Chapter 44 Summary and Analysis

James Herriot is awakened at 1 a.m. with the wailing, tearful voice of Humphrey Cobb calling for him to come and see Myrtle, his beagle, who was—according to Cobb—panting, gasping and close to death. When he arrives, Herriot checks out the dog and finds nothing wrong with her; although Cobb obviously feels guilty about having left her alone most of the day while he went gambling on horses. Pressured to do something, Herriot gives the soul-eyed bitch a vitamin tablet and turns to leave when Cobb asks him to share a drink of whisky. As they chat, it becomes obvious that the rotund Mr. Cobb is getting very sentimental, and drunk.

Several times thereafter, Herriot sees Cobb and Myrtle romping in the fields. Whenever they meet, Cobb thanks him profoundly for saving his dog. Then Herriot receives...