Enshrined in the swaying grass, the latter’s knickerbockers, which had been generously fashioned out of a material which had been boldly conceived, presented a back view which was most arresting.  With his head on one side, the terrier gazed at them with such inquisitive astonishment that I had to set my teeth so as not to laugh outright.  His cautious advance to investigate the phenomenon was still more ludicrous, and I was quite relieved when our cousin straightened his back and dissipated an illusion monstrously worthy of the pen of Mandeville.

But there was better to come.

As the unwitting Vandy, after a speechless glance in our direction, bent again to his work, Nobby cast an appraising eye over the area which had already received attention.  Perceiving a molehill which had suffered an ugly gash—­presumably from a scythe—­he trotted up to explore, and, clapping his nose to the wound, snuffed long and thoughtfully.  The next moment he was digging like one possessed.

Emma and May stiffened with a shock.  With the tail of my eye I saw them exchange horror-stricken glances.  Panic fear sat in their eyes.  Their fingers moved convulsively.  Then, with one consent, they began to cough....

Their unconscious brother worked on.

So did the Sealyham, but with a difference.  While the one toiled, the other was in his element.  A shower of earth flew from between his legs, only ceasing for a short moment, when he preferred to rend the earth with his jaws and so facilitate the excavation.

The coughing became insistent, frantic, impossible to be disregarded....

As I was in the act of turning to express my concern Vandy looked up, followed the direction of four starting eyes, and let out a screech of dismay.

“What on earth’s the matter?” cried Berry, getting upon his feet.  “Been stung, or something?”

With a trembling forefinger Vandy indicated the miscreant.

“Stop him!” he yelled.  “Call him off.  He’ll-he’ll spoil the lawn.”

“Ruin it,” shrilled Emma.

“Where?” said Berry blankly.  “What lawn?”

“This lawn!” roared Vandy, stamping his foot.

“But I thought——­”

“I don’t care what you thought.  Call the brute off.  It’s my land, and I won’t have it.”

“Nobby,” said Berry, “come off the bowling green.”

Scrambling to my feet, I countersigned the order in a peremptory tone.  Aggrievedly the terrier complied.  My brother-in-law turned to Vandy with an injured air.

“I fear,” he said stiffly, “that we are unwelcome.”  Instinctively Emma and May made as though they would protest.  In some dignity Berry lifted his hand.  “I may be wrong,” he said.  “I hope so.  But from the first I felt that your manner was strained.  Subsequent events suggest that my belief was well founded.”  He turned to Vandy.  “May I ask you to let us out?  I am reluctant to trouble you, but to scale those gates twice in one morning is rather more than I care about.”