him to lean against posts and look at him； and forces him to
neglect work for him； and keeps him under rigid coercion。 I once
knew a fancy terrier who kept a gentleman … a gentleman who had
been brought up at Oxford； too。 The dog kept the gentleman
entirely for his glorification； and the gentleman never talked
about anything but the terrier。 This； however； was not in a shy
neighbourhood； and is a digression consequently。
There are a great many dogs in shy neighbourhoods； who keep boys。
I have my eye on a mongrel in Somerstown who keeps three boys。 He
feigns that he can bring down sparrows； and unburrow rats （he can
do neither）； and he takes the boys out on sporting pretences into
all sorts of suburban fields。 He has likewise made them believe
that he possesses some mysterious knowledge of the art of fishing；
and they consider themselves incompletely equipped for the
Hampstead ponds； with a pickle…jar and wide…mouthed bottle； unless
he is with them and barking tremendously。 There is a dog residing
in the Borough of Southwark who keeps a blind man。 He may be seen；
most days； in Oxford…street； haling the blind man away on
expeditions wholly uncontemplated by； and unintelligible to； the
man： wholly of the dog's conception and execution。 Contrariwise；
when the man has projects； the dog will sit down in a crowded
thoroughfare and meditate。 I saw him yesterday； wearing the money…
tray like an easy collar； instead of offering it to the public；
taking the man against his will； on the invitation of a
disreputable cur； apparently to visit a dog at Harrow … he was so
intent on that direction。 The north wall of Burlington House
Gardens； between the Arcade and the Albany； offers a shy spot for
appointments among blind men at about two or three o'clock in the
afternoon。 They sit （very uncomfortably） on a sloping stone there；
and compare notes。 Their dogs may always be observed at the same
time； openly disparaging the men they keep； to one another； and
settling where they shall respectively take their men when they
begin to move again。 At a small butcher's； in a shy neighbourhood
（there is no reason for suppressing the name； it is by Notting…
hill； and gives upon the district called the Potteries）； I know a
shaggy black and white dog who keeps a drover。 He is a dog of an
easy disposition； and too frequently allows this drover to get
drunk。 On these occasions； it is the dog's custom to sit outside
the public…house； keeping his eye on a few sheep； and thinking。 I
have seen him with six sheep； plainly casting up in his mind how
many he began with when he left the market； and at what places he
has left the rest。 I have seen him perplexed by not being able to
account to himself for certain particular sheep。 A light has
gradually broken on him； he has remembered at what butcher's he
left them； and in a burst of grave satisfaction has caught a fly
off his nose； and shown himself much relieved。 If I could at any
time have doubted the fact that it was he who kept the drover； and
not the drover who kept him； it would have been abundantly proved
by his way of taking undivided charge of the six sheep； when the
drover came out besmeared with red ochre and beer； and gave him
wrong directions； which he calmly disregarded。 He has taken the
sheep entirely into his own hands； has merely remarked with
respectful firmness； 'That instruction would place them under an
omnibus； you had better confine your attention to yourself … you
will want it all；' and has driven his charge away； with an
intelligence of ears and tail； and a knowledge of business； that
has left his lout of a man very； very far behind。
As the dogs of shy neighbourhoods usually betray a slinking
consciousness of being in poor circumstances … for the most part
manifested in an aspect of anxiety； an awkwardness in their play；
and a misgiving that somebody is going to harness them to
something； to pick up a living … so the cats of shy neighbourhoods
exhibit a strong tendency to relapse into barbarism。 Not only are
they made selfishly ferocious by ruminating on the surplus
population around them； and on the densely crowded state of all the
avenues to cat's meat； not only is there a moral and politico…
economical haggardness in them； traceable to these reflections； but
they evince a physical deterioration。 Their linen is not clean；
and is wretchedly got up； their black turns rusty； like old
mourning； they wear very indifferent fur； and take to the shabbiest
cotton velvet； instead of silk velvet。 I am on terms of
recognition with several small streets of cats； about the Obelisk
in Saint George's Fields； and also in the vicinity of Clerkenwell…
green； and also in the back settlements of Drury…lane。 In
appearance； they are very like the women among whom they live。
They seem to turn out of their unwholesome beds into the street；
without any preparation。 They leave their young families to
stagger about the gutters； unassisted； while they frouzily quarrel
and swear and scratch and spit； at street corners。 In particular；
I remark that when they are about to increase their families （an
event of frequent recurrence） the resemblance is strongly expressed
in a certain dusty dowdiness； down…at…heel self…neglect； and
general giving up of things。 I cannot honestly report that I have
ever seen a feline matron of this class washing her face when in an
interesting condition。
Not to prolong these notes of uncommercial travel among the lower
animals of shy neighbourhoods； by dwelling at length upon the
exasperated moodiness of the tom…cats； and their resemblance in
many respects to a man and a brother； I will come to a close with a
word on the fowls of the same localities。
That anything born of an egg and invested with wings； should have
got to the pass that it hops contentedly down a ladder into a
cellar； and calls THAT going home； is a circumstance so amazing as
to leave one nothing more in this connexion to wonder at。
Otherwise I might wonder at the completeness with which these fowls
have become separated from all the birds of the air … have taken to
grovelling in bricks and mortar and mud … have forgotten all about
live trees； and make roosting…places of shop…boards； barrows；
oyster…tubs； bulk…heads； and door…scrapers。 I wonder at nothing
concerning them； and take them as they are。 I accept as products
of Nature and things of course； a reduced Bantam family of my
acquaintance in the Hackney…road； who are incessantly at the
pawnbroker's。 I cannot say that they enjoy themselves； for they
are of a melancholy temperament； but what enjoyment they are
capable of； they derive from crowding together in the pawnbroker's
side…entry。 Here； they are always to be found in a feeble flutter；
as if they were newly come down in the world； and were afraid of
being identified。 I know a low fellow； originally of a good family
from Dorking； who takes his whole establishment of wives； in single
file； in at the door of the jug Department of a disorderly tavern
near the Haymarket； manoeuvres them among the company's legs；
emerges with them at the Bottle Entrance； and so passes his life：
seldom； in the season； going to bed before two in the morning。
Over Waterloo…bridge； there is a shabby old speckled couple （they
belong to the wooden French…bedstead； washing…stand； and towel…
horse…making trade）； who are always trying to get in at the door of
a chapel。 Whether the old lady； under a delusion reminding one of
Mrs。 Southcott； has an idea of entrusting an egg to that particular
denomination； or merely understands that she has no business in the
building and is consequently frantic to enter it； I cannot
determine； but she is constantly endeavouring to undermine the
principal door： while her partner； who is infirm upon his legs；
walks up and down； encouraging her and defying the Universe。 But；
the family I have been best acquainted with； since the removal from
this trying sphere of a Chinese circle at Brentford； reside in the
densest part of Bethnal…green。 Their abstraction from the objects
among which they live； or rather their conviction that those
objects have all come into existence in express subservience to
fowls； has so enchanted me； that I have made them the subject of
many journeys at divers hours。 After careful observation of the
two lords and the ten ladies of whom this family consists； I have
come to the conclusion that their opinions are represented by the
leading lord and leading lady： the latter； as I judge； an aged
personage； afflicted with a paucity of feather and visibility of
quill； that gives her the appearance of a bundle of office pens。
When a railway goods van that would crush an elephant comes round
the corner； tearing over these fowls； they emerge unharmed from
under the horses； perfectly satisfied that the whole rush was a
passing property in the air； which may have left s