“And if he once sits down to a sketch there will be no moving him!” said his wife with good-humoured impatience.
“Let somebody suggest a means of prevention, then,” said Jack. “You shall have mine first—the vineyards.”
“Perhaps that would be the best plan—”
“You will miss the long shadows,” Bice said doubtfully.
“But we shall get them in this enchanting garden,” exclaimed Mrs Leyton. “I know exactly how it will be with Arthur otherwise. Cart ropes won’t drag him away when once he has begun a sketch.”
She had her way, as she generally had, and the eight started, a merry party to all appearance, though there were doubts and heart sinkings pressing heavily on more than one of the eight. Cartouche was left behind, to his great disgust, but too many dogs were employed in the vineyards for it to be safe to take him.
“It always seems strange to me that your vineyards should be so undefended,” Jack said, determined to speak to Bice. “Have you such perfect trust in the honesty of your fellow-creatures?”
“Touch a grape and you will see,” answered the girl briefly.
“What shall I see?”
“A man with a gun. And he will be quite ready to use it. The very dogs are trained to watch.”