Gammire was the only person in view. He sat just in the middle of the top step of the veranda, and his air was that of an endowed and settled institution. What passing traffic there was interested him but vaguely, not affecting the world to which he belonged--that world being this house and yard, of which he felt himself now, beyond all question, the official dog.
It had been a rather hard-working afternoon, for he had done everything suggested to him as well as a great many other things that he thought of himself. He had also made it clear that he had taken a fancy to everybody, but recognized Julia to be the head of the house and of his own universe; and though he was at the disposal of all her family and friends, he was at her disposal first. Whithersoever she went, there would he go also, unless she otherwise commanded. Just now she had withdrawn, closing the door, but he understood that she intended no permanent exclusion. Who was this newcomer at the gate?
The newcomer came to a halt, staring intolerantly. Then he advanced, slamming the gate behind him. "Get out o' here!" he said. "You get off the place!"
Gammire regarded him seriously, not moving, while Mr. Atwater cast an eye about the lawn, seeming to search for something, and his gaze, thus roving, was arrested by a slight movement of great areas behind a lilac bush. It appeared that the dome of some public building had covered itself with antique textiles and was endeavouring to hide there--a failure.
"Kitty Silver!" he said. "What are you doing?"
"Suh?"
Debouching sidewise she came into fuller view, but retired a few steps. "Whut I doin' whur, Mista Atwater?"
"How'd that dog get on my front steps?"
Her face became noncommittal entirely. "Thishere dog? He just settin' there, suh."
"How'd he get in the yard?"
"Mus' somebody up an' brung him in."
"Who did it?"
"You mean: Who up an' brung him in, suh?"
"I mean: Who does he belong to?"
"Mus' be Miss Julia's. I reckon he is, so fur."
"What! She knows I don't allow dogs on the place."
"Yessuh."
Mr. Atwater's expression became more outraged and determined. "You mean to say that somebody's trying to give her another dog after all I've been through with----"
"It look that way, suh."
"Who did it?"
"Miss Julia ain't sayin'; an' me, I don' know who done it no mo'n the lilies of the valley whut toil not neither do they spins."