to him his wife said:

"Huh!"

At the same time she tossed the curls into the grate, where
they shrivelled up, burst into blue smoke, and shortly
disappeared in ashes.

"That is a very likely story," she said, "but it does not
explain how this came to be in your pocket."


Saying this she drew from her basket the handkerchief and
handed it to Mr. Billings.

"Hah!" he exclaimed. For a moment he turned the rolled-up
handkerchief over and over, and then he cautiously opened it. At
the sight of the twelve acorns he seemed somewhat surprised, and
when the initials "T. M. C." on the corner of the handkerchief
caught his eye he blushed.

"You are blushing--you are disturbed," said Mrs. Billings
severely.

"I am," said Mr. Billings, suddenly recovering himself; "and no
wonder."

"And no wonder, indeed!" said Mrs Billings. "Perhaps, then, you
can tell me how those acorns and that handkerchief came to be in
your pocket."