Fragrant as were its contents, it did not occur to him to nose the cover off and sample them.

There was no tinge of snooping in his make-up.

No, the basket was a gift for the Mistress.

And as such he was bearing it home to her.
"See what Laddie brought me, this time!" cried the Mistress, coming into her husband's study, a few minutes later, and holding forth the trophy.

"It's full of food, too; and of course he never touched a mouthful of it.