eepily at the arched
roof of foliage chequered with blue sky. Argus lolled against the
carriage-door with his tongue out.

They waited five minutes or so, languidly expectant. Vixen began to
wonder whether the gates would ever open--whether there were really any
living human creatures in that blank dead-looking house--whether they
would not have to give up all idea of entering, and drive back to the
harbour, and return to Hampshire by the way they had come.

While she sat idly wondering thus, with the sleepy buzz of summer
insects and melodious twittering of birds soothing her senses like a
lullaby, the old gate groaned upon its rusty hinges, and a middle-aged
woman in a black gown and a white cap appeared--a female who recognised
Captain Winstanley with a curtsey, and came out to receive the smaller
packages from the flyman.

"Antony will take the portmanteaux," she said; "the boat must have come
in earlier than usual. We did not expect you so soon."

"This is one of Miss Skipwith's servants," thought Vixen; "rather a
vinegary personage. I hope the other maids are nicer."

The person spoken of as Antony now appeared, and began to hale about
Violet's portmanteaux. He was a middle-aged man, with a bald head and a
melancholy aspect. His raiment was shabby; his costume something
between that of a lawyer's clerk and an agricultural labourer. Argus
saluted this individual with a suppressed growl.

"Sh!" cried the female vindictively, flapping her apron at the dog,
"whose dog is this, sir? He doesn't belong to you, surely?"

"He belongs to Miss Tempest. You must find a corner for him somewhere
in the outbuildings, Hannah," said the Captain. "The dog is harmless
enough, and friendly enough when he is used to people."

"That won't be much good if he bites us before he gets used to us, and
we die of hydrophobia in the meantime," retorted Hannah; "I believe he
has taken a dislike to Antony already."

"Argus won't bite anyone," said Vixen, laying her hand upon the dog's
collar, "I'll answer for his good conduct. Please try and find him a
nice snug nest somewhere--if I mustn't have him in the house."

"In the house!" cried Hannah. "Miss Skipwith would faint at the mention
of such a thing. I don't know how she'll ever put up with a huge beast
like that anywhere about the place. He must be kept as much out of her
sight as possible."

"I'm sorry Argus isn't welcome," said Vixen proudly.

She was thinking that her own wel