“But you didn’t say anything about it,” persisted his wife.

“I didn’t want to alarm you, my dear,” said Mr. Chalk.

Mrs. Chalk looked at him, but, except for a long, shivering sigh which the visitor took for sympathy, made no comment.

“I often think that I must have missed a great deal by keeping single,” said the latter.  “It must be very pleasant when you’re away to know that there is somebody at home counting the minutes until your return.”

Mr. Chalk permitted himself one brief wondering glance in the speaker’s direction, and then gazed out of window.

“There’s no companion like a wife,” continued the captain.  “Nobody else can quite share your joys and sorrows as she can.  I’ve often thought how pleasant it must be to come home from a journey and tell your wife all about it:  where you’ve been, what you’ve done, and what you’re going to do.”

Mr. Chalk stole another look at him; Mrs. Chalk, somewhat suspicious, followed his example.

“It’s a pity you never married, Captain Bowers,” she said, at length; “most men seem to do all they can to keep things from their wives.  But one of these days——­”

She finished the sentence by an expressive glance at her husband.  Captain Bowers, suddenly enlightened, hastened to change the subject.

“I haven’t seen Tredgold or Stobell either,” he said, gazing fixedly at Mr. Chalk.

“They—­they were talking about you only the other day,” said that gentleman, nervously.  “Is Miss Drewitt well?”

“Quite well,” said the captain, briefly.  “I was beginning to think you had all left Binchester,” he continued; “gone for a sea voyage or something.”

Mr. Chalk laughed uneasily.  “I thought that Joseph wasn’t looking very well the last time I saw you,” he said, with an imploring glance at the captain to remind him of the presence of Mrs. Chalk.

“Joseph’s all right,” replied the other, “so is the parrot.”

Mr. Chalk started and said that he was glad to hear it, and sat trying to think of a safe subject for conversation.

“Joseph’s a nice parrot,” he said at last.  “The parrot’s a nice lad, I mean.”

“Thomas!” said Mrs. Chalk.

“Joseph-is-a-nice-lad,” said Mr. Chalk, recovering himself.  “I have often thought——­”

The sentence was never completed, being interrupted by a thundering rat-tat-tat at the front door, followed by a pealing at the bell, which indicated that the visitor was manfully following the printed injunction to “Ring also.”  The door was opened and a man’s voice was heard in the hall-a loud, confident voice, at the sound of which Mr. Chalk, with one horrified glance in the direction of Captain Bowers, sank back in his chair and held his breath.

“Captain Brisket,” said the maid, opening the door.

The captain came in with a light, bustling step, and, having shaken Mr. Chalk’s hand with great fervour and acknowledged the presence of Captain Bowers and Mrs. Chalk by two spasmodic jerks of the head, sat bolt-upright on the edge of a chair and beamed brightly upon the horrified Chalk.