w her received an impression of sanctity and
innocence when they beheld her. A complete knowledge of her character
revealed her as an incorrigible imp, utterly without a sense of danger
under any circumstances her experience had so far led her to encounter,
and, apart from that, a compound--a furious compound on either side--of
jealousy and affection. It would, perhaps, be more just to say affection
and jealousy, for Bill's heart was hot with love for those for whom
she cared at all, and her jealousy was but the natural product of
her affection. It was not until the boat reached Colombo that Bill
condescended to accept a solitary advance from Paul. Until then she
resented every minute he spent in her sister's society and every word
he addressed to her, but once enlisted she became a sort of
lovers' watch-dog, and held all intruders at bay.

The steamer was lying for four-and-twenty hours in the harbour at
Colombo, and everybody who was at liberty was delighted to snatch a day
ashore. Paul and Madge and Bill made the customary globe-trotter's round
They lunched at the hotel at Point de Galles, saw the usual conjurers
and snake-charmers, drove to the usual Buddhist temple, dined in town,
and went aboard again. Bill, who had hitherto proved an unmitigated
nuisance, behaved with a fine discretion throughout the day, and it was
only half an hour after her appointed bedtime that she pointedly made
Paul aware of her existence. He was lounging in a deck-chair and smoking
a cigar when the young lady took a place at his side.

'Look here,' she said, with the boyish off-handedness which belonged to
her. 'I want you and me to be friends.'

'Why not?' said Paul. 'I'm agreeable if you are.'

'Have I been good to-day?' the imp asked, laying her head upon his
shoulder, and turning up those starlike, unfathomable eyes of hers.

'You have behaved like an angel for temper,' Paul responded, 'and like
an elderly diplomatist for discretion.'

'You are satisfied?' said Bill, rolling her golden curls in her
Tam-o'-Shanter cap.

'I am not merely satisfied, William,' Paul responded. 'Words fail me to
express my gratitude.'

'Don't you begin to chaff me,' said Bill. 'If you do, I shan't make the
bargain I was going to.'

'I assure you,' said Paul, 'that I was never more serious in my life.
I swear it by the most sacred of man's possessions--gold. This is an
English sovereign.'

'For me?' asked Bill, her lambent eyes regarding him as i