A Bottle in the Smoke

so many acres of garden ground as in the more fashionable suburbs

t should be dispensed with, another that it should be replaced, to be assured by the obsequious landlord that the order would be executed at once, though the gate in question was most likely broken up for firew

asant homes, trim gateways, verdant lawns, awaiting them across the sea when the requisite

glish lawn. Shapely tamarinds, dark mango, and neem trees brooded over the garden where a wealth of old-fashioned flowers grew and prospered, sheltered by various ingenious contrivances from the scorching rays of the sun and the devastation of the monsoon. Green colonnades of broad-leaved plantains, with their curious spikes of

his perch for some moments before he decided to seek the shelter of a shady nook on the road. In fact, he had been led to expect from Dorai Cheveril's butler-the result of crumbs of news picked up from the breakfast table-that he was to h

that bells and knockers are conspicuous by their absence from an Indian abode. All beyond the verandah was open, revealing vistas of cool darkness within, but he decided that to enter unannounced would hardly be permissible even in this land of open hospitality. Recalling that Mrs. Fellowes had told him Mr. Morpeth was a lonely bachelor, he came to the conclusion that bo

ose whose dr

the shade

ll Thy lov

the clouds

after years, recalling the day he stood a young hopeful civilian at the entrance of his life in the land, new and wonderful to him, listening to the cry of the old pilgrim wh

rance-steps, deciding to make his way through the open doors an

e darkness within, a welcoming smile on his face. "

hould like to begin my calls by taking advantage of y

ht, Mr. Cheveril. You come

like a true musician as I reached your verandah. In fact, I must plead guil

t you from England must be familia

ny good things than I can lay claim to, Mr. Morpet

autiful haunting power which the others lack. I was glad to find that pearl among English deans-Stanley-acknowledging this in one of his books lat

nts, were well-filled shelves of books. A case from home lay half unpacked on the floor. A roomy writing-table with well-filled pigeon-holes showed traces of manifold labours. The furnishing of the room evidently belonged to a period when it was possible to get

n anything I've seen here, and yet you've never been--" He paused wi

years when I was too poor to carry it out. Yet I see now there came a time when I ought to h

nor the power to contend against it. His life therefore had flowed into other channels. A solitary man, he had attached himself to the domiciled community with all the fervour of a true vocation. But for occasional friendly souls like Mrs. Fellowes, he had hitherto experienced a great loneliness. He had begu

rpeth would indeed have been welcomed in other circles, but, as Mrs. Fellowes had exp

note the chivalry of his heart,

rsed in work for our people that you d

re is good cheer in the work. You must not believe all yo

d. It would be a death-knell to my hopes of helping

abitants of the soil. The poor among them have sunk so low, wearing out hopeless lives in wretched crowded dens. Often only a shed with a mat as covering suffices for a home. They have neither physical nor mental energy to strike out careers for themselves. Inevitable pauperism we have, of course, as in England, and it is often encouraged by indiscriminate givin

she used to be one of thos

t they spend their lives in sticking together. Faugh, it makes one ill to see them lolling about their pandals and ogling at passers-by," Mr. Morpeth added, with a truly British shrug of his shoulders which brought a smile to Mark Cheveril's face. "It is these eyesores," he went on, "that Mrs. Fellowes and one or two like-minded helpers have tackled. Some of them don't even know how to write or add up a sum, though they are full-grown women, and their powers of reading are so lame that many among them cannot read the simplest story with ease or pleasure, though, I understand, som

it only the women who have sunk

e truthful, to make their souls-that is what I live for now! You may guess then," he added slowly, fixing his eyes on Ma

you, surely there are many among the Eurasians who ought to make their way into various

antry are of course impossible. They could not live as sepoys. Some have distinguished themselves as lawyers, doctors, magistrates, and are in receipt of incomes that would

all the more honour to

or really capable young men. Why, they often prefer natives in offices! In fact, it is the declared policy of the Imperial Government that appointments should be reserved only for pure Ind

Morpeth, that I should so early in my day have met with an inspirer like you. I shall not be able to give you the help I might had I not been going to Puranapore. But whatever

vid Morpeth, as the young man laid his hand in his. "That is the clasp of a friendly hand. May it prove a hand that shall undo heavy burdens, loose t

beauty of holiness, and was more glad than ever that he had made his first call on

s accosted by a young woman who had evidently been hanging about the neighbourhood of the cactus-hedge which skirted the comp

the carriage when the girl said breathlessly, keeping her eye fixed furtively on the

eton with Mr. Alf Rayner last night, and when I spied you steppin' in here

nd's husband, all the more as he recalled Mr. Rayner's remarks conc

itation, the girl

cutta for months and months, so I'm

ayner is yo

ich at once decided Mark that he was probably dealing

ask. But if you know Mr. Morpeth, or Mrs. Fellowes,

them, I see! Don't you trouble! I'll find Mr. Rayner on my own accou