Captain Barber chuckled—loudly enough for them to hear.
“Me and Mrs. Church have been watering the flowers,” he said. “Give ’em a good watering, we have.”
“I never really knew before what a lot there was in watering,” admitted Mrs. Church.
“There’s a right way and a wrong in doing everything,” said Captain Barber, severely; “most people chooses the wrong. If it wasn’t so, those of us who have got on, wouldn’t have got on.”
“That’s very true,” said Mrs. Church, shaking her head.
“And them as haven’t got on would have got on,” said the philosopher, following up his train of thought. “If you would just go out and get them things I spoke to you about, Mrs. Church, we shall be all right.”
“Who is it?” enquired the nephew, as soon as she had gone.
Captain Barber looked stealthily round, and, for the second time that evening, winked at his nephew.
“A visitor?” said Flower.
Captain Barber winked again, and then laughed into his pipe until it gurgled.