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thoughtlessness of men. Before he slept he told himself, ‘Samuel M., things should be different, they really should. And they could be if people knew how to care.’ For a while he even wondered whether he could really bear to stay here where so many animals were cooped up and then decided that he could because, at least, he could look after them even if he could never give them freedom.
    When he awoke in the morning, however, he didn’t feel half so gloomy about things and, if he had, the work he had to do through the day would have given him little time for brooding.
    Within a month Smiler was feeling very much at home at Bullaybrook Farm. He knew the routine for all the jobs he had to do, and he did them well, for he was a good worker. The Duchess was pleased with him and so were Bill and Bob for, although they laughed and joked and pulled his leg, when it came to work they would not tolerate a half-done, sloppy job. In his spare time and at the weekends Smiler, too, had begun to discover the country around the farm. In the store barn was an old bicycle which had been bought in some deal by Jimmy Jago. Smiler put it in order and explored the surrounding lanes and the brook and river valley on it.
    And in that month the shape and purpose of Smiler’s life began to be defined. The Duchess had a talk with the local veterinary surgeon who came now and then to treat sick or ailing animals. After he had gone she explained to Smiler (though he knew some of this already) that he would have to study for the General Certificate of Education, first at the Ordinary level and then at the Advanced level – in which he would need two or three passes. When this was done he could apply for admission to one of the Universities which provided courses leading to degrees in veterinary science or veterinary medicine and surgery. Once he had a degree it would give him the right to be registered in the Register of Veterinary Surgeons and to membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the right to practise the profession in the United Kingdom. Apart from studying general subjects, Smiler would eventually have to tackle chemistry, physics and biology.
    Listening to her, Smiler felt swamped by the prospect of the task ahead and his face showed it.
    The Duchess chuckled and said, ‘Cheer up, Samuel. You can go a long way in small steps if you’ve plenty of time ahead of you – and you’ve got that. Fix your eye on the first mountaintop and forget the ones that lie beyond. Their turn will come.’
    Grinning ruefully, Smiler asked, ‘How am I goin’ to get up the first mountain, ma’am? I never did much at school.’
    â€˜That’s your fault. But it’s never too late.’
    To prove it the Duchess arranged with a friend of hers, a retired schoolmaster in a nearby village, to start giving Smiler lessons two evenings a week in general subjects. Twice a week Smiler cycled to the village and was coached by the retired schoolmaster, a Mr Samkin. Every day thereafter Smiler had to and time, either before or after supper, to work at a small table in his own room. Since the nights were now drawing in as October passed he didn’t mind so much, but he wondered how he would stick it when the winter passed and spring and summer came, and all the springs and summers of the years ahead when the evenings were drawn out and full of invitation to go abroad into fields and woods. The only answer he could find was to tell himself, ‘If you want something bad, Samuel M., then you got to work for it. The great thing is not to think about it too much, but take it step by step like the Duchess says.’
    Smiler’s birthday came and he was sixteen. Jimmy Jago was at home for it and gave him a good second-hand watch. ‘Now you’re a working and studying man, my lad, you must value time. It’s like water under a bridge. Once gone you can’t bring it back.’ The