of course, uncle, you can understand that the idea of love making
and marrying never entered my head at all until I went on board a
ship. As you know, I always used to think that Robert and I would live
together, and I am quite sure that I should never have left him if he
had lived. If I had stopped in England I should have done the work I
had trained myself to do, and it might have been years and years, and
perhaps never, before anyone might have taken a fancy to me, or I to
him. It seems strange, and I really don't think pleasant, uncle, for
everyone to take it for granted that because a girl comes out to India
she is a candidate for marriage. I think it is degrading, uncle."

"The Doctor was telling me yesterday that you had some idea of that
sort," the Major said, with a slight smile, "and I think girls often
start with that sort of idea. But it is like looking on at a game. You
don't feel interested in it until you begin to play at it. Well, the
longer you entertain those ideas the better I shall be pleased, Isobel.
I only hope that you may long remain of the same mind, and that when
your time does come your choice will be a wise one."

There could be no doubt that the Major's niece was a great success in
the regiment. Richards and Wilson, two lads who had joined six months
before, succumbed at once, and mutual animosity succeeded the close
friendship they had hitherto entertained for each other. Travers, the
Senior Captain, a man who had hitherto been noted for his indifference
to the charms of female society, went so far as to admit that Miss
Hannay was a very nice, unaffected girl. Mrs. Doolan was quite
enthusiastic about her.

"It is very lucky, Jim," she said to her husband, "that you were a sober
and respected married man before she came out, and that I am installed
here as your lawful and wedded wife instead of being at Ballycrogin with
only an engagement ring on my finger. I know your susceptible nature;
you would have fallen in love with her, and she would not have had you,
and we should both of us have been miserable."

"How do you know she wouldn't have had me, Norah?"

"Because, my dear, she will be able to pick and choose just where she
likes; and though no one recognizes your virtues more than I do, a
company in an Indian regiment is hardly as attractive as a Residency or
Lieutenant Governorship. But seriously, she is a dear girl, and as yet
does not seem to have the least idea how pretty she is.