n Clematis; he
laid his nose upon the ground, deliberating a bit of gaiety, and then,
with a little rush, set a large, rude paw upon the sensitive face
of Flopit and capsized him. Flopit uttered a bitter complaint in an
asthmatic voice.

"Oh, nassy dray bid Horror!" cried his mistress, turning quickly at this
sound and waving a pink parasol at Clematis. "Shoo! DIRTY dog! Go 'way!"
And she was able somehow to connect him with the wash-tub and boiler,
for she added, "Nassy laundrymans to have bad doggies!"

Mr. Watson rushed upon Clematis with angry bellowings and imaginary
missiles. "You disgusting brute!" he roared. "How DARE you?"

Apparently much alarmed, Clematis lowered his ears, tucked his tail
underneath him, and fled to the rear, not halting once or looking back
until he disappeared round the corner whence he had come. "There!" said
Mr. Watson. "I guess HE won't bother us again very soon!"

It must be admitted that Milady was one of those people who do not mind
being overheard, no matter what they say. "Lucky for us," she said,
"we had a nice dray bid MANS to protect us, wasn't it, Flopit?" And
she thought it necessary to repeat something she had already made
sufficiently emphatic.

"Nassy laundrymans!"

"I expect I gave that big mongrel the fright of his life," said Mr.
Watson, with complacency. "He'll probably run a mile!"

The shoulders of Genesis shook as he was towed along by the convulsive
tub. He knew from previous evidence that Clematis possessed both a high
quality and a large quantity of persistence, and it was his hilarious
opinion that the dog had not gone far. As a matter of fact, the head
of Clematis was at this moment cautiously extended from behind the
fence-post at the corner whither he had fled. Viewing with growing
assurance the scene before him, he permitted himself to emerge wholly,
and sat down, with his head tilted to one side in thought. Almost at the
next corner the clothes-boiler with legs, and the wash-tubs, and
Genesis were marching on; and just behind them went three figures not
so familiar to Clematis, and connected in his mind with a vague, mild
apprehension. But all backs were safely toward him, and behind them
pattered that small live thing which had so profoundly interested him.

He rose and came on apace, silently.

When he reached the side of Flopit, some eight or nine seconds later,
Clematis found himself even more fascinated and perplexed than during
their former i