t 'Bias beat him down
thunderously--

"What did he say?" he demanded of Dinah.

"Oh, I couldn't, sir! I really couldn't!"

"I meant to warn you," interposed Cai again. "There's a--a screw loose
somewhere in that bird. Didn't I tell you only the night before last
that Mrs Bowldler couldn't get along with him?"

"You did," admitted 'Bias, his tone ominously calm. "But you didn'
specify: not when I told you I was goin' to bring the bird up here to
Rilla."

"No, I didn': for, in the first place, I couldn', not knowin' what
language the bird used."

He would have said more, but 'Bias turned roughly from him to demand of
the women--

"Well, what _did_ he say? . . . Did he say it in your hearin', ma'am?"

"Ahem!--er--partially so," owned Mrs Bosenna.

"It's no use you're askin' what he said," added Dinah; "for no decent
woman could tell it. And, what's more, the mistress is takin' her
breakfast here in the kitchen because she durstn't go nigh the parlour."

"And I got that bird off a missionary! A decenter speakin' parrot I've
never known, so far as my experience goes--and I've known a good few."

"Folks have different notions on these matters; different standards, so
to speak," suggested Mrs Bosenna icily.

"It's my opinion," put in Cai, "that missionary did you in the eye."

"Oh, that's your opinion, is it? Well, you'd best take care, my joker,
or you'll get something in the eye yourself."

"We don't want any prize-fightin' here, if you please," commanded Mrs
Bosenna.

"There again!" foamed 'Bias, with difficulty checking an oath.
"A prize-fighter, am I? Who put that into your head, ma'am? Who's been
scandalisin' me to you?" He turned, half-choking, and shook a
minatory finger at Cai.

"I--I didn' say I had any objection to fightin'-men, not when they're
quiet," Mrs Bosenna made haste to observe in a pacificatory tone.
In fact she was growing nervous, and felt that she had driven her
revenge far enough. "My late husband was very fond of the--the ring--in
his young days."

It is easier, however, to arouse passions than to allay them.
'Bias continued to shake a finger at Cai, and Cai (be it said in
justice) faced the accusation gamely.

"I never scandalised you," he answered. "In fact I done all in my power
to remove the impression." Feeling this to be infelicitous--in a sort of
despair with his tongue, which had taken a twist and could say nothing
aright this morning--he made haste to add in