"No need," said Cai cheerfully, drawing at his pipe (for Mrs Bosenna had given the pair permission to smoke). "So long as you let 'Bias and me run on the same lines, I'm satisfied. Eh, 'Bias?"
"But 'tis the same lady!"
"Oh! That would alter matters, nat'ch'rally."
Dinah swept the cards together again and shuffled them. "Shall I tell your fortune, mistress?" she asked mischievously.
"No," said Mrs Bosenna, rising. "The rain has stopped, and it's time we were getting home, between the showers."
Again Captain Cai and Captain 'Bias offered gallantly to accompany her to the gate of Rilla Farm; but she would have none of their escort.
"No one is going to insult me on the road," she assured them. "And besides, if they did, Dinah would do the screaming. That's why I brought her."
She had enjoyed her evening amazingly. She took her departure with a few happily chosen words which left no doubt of it.
After divesting himself of his coat that night, Captain Cai laid a hand on his upper arm and felt it timidly. Unless he mistook, the flesh beneath the shirt-sleeve yet kept some faint vibration of Mrs Bosenna's hand, resting upon it, thrilling it.
"The point is," said Cai to himself, "it can't be 'Bias, anyway. I felt pretty sure at the time that Philp was lyin'. But what a brazen fellow it is!"