nce."

"Oh, murther! no, Masther Frank! Don't think of it, boy. Iv ye go up,
the ladies'll all shquale out, and yer mother go wild wid sterricks.
Sure an' Masther Bang-gong's just been to say the owld chap's coming to
see the ladies to-night."

"Oh!" ejaculated Frank.

"But where have ye been, lad?"

"Go quite quietly, and tell my father or the doctor I'm here."

"Yis."

"And Tim, have you got anything to eat? I'm starving."

"Lashins, me dare boy. Help yerself, for the sorrow a taste would they
take in the parlour."

Tim hurried up, passed through the main room, listened for a moment or
two to the murmur of the ladies' voices in one of the inner places, and
then crept out into the veranda, carrying a tray with a metal bottle and
two cups, which he made to jingle loudly for the guard to hear.

"No, no, my man," said the doctor. "It's very thoughtful of you, but
no.--Braine, will you?"

"No, no," said the Resident; and then he uttered a gasp, for Tim's lips
were at his ear, as he stood behind his seat, and said softly:

"Whisht, Mr Braine, darlin': don't make a hurroo. Masther Frank's
come, and he's below."

There was a dead silence for a few moments, and then Mr Braine said in
a forced voice:

"No, no drink, Tim.--Doctor, come in and give me a cigar."

He rose, and walked quietly in with the slow careful acting of one who
knows that his every action is watched, and, wondering at his friend's
change, the doctor rose and followed.

"Get the cigars and matches," said Mr Braine, quietly; and then in a
quick whisper: "Be firm, man, and act. Light a cigar. Frank has come
back."

"Thank God!" muttered the doctor, and he pressed his friend's hand
before getting cigars and matches, and they stood where those in the
garden could see, striking a match, and holding it between them as they
lit their cigars--great coarsely-made ones of the native tobacco.

"Now, Tim, where?" said Mr Braine.

"In my room, shure, sor."

"Sit down there and smoke," said Mr Braine, in a low tone. "Take both
cigars, man, and keep them alight, changing your position as you change
the cigars."

"And desave the haythens. Yes, sor, I undherstand," said Tim, taking
the cigars as the gentlemen prepared to descend, "and a moighty plisant
way of desaving 'em," he muttered to himself, as he began smoking away;
while the next minute Frank was in his father's arms, hurriedly telling
him of his adventures.

"And when we heard th