act the visitors'
notice until later on; their whole attention was at once claimed, upon
their entrance, by the occupants of the building, or at least by the
fairer portion of them. There were eight altogether--four white and
four black, the ebony damsels evidently filling the position of
attendants. Of the white women three were young--that is to say, they
apparently ranged between nineteen and twenty-five years of age--whilst
the fourth seemed to be somewhere between forty and fifty. This lady
was of medium height, with a figure slightly inclined toward stoutness,
brown hair with just a single streak of silver discernible here and
there amongst it, a complexion still in fairly good preservation, a pair
of keen but kindly grey eyes, an excellent set of teeth, shapely hands
and feet, and a pleasant smile which at once prepossessed the beholder
in its possessor's favour. Of the three younger women, two, aged
respectively twenty-one and nineteen, were sisters; whilst the third,
aged twenty-five, was their cousin, the elderly lady being aunt to all
three.

On entering the hut, in response to the cry of "Come in" which followed
their knock on the framework of the portal, the visitors at once found
themselves face to face with the four ladies, who had risen to their
feet to meet them; the sable attendants crouching at the rear end of the
apartment with a grin of sympathetic curiosity overspreading their
shining visages.

"You are most welcome, gentlemen," said the elderly lady, advancing and
offering her hand to each of her visitors in succession. "We have been
expecting you. Allow me to perform the ceremony of introduction. I am
Mrs Scott, widow of Brigadier-general Scott of her majesty's forces in
India. This lady is Miss Sabine, my niece and the only daughter of
Major-general Sabine; and these are respectively Miss Rose and Miss
Lucilla Lumsden, the daughters of an Indian judge."

The gentlemen bowed low as each name was mentioned, and, upon Mrs Scott
making a somewhat significant pause, the baronet took up his parable,
remarking:

"We are greatly honoured and delighted, ladies, at thus unexpectedly
making your acquaintance in this out-of-the-way spot, and we sincerely
hope that the acquaintanceship will redound to our mutual advantage. I
am Sir Reginald Elphinstone. This gentleman is Colonel Lethbridge; this
is Lieutenant Mildmay, of her majesty's navy; and, last but by no means
least, this gentleman is Pr