grooms; and remember whatever
I do, and whatever I look, I never talk as the Waddy will. Let us hope
that The Dancing Master's greasy smile and manner of the pedagogue will
soften the heart of that cow, his wife. If mouths speak truth, I should
think that little Mrs. Bent could get very angry on occasion.'

'But what reason has she for being angry?'

'What reason! The Dancing Master in himself is a reason. How does it go?
"If in his life some trivial errors fall, Look in his face and you'll
believe them all." I am prepared to credit any evil of The Dancing
Master, because I hate him so. And The Dowd is so disgustingly badly
dressed.'

'That she, too, is capable of every iniquity? I always prefer to believe
the best of everybody. It saves so much trouble.'

'Very good. I prefer to believe the worst. It saves useless expenditure
of sympathy. And you may be quite certain that the Waddy believes with
me.'

Mrs. Mallowe sighed and made no answer.

The conversation was holden after dinner while Mrs. Hauksbee was
dressing for a dance.

'I am too tired to go,' pleaded Mrs. Mallowe, and Mrs. Hauksbee left
her in peace till two in the morning, when she was aware of emphatic
knocking at her door.

'Don't be very angry, dear,' said Mrs. Hauksbee. 'My idiot of an ayah
has gone home, and, as I hope to sleep to-night, there isn't a soul in
the place to unlace me.'

'Oh, this is too bad!' said Mrs. Mallowe sulkily.

'Cant help it. I'm a lone, lorn grass-widow, dear, but I will not sleep
in my stays. And such news too! Oh, do unlace me, there's a darling!
The Dowd The Dancing Master I and the Hawley Boy You know the North
verandah?'

'How can I do anything if you spin round like this?' protested Mrs.
Mallowe, fumbling with the knot of the laces.

'Oh, I forget. I must tell my tale without the aid of your eyes. Do you
know you've lovely eyes, dear? Well, to begin with, I took the Hawley
Boy to a kala juggah.'

'Did he want much taking?'

'Lots! There was an arrangement of loose-boxes in kanats, and she was in
the next one talking to him.'

'Which? How? Explain.'

'You know what I mean The Dowd and The Dancing Master. We could hear
every word, and we listened shamelessly 'specially the Hawley Boy.
Polly, I quite love that woman!'

'This is interesting. There! Now turn round. What happened?'

'One moment. Ah h! Blessed relief. I've been looking forward to taking
them off for the last half-hour which is ominous at m