end anything to come of _that_?"
and she nodded at a pair who, with heads fairly near, were leaning over
the side, engrossed in watching the divers at Aden.

"What do you mean?"

"It's rather a case, is it not? First love and an early marriage!"

"If you mean Sophy and young Shafto, why, they haven't a bad sixpence
between them!"

"No?" and Mrs. Maitland looked gravely interrogative.

"Well, perhaps I've been incautious--indiscreet--now that I look back."
(Yes, and with a sense of guilt she recalled her talks to both; her
praise and her explanations.) "But the fact is that though they have
never met till now, I've known them both as children, and I could not
well avoid bringing them together, but I don't think there's any harm
done; they are as simple and open as the day. There's no
flirting--they are just enjoying the new surroundings and these golden
hours--but I'll be more careful and put a stop to their after-dinner
promenades. I'll take your hint."

"I hope it won't be a case of locking the stable-door when the steed
has been stolen."

"No; but whoever steals Sophy will get a prize--and she does thoroughly
enjoy every hour of the day. She is so pretty and transparent and
sweet; she makes me think of a lovely flower, floating serenely on a
summer river. I expect she will be a great success in Rangoon."

As there was no immediate answer on the part of Mrs. Maitland, she
added quickly:

"Don't you think so?"

"Well, yes--I hope so; but, you see, Miss Leigh is going to live in
rather an odd home."

"Odd?"

"Oh, it's absolutely respectable--but--out of the world--our world.
Mr. Krauss is a German and said to be rich; he does not belong to a
firm or house, but is on his own. Of course, he is a member of the
Gymkhana and all that; but he keeps to the German set and lives among
them over in Kokine; then his English wife, once a celebrated beauty,
is a semi-invalid. As he never--they say--does anything without some
well-considered reason, and is always on the make, I hope to goodness
he has not decoyed this charming girl to Rangoon merely to be her
aunt's nurse--and his housekeeper."

"I should hope not, indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Milward. "My cousin Mary
Gregory must have an eye on my young friend--I'll see to that. I shall
be stopping with Mary for a few days before going up the river; but I
think Sophy will be all right. After all, Mrs. Krauss is her own aunt."

If Shafto and Sophy had become f