won’t be as easy as that!” said Diana scornfully. “We... ”
Loony set up a tremendous barking again. Snubby dived beneath the wooden seat once more, and Roger and Diana sat close to hide him.
“It’s Great-uncle this time all right,” said Roger. “Keep still, Snubby. We’ll do our best for you.”
Great-uncle came to the entrance of the summer-house. He looked in.
“Ah,” he said. “I thought I should find you here. I want to talk to Snubby.”
“We’ll tell him, Great-uncle,” said Roger politely.
“Your mother said he was here,” said Great-uncle.
“Did she?” said Diana. “Is she busy, Great-uncle? Does she want me yet?”
(“That was a quick change of subject!” thought Snubby admiringly from behind her legs.)
“No. She didn’t say she wanted any of you,” said Great-uncle. “Do you know where Snubby is?”
“He’s not far off,” said Roger truthfully. “Loony’s never very far from him, you know.”
Loony wagged his tail at his name. He was most astonished to see Snubby under the seat, and would have liked to go to him, but every time he went near either Roger or Diana pushed him off with a determined foot.
“Do you think he’d hear me if I called him?” asked Great-uncle. “I really do want to speak to him. It’s important.”
“You could try shouting,” said Diana.
Great-uncle shouted, “Snubby! SNUBBY! I want you! SNUBBY!”
There was no answer, of course, except that Loony barked, and Sardine fled up to the wall.
“Do you think he heard me?” said Great-uncle.
“Er—if he’s near enough, he would certainly hear you,” said Roger cautiously. “Never mind, Great-uncle. I’ll tell him you want him next time I speak to him.”
Great-uncle called again, feeling somehow certain that Snubby was not very far away, otherwise why was Loony there?
“SNUBBY! I WANT YOU!”
“Great-uncle! That woman with her baby in the house opposite is looking out of the window,” said Diana. “I hope her baby isn’t asleep.”
“Bless us all! I forgot the baby,” said Great-uncle. “The mother will be after me again. Well, you tell Snubby I’ve been looking for him, will you?”
He went off down the path, and Roger and Diana heaved sighs of relief. “You can come out now, Snubby,” said Roger. “He’s gone.”
Snubby came out, dirtier than ever. “You did jolly well,” he said admiringly. “Never told a lie at all, and didn’t give me away either. Thanks awfully.”
“I don’t know how you’re going to manage to avoid Great-uncle all day long,” said Diana. “It’ll be difficult!”
“It won’t,” said Snubby, beaming. “Let’s bike over to Ricklesham for the day—take our lunch and everything.”
“Right! That’s a fine idea,” said Roger. “I’ll go and ask Mother now. Come on, Di. Stay here, Snubby, and we’ll fetch you when we’re ready. So long!”
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