hough bungalows were widely separated by private grounds of many acres,
with paddocks and lanes between, his neighbours would hang out of their
windows to catch every note, and afterwards at the common meeting ground
of the Club, discourse on the advantage of their proximity to the
singer.

All persuasions to repeat his performances in public met with obstinate
discouragement, till, reluctantly, the Station left him alone. Injured
feelings were nourished, and opinions concerning his conduct and manners
grew harsh and unrelenting the instant his back was turned. To his face
there was no failure of cordiality, for it is not politic in a small
station to quarrel with one's doctor.

It was on the polo-ground, on the occasion of a slight accident which
might have been more serious, that Joyce first met Captain Dalton,--a
bare fortnight ago. His appointment had taken place while she had been
at the hills, and at the introduction she had resented the impudent
scrutiny of his eyes, not realising the fact that she had been an
arresting picture with the hue of mountain roses in her cheeks, and eyes
like English forget-me-nots; in beauty and colouring a rarity in that
rural district of Bengal.

Perhaps the doctor wondered at the unusual combination of prettiness and
simplicity, for, in his experience, good looks without vanity were
something unique. Possibly he was sceptical, for a smile of satire
lurked at the back of his inscrutable eyes. At any rate, he had found
her an interesting study, and the jade-green orbs, reckoned his finest
feature, seemed to assess her from top to toe, critically and coolly.
Though he made no effort to engage her in conversation, he had lingered
in her vicinity, listening to her childish prattle; and, contrary to
expectations, long after the need of his services was past, he had
loitered on the polo-ground till the Merediths had driven away in their
car.

On looking back, Joyce had felt a sense of resentment at his quiet
contempt of the ladies present. His cynical study of herself without any
attempt to cultivate her society annoyed her self-esteem.

"He's positively rude!" was her indignant verdict, later. "I wonder
people put up with him. And he has perfectly hateful eyes."

"The ladies think them very handsome eyes," Meredith had insinuated.

"They are very uncomfortable; like a thought-reader's. Anyhow, I shall
not allow him to stare at me another time."

"There's a saying that 'a cat may