No man is ever going to stand by and watch a woman strike a match--he can do it so much better himself.

At this point, Mrs.
Mathers--by her own testimony--was called away, and she doesn't remember anything further about the box.

She thinks that she returned it.

Why?
For no reason on earth except that she usually returns things.
As a matter of fact, however, she didn't do it this time.

She was called away and the Colonel was left to light the fire alone.