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"That's no method to improve a hat," said Captain Hocken shortly, snatching it and wiping it with his handkerchief. He peered into it and pushed out a dent with his thumb. "The way this harbour's allowed to shoal is nothing short of a national disgrace!"
"I think I can explain," put in Mrs Bosenna sweetly, hastening to close up the little breach which, for some reason or other, had suddenly opened between these two good friends. "Captain Hocken, being cumbered with the box on his way to pay me a visit, hid it in the bushes here for a time, meaning to recover it on his way back to the station." "That's so, ma'am," Captain Cai corroborated her.
Marsden's routes of travel during this time have been thoroughly traced and elucidated by Dr. Hocken. In a biography or in a work on the exploration of New Zealand a full account of these interesting journeys should be given. But, for reasons which will presently appear, they have hardly any importance for the history of the Church.
Well, as it happens, there are people in Troy who recognise this; and it does me good to hear you talk about 'next time. Though, to be sure, one can't count next time on such perfect weather." "There'll be rain in half an hour or less," grunted 'Bias. "Oh, not before the fireworks, surely?" she exclaimed in pretty dismay. "Do say, now, Captain Hocken!" She turned to Cai, and then
"I haven't got any friends," interrupted Eve promptly, "excepting it's Adam and Joan and Uncle Zebedee." "Ah, poor old Zebedee!" sighed Triggs: "'tis all dickey with he. The day I started I see Sammy Tucker to Fowey, and he was tellin' that th' ole chap was gone reg'lar tottlin'-like, and can't tell thickee fra that; and as for Joan Hocken, he says you wouldn't knaw her for the same.
Strollers-by and it had become an evening recreation in Troy to stroll from one end of the town to the other and mark how things were getting along for the 22nd found Captain Hocken and Captain Hunken ever at work but little disposed to chat; and as everyone knew of the old quarrel, so everyone noted the reconciliation and marvelled how it had come to pass. Even Mr Philp was baffled.
"And a deal more than its value, as Captain Hocken was about to say. Will any fool bid more for such a patch?" Cai and 'Bias stared together, interrogating her. But there was no further bid, and Mr Dewy knocked down the lot at 300 pounds. "Which," said Mrs Bosenna meditatively to Dinah that night, "you may call two hundred and fifty clean thrown into the sea.
"'Twasn't a good illustration, I admit. But the p'int is, I like 'Bias because he's 'Bias, an' 'Bias likes me because I'm Cai Hocken. That bein' so, don't it follow we're goin' to be better friends than ever, now we've hauled ashore to do as likes us?" The barber shook his head. "You're determined to have off your chin-beard?" "To be sure.
"Yes, he's clever," growled 'Bias, unappeased. "Oh, he's monstrous clever, ma'am, is Caius Hocken! Such a friend, too! . . . And now, perhaps, he'll explain how it happened he bein' so clever and such a friend as he didn't find this out two nights ago and warn me?" "I did warn ye, 'Bias," Cai's face had gone white under the taunt.
"Thank you." Fancy seated herself. "If you please, Cap'n Hocken, I got a very funny question to ask." "Well?" "You mustn't think I'm inquisitive " "Go on." "If you please, Cap'n Hocken, are you very fond indeed of Mrs Bosenna?" Cai turned about to the hearth and stooped for the tongs, as if to place a lump of coal on the fire.
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