"Don't notice Lady," he whispered. "I'm going to hide her under the table because they didn't want me to bring her in."

"Didn't want you to bring her in?" Penny whispered sympathetically. "The brutes? You couldn't possibly leave her, could you? I mean I couldn't ever be parted from such a dog."

For the first time the man regarded them with some interest.

"Of course, I couldn't leave her, and I've got to eat... But don't either of you mention her again, and maybe we'll get away with it. Depends on who comes into this other seat..."

When a fat man squeezed into the empty place Penny slid her hand under the table and patted the collie's head. She felt her move under the caress and then a warm, damp tongue licked her hand in appreciation. The soup came then, and the fat man settled down to it noisily, while Lady, under the table, stayed still.

After a long pause Jon said, "Funny we didn't see you on the platform at Paddington. Are you going far?"

"Home, thank goodness," the man smiled. "I don't like the south really, and I like London less. Where are you going?"

"We've got to change at Shrewsbury," Penny said eagerly. "And then we're going to a station that doesn't sound real to me because it's called Craven Arms, and from there we're going to a mysterious place called Clun... We've never been before. Have you heard of it?"

"Of course I've heard of it. I live near there. Why are you going to Clun in winter? Nobody comes to Clun except some odd people in the summer who dig about for flint arrowheads on the hills."

Penny's eyes widened.

"There you are, Jon! I always knew this holiday was going to be thrilling, and now, almost before we've started, this has happened. Now this gentleman... Please tell us your name because this is going to be fun. I'm Penny Warrender, and this is my cousin Jon."

"I'm Alan Denton, and I'm a sheep farmer."

The fat man pushed his plate away from him and now seemed inclined to enter the conversation. Penny did not like the look of him and was afraid that Lady might take a dislike to his fat knees also and make a scene. Alan Denton looked anxious, too, for it was essential that the stranger should leave the table first. So as the waiter came down the narrow gangway, he turned to Penny and said, "I hope you two will take coffee? Have it with me, will you, and then perhaps you can tell me why you are coming to Clun and I'll tell you something about the place in exchange?"