s. He can be exceedingly rude. I passed him on my way here and
common politeness should have made him pull up for a word or two. But he
rushed by in a cloud of dust with two fingers just touching the brim of
his hat!--considering I was on foot, you can imagine my feelings. I have
never been treated so by a man in my life--unless it is by my own
husband; but then, there's no love lost," Mrs. Fox remarked.

"Perhaps Captain Dalton was in a hurry," Joyce suggested.

"Don't excuse him. He can be very nice when he likes. Yesterday there
was Honor Bright hanging over her fence to talk to him, and though it
was his busiest time, he was there quite a long while,--you know their
gardens join. I saw them through Mrs. Bray's field-glasses. The Brays'
verandah, as you know, looks on the Brights' grounds from beyond a
paddock."

"He thinks a lot of Honor," said Joyce remembering their conversation in
camp.

"Any one can see she is making up to him. But Mrs. Bright had better
take care. No one knows anything of Captain Dalton's affairs. He might
be married for all one knows. Honor Bright may be very popular in the
District, but she'll get herself talked about and end all her chances of
marrying well. Naturally it is the ambition of her parents to see her
well settled, but she's far too unconventional. Did you hear of her
escapade while you were in camp?"

Joyce had not heard, but was eager to know all about it. She knew Honor
was careless of conventions out of a contempt for small minds and a love
of independence. All who knew her allowed that she was as "straight as
you make 'em," and admired her open nature and clear eye.

"Didn't she write and tell you?"

"We seldom write to each other."

"I thought you were bosom friends!--well, she was out alone looking for
early snipe--someone had seen one in the fields beyond the bazaar--and
while out, she was supposed to have been bitten by a snake----"

"--Why do you say 'supposed'?" Joyce interrupted ready to spring to arms
for her friend.

"We'll say she was bitten, if you like; only, people bitten by snakes
generally die, and she didn't. She tied a ligature and was limping home
when she met Captain Dalton in his car on his way to a dispensary
somewhere in the District. He took her up and home to his house where
she stayed half the day alone with him. Her mother was week-ending in
Calcutta, and Honor was in charge of her father's comforts and the home;
but her father happened t