael! It was his first leave, and he wanted to give me a present before he went back to France. And I told him not to be extravagant. And then we were down in the country–and it was all a surprise. He told me to look out of the window, and there you were, dancing up the path on a long lead. The funny little man who brought you, a little man who smelt of dogs. How he talked. “The goods, that’s what he is. Look at him, ma’am, ain’t he a picture? I said to myself, as soon as the lady and gentleman see him they’ll say: ‘That dog’s the goods!’”
‘He kept on saying that–and we called you that for quite a long time–the Goods! Oh, Terry, you were such a darling of a puppy, with your little head on one side, wagging your absurd tail! And Michael went away to France and I had you–the darlingest dog in the world. You read all Michael’s letters with me, didn’t you? You’d sniff them, and I’d say–“From Master,” and you’d understand. We were so happy–so happy. You and Michael and I. And now Michael’s dead, and you’re old, and I–I’m so tired of being brave.’
Terry licked her.
‘You were there when the telegram came. If it hadn’t been for you, Terry–if I hadn’t had you to hold on to…’
She stayed silent for some minutes.
‘And we’ve been together ever since–been through all the ups and downs together–there have been a lot of downs, haven’t there? And now we’ve come right up against it. There are only Michael’s aunts, and they think I’m all right. They don’t know he gambled that money away. We must never tell anyone that. I don’t care–why shouldn’t he? Everyone has to have some fault. He loved us both, Terry, and that’s all that matters. His own relations were always inclined to be down on him and to say nasty things. We’re not going to give them the chance. But I wish I had some relations of my own. It’s very awkward having no relations at all.
‘I’m so tired, Terry–and remarkably