n't obey orders as
smartly as usual, and they have a. sullen air as they go about their
work."

"I don't like it, Bathurst. I do not understand what the chupaties mean,
but I know that there is a sort of tradition that the sending of
them round has always preceded trouble. The Sepoys have no reason for
discontent, but there has been no active service lately, and idleness
is always bad for men. I can't believe there is any widespread
dissatisfaction among them, but there is no doubt whatever that if there
is, and it breaks out, the position will be a very serious one. There
are not half enough white troops in India, and the Sepoys may well think
that they are masters of the situation. It would be a terrible time for
everyone in India if they did take it into their heads to rise."

"I can't believe they would be mad enough to do that, Doctor; they have
everything to lose by it, and nothing to gain, that is, individually;
and we should be sure to win in the long run, even if we had to conquer
back India foot by foot."

"That is all very well, Bathurst; we may know that we could do it, but
they don't know it. They are ignorant altogether of the forces we could
put into the field were there a necessity to make the effort. They
naturally suppose that we can have but a few soldiers, for in all
the battles we have fought there have always been two or three Sepoy
regiments to one English. Besides, they consider themselves fully a
match for us. They have fought by us side by side in every battlefield
in India, and have done as well as we have. I don't see what they should
rise for. I don't even see whose interest it is to bring a rising about,
but I do know that if they rise we shall have a terrible time of it.
Now I think we may as well turn in. You won't take another peg? Well,
I shall see you in the morning. I shall be at the hospital by half past
six, and shall be in at half past eight to breakfast. You have only got
to shout for my man, and tell him whether you will have tea, coffee, or
chocolate, any time you wake."

"I shall be about by six, Doctor; five is my general hour, but as it is
past one now I dare say I shall be able to sleep on for an hour later,
especially as there is nothing to do."

"You can go round the hospital with me, if you like," the Doctor said,
"if you will promise not to make a dozen suggestions for the improvement
of things in general."

Isobel Hannay came down to breakfast in high spirits upo