BIEDS AND MEN 157 



holiday he would greet her with extravagant manifesta- 

 tions of delight, jumping around her, rubbing his head 

 against her, and making littles snatches at her dress. He 

 had a special salutation for well-known friends, a sudden 

 profound curtsey accompanied by loud quacking and raising 

 of the crest feathers. He and the gardener were devoted 

 comrades, and spent many an hour pacing solemnly side 

 by side behind the roller or mowing machine. But his 

 most constant playmate was the kitten with whom he 

 grew up, and into mature life cat and duck continued their 

 favourite pastime of mock mortal combat, rolling over 

 and over, locked, in apparently deadly embrace, a huge 

 delight to both. Humphry's primary mission in life was 

 to clear the garden of snails and slugs, and I have known 

 him eat as many as thirty large snails at a meal, shells 

 and all. The vegetable foods he selected were invariably 

 the treasures of the garden. Much had to be forgiven 

 him, and no form of punishment was ever discovered that 

 made the slightest impression on the culprit ; he plainly 

 took a droll delight in doing anything he had once clearly 

 understood he was not desired to do. He loved to in- 

 vestigate the house , and would find his way in at any open 

 door and straight to any room where he heard human 

 voices. Visitors grew accustomed to being welcomed in 

 the drawing-room by a vociferous duck, but neighbours 

 were apt to return him with contumely when he was 

 discovered ascending their front stairs. Alone or accom- 

 panied, he was bent on exploring the world ; and he 

 habitually walked to bathe in a pool at half a mile's 

 distance, following or preceding his escort along the public 

 road with the greatest composure and enjoyment, the 

 cynosure of every eye. He came to spend great part of 

 his time outside the gate, fearlessly making advances to 

 every passer-by and numbering a wide circle of admiring 

 friends. I fear his roving propensities and a too confiding 

 disposition led to his end, for there came a day when 

 Humphry disappeared and was never heard of more. 



