E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Hagen von Eitzen,
and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
THE WERE-WOLF
by
Clemence Housman
Illustrations by Laurence Housman
1896
TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF
E.W.P.
"YOU WILL THINK OF ME SOMETIMES,
MY DEAR?"
LIST OF PLATES
THE WERE-WOLF
The great farm hall was ablaze with the fire-light, and noisy withlaughter and talk and many-sounding work. None could be idle butthe very young and the very old: little Rol, who was hugging apuppy, and old Trella, whose palsied hand fumbled over herknitting. The early evening had closed in, and the farm-servants,come from their outdoor work, had assembled in the ample hall,which gave space for a score or more of workers. Several of themen were engaged in carving, and to these were yielded the bestplace and light; others made or repaired fishing-tackle andharness, and a great seine net occupied three pairs of hands. Ofthe women most were sorting and mixing eider feather and choppingstraw to add to it. Looms were there, though not in present use,but three wheels whirred emulously, and the finest and swiftestthread of the three ran between the fingers of the house-mistress.Near her were some children, busy too, plaiting wicks for candlesand lamps. Each group of workers had a lamp in its centre, andthose farthest from the fire had live heat from two braziersfilled with glowing wood embers, replenished now and again fromthe generous hearth. But the flicker of the great fire wasmanifest to remotest corners, and prevailed beyond the limits ofthe weaker lights.
Little Rol grew tired of his puppy, dropped it incontinently, andmade an onslaught on Tyr, the old wolf-hound, who basked dozing,whimpering and twitching in his hunting dreams. Prone went Rolbeside Tyr, his young arms round the shaggy neck, his curlsagainst the black jowl. Tyr gave a perfunctory lick, and stretchedwith a sleepy sigh. Rol growled and rolled and shoved invitingly,but could only gain from the old dog placid toleration and ahalf-observant blink. "Take that then!" said Rol, indignant at thisignoring of his advances, and sent the puppy sprawling against thedignity that disdained him as playmate. The dog took no notice,and the child wandered off to find amusement elsewhere.
The baskets of white eider feathers caught his eye far off in adistant corner. He slipped under the tab