nite pains and care, that borders
the road running along the top of Malabar Hill.

Suddenly she turned. "We mustn't wait another minute," she said. "You,
doubtless, want to go to the club. It has been very good of you to spend
so much time with me. What makes it all so beautiful is that everywhere
one sees the sea. I will tell Fay how much I have enjoyed it."

Peter's eyes met hers and held them: "Try to think of me as a friend,
Miss Ross. I can see you are thoroughly capable and independent; but,
believe me, India is not like England, and a white woman needs a good
many things done for her here if she's to be at all comfortable. I don't
want to butt in and be a nuisance; but just remember I'm there when the
bell rings----"

"I am not likely to forget," said Jan.

Lights began to twinkle in the city below. The soft monotonous throb of
tom-toms came beating through the ambient air like a pulse of teeming
life; and when he left her at her sister's door the purple darkness of
an Eastern night had curtained off the sea.

CHAPTER IV

THE BEGINNING OF THE JOB

Fay was still lying on her long chair in the verandah when Jan got in.
She had turned on the electric light above her head and had, seemingly,
been working at some diminutive garment of nainsook and lace. She looked
up at Jan's step, asking eagerly, "Well, did you like it? Did you see
many people? Was the band good?"

Jan sat down beside her and explained that Peter had taken her for a
drive instead. She made her laugh over her encounter with Sir Langham,
and was enthusiastic about the view from Malabar Hill. Then Fay sent her
to say good night to the children, who were just getting ready for bed.

As she went down the long passage towards the nursery, she heard small
voices chattering in Hindustani, and as she opened the door little Fay
was in the act of stepping out of all her clothes.

Tony was already clad in pink pyjamas, which made him look paler than
ever.

Little Fay, naked as any shameless cherub on a Renaissance festoon,
danced across the tiled floor, and, pausing directly in front of her
aunt, announced:

"I sall mack Ayah as muts as I like."

The good-natured Goanese ayah salaamed and, beaming upon her charge,
murmured entire acquiescence.

Jan looked down at the absurd round atom who defied her, and, trying
hard not to laugh, said:

"Oh, no, you won't."

"I sall!" the baby declared even more emphatically, and, lifting up her
ad