A Bottle in the Smoke

n he might be playing tennis with the fair Clarice at the Adyar," Mr. Rayner was saying,

st, Mark promised he would go and see Mrs. Fellowes this morning; second, he does not like tennis;

ful palms dipping down it seemed into the sea. I want to make its nearer acquaintance, and I must add Mrs. Fellowes' als

y drove away, then slowly retur

Eurasians, I know, and Cheveril may meet some of those detestable creatures

their burdens, which they did with unconscious grace, and even with cheerfulness, judging from the resonant chorus of shouts. One side of the sea front was given up to shipping in all its varieties, while the other was lined by many-hued buildings, some so evidently of the Georgian period that one did not need to glance at the date above their Greek-pillared porticos. They were intersected by higher parti

ned, with a sprinkling of other residents who liked this suburb so near the sea. Clusters of low, thatched, mud villages, with enclosures of bamboo, where semi-nude

much less pretentious abode than the Rayner's house in Clive's Road, for the suburb was old and unfashionable, but its co

steps of the tank. She welcomed Mark with cordiality, introducing him to her husband, a tall spare man of bony frame with a simple e

of the new-comer, commented on the home-like attributes of the bungalow with its trellised verandah, where creepers twined their graceful tendrils, and rose

live in Shropshire, not far from Styche Hall, Clive's birthplace, and I always regret

d house if it had still been extant. All the same, the present one isn't the gorgeous palace Macaulay would have us believe. Poor Clive, he was much maligned, as many of the ma

acious West, craving for pepper and cardamoms, and hankering after the fabled gold and gems of Hindustan, tha

cing chunam palaces at home, I was amused to hear Rayner saying the other day at the Club that he had got a plan of his house in Clive's Road, and meant to reproduce it in Belgravia! 'First catch the standing room,' sai

woman," said Mark, recalling vividly som

begged him, if he wouldn't come himself, to let Mrs. Rayner ride of a morning with my wife. She was most keen, but he wouldn't hear of it. Selfish, I call it! She is so

ers which, in home circles, would have been considered somewhat out of taste. Perhaps it was a trait of this Anglo-Indian society, bred of the narrowness of its range of topics. It was perforce illuminating to a new-comer, though he felt that the suggestion of selfishness in Hester's husband was painful when he recalled the parting words of he

them "on his sleeve" in fact, and Colonel Fellowes had not far to probe in putting his finger on such weaknesses. But Mark hoped that Hester had not discovered any such flaws, and he desired, brother-like, to shield her from the knowledge of them. Rayner could hardly live beside one s

age, tall but not so erect and with less broad shoulders. His face was not so bronzed as the soldier's, but his skin had a more withered look, and there was a pathetic light about

a sight for 'sair een,' as my

e man whom the restive Australians of the mail-phaeton had almost trampled under foot, and whom Alfred Rayner h

nation; he lives and toils for his despised people, pours out his money and his life for them, often, I fear, with very poor return. He has even enlisted me, and we have started one or two things together. I must add, that though Mr. Morpeth is of that despised mixed bl

ced to Mr. Morpeth, if you d

How nice of you

d tree where the helper of his people stood talking pleasantly to a litt

he incident, but could not venture to apologise, though, somehow, he knew that the older man recognised him as one of the occupants of the mail-ph

orts for our poor brothers, and I want to give you

t as he said slowly, fixing his deep eyes on the young man: "I believe I speak to the new Assistant-Collector of Puranapore just arrived from Eng

was a Hindu girl. I've always been proud of th

paces away with his hands folded behind him, and Mark heard him uttering low tremulous words. Retracing his steps he came and stood in front of the young civilian, laid his hand on his sho

d fain have further talk with you. I cannot tell you how I rejoice that my steps led me here this morning to feel the grasp of your young h

gracious presence of the young English lady could not call up the sudden air of discomfort on the old man's face. Then he recalled Alfred Rayner's insolent demeanour on the previous night, and his refusal even to apologis

for Puranapore. I shall come and ge

un-topee and hurried down the shady walk w

him and said to myself, 'Now's my chance,' and when I perceived you and him in deep conversation I didn't like to intr

only wish for this and other reasons I was not to be banished from Madras. I'm sure this David

opic as yet, and she felt she must go softly, all the more since Alfred was now seeming to belie his words and proving an entirely gracious and helpful host; for she had not heard of the episode of the homeward evening drive. It must surely have

walked into the breakfast-room, evidently bent on initiating his guest in all the intricacies of social procedure in Madras. "The new-comer has t

he scanned the sheet. "Why, one would think you were going to put me up for

le. You must plough through those calls, Cheveril, they are a sacred rite for the new-comer. Great mistake not to leave your card on all big entertainers, for instance! Puranapore is not so far off that you cannot respond to every desirable invitation. The fair Miss Clarice will be sure to claim you for her coming ball. In fact, I saw

use of one of his carriages on his acceptance, and Hester assured him that the landau was at his service, as she had

mate, he understood to be as essential as one's boots, and had, in fac

with semi-paternal injunctions that his guest m

moned, and Mark's butler, whom, on his host's recommendation he had engaged that morn

o drive?" asked Narains

e, Vepery," w