t all, Mrs Morley! you might call me a man now," said
Archie, interrupting her speech.

"Yes, my dear, I have plenty of confidence in you; but it's only you."

"Why, there will be the Resident's two chief boatmen, won't there?--You
said there would be two men, didn't you, Minnie?"

"Yes, of course; and we shouldn't be above an hour or two, aunt."

"No, I know, my dear; but--but--"

"There, aunt dear, uncle's going away so suddenly has upset you, and it
does seem selfish of me.--Look here, Archie, it's very kind of you to
offer to take me, but it would be inconsiderate of me to go. I'll give
it up."

"Oh!" cried the lad, "I am disappointed."

"Yes, of course you would be," said Mrs Morley; "and it's foolish of me
to make such a fuss about nothing. There, I am better now. I was a bit
flurried by the Doctor going, to be away all night, and leaving us
unprotected."

"And not a British soldier near," said Archie laughingly.

"Of course; of course," said Mrs Morley. "You will take great care of
her, my dear boy?"

"Take care of her!" cried Archie. "Why, Sir Charles would have me out
and shoot me, or wring my neck, if I didn't. Look here, madam, I'm too
fond of Lieutenant Archibald Maine to run any risks. Now are you
satisfied?"

"Quite," said the Doctor's wife, forcing a laugh.--"There, my dears, be
off as soon as you can--but wait till I get a scarf."

"What are you going to do, auntie?"

"See you down to the boat, of course, my dear." A very few minutes
later the Doctor's wife was standing on the banks of the river watching
the Resident's handsomely fitted sampan--not his official dragon-boat--
being punted by two sturdy men up the glistening waters, Minnie turning
from time to time to wave her hand, and lastly her scarf, just as they
disappeared.

"It is foolish of me to be so nervous and frightened about crocodiles,"
said Mrs Morley, as she turned her straining eyes from where she had
been watching the boat. "There isn't a sign of any of the horrible
reptiles; and if it were dangerous those people would not be going up
the river in the same direction;" and she remained watching a small naga
with about half-a-dozen men plying their oars, sending the slightly
built craft steadily up-stream. "Ah, well, I want to see them back.
What a lovely evening it is going to be; but how rapidly the night
closes in! I almost wish I had gone with them, for it will be very
lovely when the moon begins to rise am