A Bottle in the Smoke

picturesque than any Hester had seen. It looked alluring now, framed by graceful over-hanging branches and flooded by t

the bright floating flowers nestled. "I've only seen white lilies, and none grow on our tank. It's only a dreary little pond. Do you thin

ugh the stems are strong and fibrous. Come, let's think!---This ex

led to the darkening water, bent on capturing the prize. Stooping down she made a grasp at

interjected Mrs. Fello

r she had only slipped one step, the next flat green stone extending a good way out into the water. Her position, however,

through which the gleam of the water was visible. There was an instant crashing among the bushes, and in a moment Mark Cheveril appeared t

rash young person, Mrs. Rayner," she said, in a bantering tone. "The idea of venturing down those filthy, slithery steps! Why, some deadly snake might have been coiled on one of them! And your pretty frock entirely ruined!

ol she held out-but I've secured my trophy! This, Mrs. Fellowes, is Mr

nto the refined, kindly face he felt sure that the daughter of the

prove of the new distribution o

other's fern-house. We were just on our way ther

lowes. "I confess my nerves got the better of me. Mrs. Rayner stood the test better than I did

Glanton decisively. "Here comes your husban

rveyed her plight, with a more annoyed than sympathetic gla

at once, Hester, or you'll h

ise to go-or, we might retire. I wonder if Mrs. Glanton has one of those delightful cha

ything so useful, I fear," rep

uld be compensations, seeing that she would carry off her husband and Mark Cheveril. Her disa

when you reach home, you can tell the horse-keeper to bring round my mail-phaeto

ner? Will that not be simplest?"-"and pleasantest," he was abo

il," she expostulated. "Why, you haven't

Rayner, in a ceremonious tone. "Besides, I was in search of you.

h she felt willing to speed the parting guest. The two gentlemen disap

ver, depressed by the events of the afternoon, and flung herself into a wicker chair in the verandah. Mrs. Glanton's exposition of her "neutral party" had jarred upon her. Major Ryde's talk was far from inspiring, and this stupid escapad

stealing over her. The only bright spot seemed Mrs. Fellowes

to the verandah. "Dosani Fellowes done send her jhapra for t

e, having already made acquaintance with the useful articl

amboo. Big chattee charcoal done put un

and skirts too," said Hester rising, having in her depress

tress up-stairs and nimbly divested her of her wet garments; and, all excite

new proof of her thoughtful kindliness; its promptitude revealing that her friend must have lef

discovered that his smart mail-phaeton was in readiness to carry him home. Mark responded with ala

refreshments stronger than tea and iced coffee, he would have heard, at all event

ng me he let his wife drive home alone in her wet clothes. She had slippe

asure of that fellow for some time. He's got all the ambition of a thorough upstart. Where he gets all his rupees from every mo

ernoon when Miss Glanton bestowed her on me that she might so

ng, much too good for that sinister-looking fellow. I wonder too how he m

erate climate. "I'll just tell you the facts. Rayner happened to volunteer them over a peg we had together at the Club the other day.

d say," broke in Major Ryde.

he important fact that he has a

unknown on our Indian firmament," muttered a man prematurely old-looking, whose appearance suggested a youth spent in strugg

rrels in the town between the Hindus and the Mahomedans, and he is said to favour the latter unduly. He hates competition-wallahs, being of the ancient muster himself. Got on badly with his last Assistant, I believe! But I heard lately that Prin

I shall make my salaams too. More than likely I shall see Cheveril at the Club and fi

est deepened by the knowledge that there were older links between them than he had guessed when, as he wandered in Rhine-land, he had received a le

a possible life-companion? He had solaced himself as best he could by choosing for her, as a wedding-gift, a beautiful little antique cross which specially delig

s, however, welcomed by Mark. It was his first twilight hour in the wonderful eastern land, never more beautiful than in the swiftly-fading glow of the orange sunset. The evening breeze from the sea was softly stirring the feathery palms which stood sentinel-wise borderin

looks as if the Milky Way had come

k flies, though they transform themselves into angels of light of an evening. Fireflies aren't our only illusion in this wilderness, Cheveril. I warn you there are many," he a

d a sharp angle of the road, and had almost run down a wayfarer who seemed in such im

reins uttered an a

ed himself with an air of dignity. I hope he isn't any the worse. I say, shouldn't we pull up for an instant and speak to the old

at intervals along the road, fell on the face of the foot-passenger, a face wh

a word of apology, R

eedn't have been out on foot at this hour. He's got a carriage to drive

e because of that! Perhaps you don't know, Rayner, that I too am of mixed

n you were a little kid at Hacket's you used to indulge in some talk that was unwise. But now that you've got into that fine Service-and lucky you are-you must keep a quiet tongue in your head about that fact. Believe me, not even the Civil Service will carry you through if you persist in knocking your head against that post. And there's no need, Cheveril,"

in his tone and suggestion that M

ing tone: "You're taking offence at what I've been

," said Mark stoutly. "These prejudices of yours are not new to me. I h

the process! A vile, low set are these Eurasians-as they like to be called. Now look here, Cheveril, I'll make a compact with you. Watch these crawling creatur

ain enough to take it for granted that all the world is so interested in me or my forebears as to think it necessary to des

flown young fool! But I must at once annex Hester, so that I may preserve him as a useful friend in that Puranapore bu

palace. Its portico of chunam pillars was gleaming like the purest white Carrara. Lamps twinkled everywhere, for its owner liked a display of light. Through the many open windows o

of the house clad in shimmering white, with the red wate

yce. "If Mark Cheveril, I.C.S., will honour my humble a

ather a palace!" said Mark, sp

is host with the pride of possession in