t.

It never entered the head of pretty Mrs. Barton that there could be any
serious love making between her friend and the handsome Lieutenant. She
knew that they had been brought up together from childhood and were more
like brother and sister than lovers, and had such an idea been suggested
to her by any of her friends, she would have pooh poohed it as mere
moonshine. She knew that it was out of the question for a Subaltern to
enter the matrimonial arena; besides the brilliant beauty of Miss
Effingham must command a suitable alliance and an enviable position
whenever she cared to enter upon the responsibility of married life, and
it appeared evident that Edith was in no hurry to take the initiative or
allow herself to be led away by the flattering speeches she daily heard
from those, by whom she was surrounded. Nor was Mrs. Barton at all
desirous that she should enter into any such engagement, for she was
well aware that it was the charm of her fair friend's manner that drew
to her house the most agreeable and handsomest men of the capital. She
knew likewise that it was Horace's intention to settle in England as
soon as his term of service should expire, and it would then be time for
Edith to select from her numerous admirers the one she most preferred,
but until that time she should be exceedingly sorry to part with her.

"Do you intend spending the day at Mrs. Deborah's?" enquired Mrs. Barton
of Edith as they rose from the breakfast table. Edith replied in the
affirmative. "Well, then, I will send the palkee for you; but do not be
late, my dear, for dinner." She had no intention of being too late, as
she knew that in all probability Arthur would make his appearance during
the evening. The distance from the Bartons to her friend's Bungalow was
not more than half a mile. The road lay through a very picturesque but
somewhat lonely part of the suburbs. The Date and stately Palms,
intermingled with the blossom of the gold Mohur trees, looked so very
lovely by the light of the setting sun. For some cause or other Edith's
palkee did not arrive at the time appointed, and not wishing to trouble
her friend--who usually sent her children at sunset in their palkee for
an airing--and attracted by the beauty of the scene, she started to walk
home, thinking of the pleasure of meeting Arthur. Her mind was engaged
on this subject when she reached a Date grove, a short distance from the
road side, and so busy was she with her thought