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.