"Yes, ma'am. He is a very old friend of mine."

"Indeed!" simpered the lady.

"Are you not, Verty?"

But Verty was intently watching Longears, who was trying to insert his
nose between two bars of the garden gate.

"_Anan_?" he said.

"La, what does he mean?" said the lady; "see! he's looking at
something."

Verty was only making friendly signs to Longears to enter the garden.
Longears no sooner understood that he was called, than he cleared the
fence at one bound, and came up to his master.

Mr. Jinks had not heard his own voice for at least half a minute; so
he observed, loftily:

"A handsome dog! a very handsome dog, sir! What did you say his name
was? Longears? Yes? Here, Longears!"

And he made friendly signs of invitation to the hound. Longears
availed himself of these indications of friendship by rearing up on
Mr. Jinks, and leaving a dust-impression of his two paws upon that
gentleman's ruffled shirt-bosom.

Verty laughed, and dragged him away.