They had made real friends over Span.

And, apropos of Span, Dr.Panton frowned to himself.

He feared that the dog was going to be the one blot on this delightful visit.

Span had been very, very badly behaved--setting up that unearthly howl whenever his master brought him in contact with the rest of the party.
Yet he was quite good in the servants' hall.

"It is clear that, like so many cleverer people than himself, Span likes low company," Bubbles had whispered mischievously to Span's master.