MRS BOSENNA GIVES THE ROSE.
"It's a delicate thing to say to a woman," suggested Cai; "'specially when she happens to be your land-lady."
"You do the talkin', of course," said 'Bias hurriedly.
"Must I? Why?"
"Well, to begin with, you knew her first."
"I don't see as that signifies."
"No? Well, you used to make quite a point of it, as I remember.
But anyway you're a speaker, and it'll need some gift, as you say."
They had reached the small gate at the foot of the path. The day was hot, the highroad dusty. Cai halted and removed his hat; drew out a handkerchief and wiped his brow; wiped the lining of the hat; wiped his neck inside the collar.
"There's another way of lookin' at it," he ventured. "Some might say as 'twas more tactful to let your feelin's cool off by degrees."
"That's no way for me," said 'Bias positively. "Short and sharp's our motto."