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〃Wonderful with sheep； too；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃at least； she would be
if they would let her。。。。 You should see her with them on the Heath。
They simply can't bear her。〃
〃You will hear from me again；〃 said the nephew sourly。
〃Thank you；〃 said Mr。 Lavender。 〃I shall be glad of a proof； it is
always safer； I believe。〃
〃Good morning；〃 said the nephew。
Blink； who alone perceived the dark meaning in these words； seeing him
move towards the door began to bark and run from side to side behind him；
for all the world as if he had been a flock of sheep。
〃Keep her off！〃 said the nephew anxiously。 〃Keep her off。 I refuse to
be bitten again。〃
〃Blink！〃 called Mr。 Lavender in some agony。 Blink； whose obedience was
excessive； came back to him at once； and stood growling from under her
master's hand； laid on the white hair which flowed back from her collar；
till the nephew's footsteps had died away。 〃I cannot imagine；〃 thought
Mr。 Lavender； 〃why she should have taken exception to that excellent
journalist。 Perhaps he did not smell quite right？ One never knows。〃
And with her moustachioed muzzle pressed to his chin Mr。 Lavender sought
for explanation in the innocent and living darkness of his dog's eyes。。。。
On leaving Mr。 Lavender's the nephew forthwith returned to the castle in
Frognal； and sought his aunt。
〃Mad as a March hare； Aunt Rosie； and his dog bit me。〃
〃That dear doggie？〃
〃They're dangerous。〃
〃You were always funny about dogs； dear； said his aunt soothingly。〃 Why；
even Sealey doesn't really like you。 〃And calling to the little low
white dog she quite failed to attract his attention。 〃Did you notice his
dress。 The first time I took him for a shepherd； and the second time…！
What do you think ought to be done？〃
〃He'll have to be watched；〃 said the nephew。 〃We can't have lunatics at
large in Hampstead。〃
〃But； Wilfred；〃 said the old lady； 〃will our man…power stand it？
Couldn't they watch each other？ Or； if it would be any help； I could
watch him myself。 I took such a fancy to his dear dog。〃
〃I shall take steps；〃 said the nephew。
〃No； don't do that。 I'll go and call on the people； next door。 Their
name is Scarlet。 They'll know about him； no doubt。 We mustn't do
anything inconsiderate。
The nephew； muttering and feeling his calf； withdrew to his study。 And
the old lady； having put on her bonnet； set forth placidly； unaccompanied
by her little white dog。
On arriving at the castle embedded in acacias and laurustinus she asked
of the maid who opened：
Can I see Mrs。 Scarlet？ 〃
〃No；〃 replied the girl dispassionately； 〃she's dead。〃
〃Mr。 Scarlet； then？〃
〃No；〃 replied the girl he's a major。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said the old lady。
〃Miss Isabel's at home；〃 said the girl； who appeared； like so many people
in time of war； to be of a simple； plain…spoken nature； 〃you'll find her
in the garden。〃 And she let the old lady out through a French window。
At the far end； under an acacia； Mrs。 Sinkin could see the form of a
young lady in a blue dress； lying in a hammock； with a cigarette between
her lips and a yellow book in her hands。 She approached her thinking；
〃Dear me！ how comfortable； in these days！〃 And； putting her head a
little on one side； she said with a smile： 〃My name is Sinkin。 I hope
I'm not disturbing you。
The young lady rose with a vigorous gesture。
〃Oh； no！ Not a bit。〃
〃I do admire some people；〃 said the old lady； they seem to find time for
everything。〃
The young lady stretched herself joyously。
〃I'm taking it out before going to my new hospital。 Try it；〃 she said
touching the hammock； 〃it's not bad。 Will you have a cigarette？〃
〃I'm afraid I'm too old for both；〃 said the old lady； 〃though I've often
thought they must be delightfully soothing。 I wanted to speak to you
about your neighbour。〃
The young lady rolled her large grey eyes。 〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃he's
perfectly sweet。〃
〃I know；〃 said the old lady； 〃and has such a dear dog。 My nephew's very
interested in them。 You may have heard of himWilfred Sinkina very
clever man； on so many Committees。〃
〃Not really？〃 said the young lady。
〃Oh； yes！ He has one of those heads which nothing can disturb； so
valuable in these days。〃
〃And what sort of a heart？〃 asked the young lady； emitting a ring of
smoke。
〃Just as serene。 I oughtn't to say so； but I think he's rather a
wonderful machine。〃
〃So long as he's not a doctor！ You can't think how they get on your
nerves when they're； like that。 I've bumped up against so many of them。
They fired me at last！〃
〃Really？ Where？ I thought they only did that to the dear horses。 Oh；
what a pretty laugh you have！ It's so pleasant to hear anyone laugh； in
these days。〃
〃I thought no one did anything else！ I mean； what else can you do；
except die； don't you know？〃
〃I think that's rather a gloomy view；〃 said the old lady placidly。 But
about your neighbour。 What is his name？〃
〃Lavender。 But I call him Don Pickwixote。〃
〃Dear me； do you indeed？ Have you noticed anything very eccentric about
him？〃
〃That depends on what you call eccentric。 Wearing a nightshirt； for
instance？ I don't know what your standard is； you see。〃
The old lady was about to reply when a voice from the adjoining garden
was heard saying：
〃Blink！ Don't touch that charming mooncat！〃
〃Hush！〃 murmured the young lady； and seizing her visitor's arm； she drew
her vigorously beneath the acacia tree。 Sheltered from observation by
those thick and delicate branches； they stooped； and applying their eyes
to holes in the privet hedge； could see a very little cat； silvery…fawn
in colour and far advanced in kittens； holding up its paw exactly like a
dog； and gazing with sherry…coloured eyes at Mr。 Lavender； who stood in
the middle of his lawn； with Blink behind him。
〃If you see me going to laugh；〃 whispered the young lady； 〃pinch me
hard。〃
〃Moon…cat；〃 repeated Mr。 Lavender； 〃where have you come from？ And what
do you want； holding up your paw like that？ What curious little noises
you make； duckie！〃 The cat； indeed； was uttering sounds rather like a
duck。 It came closer to Mr。 Lavender； circled his legs； drubbed itself
against Blink's chest； while its tapered tail； barred with silver；
brushed her mouth。
〃This is extraordinary；〃 they heard Mr。 Lavender say； 〃I would stroke it
if I wasn't so stiff。 How nice of you little moon…cat to be friendly to
my play…girl！ For what is there in all the world so pleasant to see as
friendliness between a dog and cat！〃
At those words the old lady； who was a great lover of animals； was so
affected that she pinched the young lady by mistake。
〃Not yet！〃 whispered the latter in some agony。 〃Listen！〃
〃Moon…cat；〃 Mr。 Lavender was saying； 〃Arcadia is in your golden eyes。
You have come； no doubt； to