e, ma'am, if that's what you mean,"
said 'Bias.

"Or from my garden, ma'am, if you prefer it," said Cai.

"Why should she?" asked 'Bias.

"Well, 'tis a yard or two nearer, for one thing."

"Anything else?"

"Yes: the other summer-house fronts a bit more up the harbour; t'wards
the fireworks, that's to say."

"You ought to know: _you_ chose it. . . . But anyway I asked her first."

"Thank you--thank you both!" interposed Mrs Bosenna, leaving the
question open. "And may I bring Dinah too? She's almost as silly about
fireworks as I am, poor woman! and life on a farm _can_ be dull."
She sighed, and added, "Besides, 'twould be more proper. We mustn't set
people talking--eh, Captain Hocken?" She appealed to him with a laugh.

"Cai won't be here," announced 'Bias heavily.

"Who said so?" demanded Cai.

"'Said so yourself, not twenty minutes ago. . . . 'Said you didn' know
how the fireworks was ever goin' off without you, or words to that
effect. I didn' make no comment at the time. All I say now is, if Mrs
Bosenna comes here to see fireworks, she'll expect 'em to go off: an' I
leave it at that."

"They'll go off, all right," said Cai cheerfully, putting a curb on his
temper. [But what ailed 'Bias to-night?] "I'll get a small
Sub-committee appointed this very evening. But about takin' a hand
myself, I've changed my mind."

"Indeed, Captain Hocken, I hope you'll not desert the party," said Mrs
Bosenna prettily, and laughed again. "Do you know that, having made so
bold I've a mind to make bolder yet, and pretend I am entertaining _you_
to-morrow. It's the only chance you give me, you two."

She said this with her eyes on 'Bias, who started as if stung and
glanced first at her, then at Cai. But Cai observed nothing, being
occupied at the moment in winding up the musical box, which had run
down.

Mrs Bosenna smiled a demure smile. She had discovered what she had come
to learn; and having discovered it, she presently took her leave, with a
promise to be punctual on the morrow.

When she was gone the pair sat for some time in silence. _Tink,
tink-tink-a-tink, tink_, went the musical box on the table. . . .
At length Cai stood up.

"Time to be gettin' along to Committee," he said, and stepped to the
doorway; but there he turned and faced about. "'Bias--"

"Eh?"

"You don't really think as I chose th' other summer-house because it had
a better view?"

"_Has_ it a better view?" asked 'Bias.

"