Wiggles, very sleek and beautiful, jumped gaily into my visitor's lap and they became firm friends at once.
"Why," I said, watching them, "he acts as if he knew you!"
Mr. Penny looked up quickly.
"I've one much like him, at home," he said. "Perhaps your puppy recognizes that. All my clothes are very doggy," he added, with a perfectly charming smile.
"Wiggles," I said, "has excellent judgment—generally!"
It was impossible not to cast the smallest, swiftest glance possible at my enemy, as I said it. I had the advantage; but Dr. Denton, from the ground, deliberately grinned at me.
"She means," he explained carefully, "that Wiggles is quite partial to me. And, of course, she cannot understand it."
He reached up a long, lazy arm and removed the dog from his friend's lap; then, lying flat on his back and holding Wiggles quite close to his face, he very calmly winked at him! And believe it or not, Diary, with my own eyes I saw Wiggles solemnly and unmistakably wink back!
If that isn't Black Magic, what is it?
After that, we three chatted comfortably for the better part of an hour. Mr. Penny, gradually coming forth from his shell, proved a wholly delightful companion. And I flirted! I've read about it in books, of course, but haven't been able to practise very much. Still, I think I did very well for a beginner. I am sure Dr. Denton thought so too, for once I heard him say "Minx!" to Wiggles, quite fretfully. Anyway, he didn't seem to like it.