“Well said, old mole! canst work i’ the earth so fast? A worthy pioneer! Once more remove, good friends.”

“What’s that? You know perfectly well it’s a mole, Gerda,” said Mrs. Solent. Gerda remained silent. She lifted some of the loose earth to her face and smelt it. Then she leapt to her feet, shook out her skirt, and rubbed the palms of her hands together. “I give it up,” she said. “It isn’t a rabbit. There’s no smell of a fox either. It may have been a dog.”

“A mole⁠ ⁠… a mole!” repeated the older woman.