How it came to find its way to my pocket I don't know."

"And I don't know, either," mused Mrs Bosenna, as Dinah helped her to
undress that night. (This undressing was, in fact, but a well-worn
excuse for mistress and maid to chat and--due difference of position
observed--exchange confidences before bedtime). "Captain Hocken is
simple-minded, as any one can tell; but not absent-minded by nature.
At least, I hope not. I hate absent-minded men."

She glanced at her glass, and turned about sharply.

"Dinah, you designing woman! I believe you slipped that box into his
pocket? Yes, when you pretended that his coat wanted brushing,--I saw
you!"

CHAPTER VIII.

'BIAS APPROVES.

As they departed and went their way down the coombe, a constrained
silence fell between the two friends. Nor did either break it until
they came again in sight of the railway station.

"I don't altogether like the air in this valley," announced 'Bias.

"It _is_ a trifle close, now you mention it," Cai agreed.

"Nor I don't altogether cotton to the valley, neither. Pretty enough,
you may say; but it gives you a _feelin'_--like as if you didn't know
what was goin' to happen next."

"Places do have that effect with some," Cai assented again, but more
dejectedly. Horrid apprehension--if 'Bias should extend his dislike to
Troy itself!

"I'm feeling better already," 'Bias continued, answering and allaying
this unspoken fear. "Is that the gasworks yonder?"

"Yes. The _real_ scenery's at the other end o' the town."

"The smell's healthy, they tell me." 'Bias halted in the roadway, and
casting back his head took a long stare up at the gasometer. "You
mustn' hurry me," he said, "I've got to enjoy _everything_."

"No hurry at all," said Cai, from whose heart the words lifted a burden
at least as heavy as the musical box under his arm. "Hullo! here's Bill
Tregaskis with his missus! . . . Evenin', William--good evenin', ma'am!"
Captain Cai pulled off his hat. "I hope you find your husband none the
worse for the voyage?--though, to be sure, 'tisn' fair on him nor on any
seamen, the way some folks reproaches us when we get back home."

Mrs Tregaskis dropped a curtsey. "But be sure, sir--what reproaches?"

"Your looks, ma'am--your looks, if I may say so! . . . William married
you soon as he could, I'll wager; but, to be fair, that should ha' been
ten years afore _you_ married _him_."

"La, sir!" answered Mrs Tregaskis blushing.