riend of mine from the Bombay side. He's
stationed in Poona, which is quite a jolly place in the Season, though of
course not a patch on this. But he got leave and came here because I did."

"Oh, yes, I see," replied Noreen vaguely, puzzled by Ida's remark about her
husband. She had seen the Civil Servant at the wedding and remembered him
as a stolid, middle-aged, and apparently uninteresting individual. But the
girl was still ignorant enough of life not to understand why a woman after
two years of marriage should be thankful that her husband was far away from
her and wish him farther.

"But I'm not going to let Bertie monopolise me up here," continued Mrs.
Smith, taking off her hat and pulling and patting her hair before the
mirror. "I like a change. I've come here to have a good time. I think I'll
go in and cut you out with Captain Charlesworth. He's awfully attractive."

"You are quite welcome to him, dear," said the girl.

"Oh, wait until you see the fuss the other women make of him. He's a great
catch; and all the mothers here with marriageable daughters and the spins
themselves are ready to scratch each other's eyes out over him."

"Don't be uncharitable, Ida dearest."

"It's a fact, darling. But I warn you that he's not a marrying man. He has
the reputation of being a terrible flirt. I don't think you'll hold him
long. He's afraid of girls--afraid they'll try to catch him. He prefers
married women. He knows we're safe."

Noreen said nothing, but began to open and unpack her trunks. In India, the
land of servants, where a bachelor officer has seven or more, a lady has
usually to do without a maid, for the _ayah_, or native female domestic, is
generally a failure in that capacity. In the hotels Indian "boys" replace
the chambermaids of Europe.

Ida rattled on.

"Of course, Bertie's awfully useful. A tame cat--and he's a well-trained
one--is a handy thing to have about you, especially up here. You need
someone to take you to races and gymkhanas and to fill up blanks on your
programme at dances, as well as getting your ricksha or _dandy_ for you
when they're over."

Noreen laughed, amused at the frankness of the statement.

"And where is the redoubtable Captain Bain, dear?"

"You'll see him soon. I let him off today until it's time for him to call
to take us to the Amusement Club. He was anxious to see you. He wanted to
come with me to the station, but I said he'd only be in the way. I knew
Miguel would