A Bottle in the Smoke

was to be held at Mrs. Samptor's, the wife of the Superintendent of the District Jail. She was therefore not a little surprised to see that lady descending from her pony-carriage at her

tpin hurriedly from the deferentia

d squatted on the kitchen range for a considerable time! I do hate that system of borrowing so much in vogue here! I suppose I must go and see what she wants. Now, Jane," she added, after a disapproving survey of her daughter, "I beg you will make yourself presentable for once. It isn't often your father gives me a piec

listened to her mother's remarks, but she made no reply, sullenly watching

ious of being more direct than polite, but she felt that the item of news which she was bursting to

wn lawn, but I saw I had a clear half-hour and thought it my duty to share my news

be so long in coming to the point, but felt on the whole relieved t

istant-Collector, you know, was a fellow-passenger. Perfectly charming she says he is, but-oh dear, what do you think? Mrs. Pate had it from a man on board, who had it from Cheveril himself. He's a half-caste! Though one wo

ing that the coming of an eligible young man must h

ent's pause. "We shan't have the half-caste-as you call

d against him to anybody as far as I know, I felt in my bones he couldn't abide the man, and sure enough he was transferred. And I hear there were others before we came that he couldn't hit it off with. A man of strong prejudices and weak will, the doctor says he is-in confidence, of course. But he's a bit of a 'griffin' yet is Dr. Campbell, though he's a dear, and so is his wife. Howe

much-and when at home lounging in his long chair or shooting in the paddy fields? And who is the proper person to do it but yourself-the Judge's wife-the chief lady of the station? Yes, Mrs. Goldring

tor was generally rather conspicuous by his absenc

I see appearing"; and Mrs. Samptor, with an "au revoir," nimbly skipped away-many hot weathers, which had encumbered Mrs. Goldring with much superfluous flesh, having had the eff

er precedence as the Judge's wife, though certainly there was something in the suggestion that she was the proper person to enlighten the Collector concerning this misfortune. But when had she ever confided to Mrs. Samptor that she reckoned on this

e hat. Her dress also had a washed-out, crumpled appearance. Yet this girl had been the pride of loving hearts at home. Notwithstanding their multifarious duties as heads of a select boarding school for young ladies, her father's sisters had mothere

ith a note of glee in her voice

lly tired expression. Though still in the prime of life, only his fair hair, unmixed with grey, saved him from giving the impression of being quite an old man. A struggling youth and the over-pressure of examinations, even more than

at big landau to the Kutchery for me

t mother said the landau was

ry to tennis in that hideous little band-box of yours and stepping out of it like a Jack-in-the-box. You

on his daughter. "Well, I suppose I must go and make myself as gay and festive as you are," he a

off and returning with a special brew in a lovely

nd Mrs. Samptor looks furious when he declines her cakes-not that I specially desire t

with my tea, Jane, that I may do full justice to Mrs. Samptor'

e conceited enough already. I've had her here not five m

ust have a lively imagination! I'm sure I've

ips as she rose from her chair. "We'd better not keep the horses waiting lon

all. The new Assistant has arrived! I shouldn't w

o," returned Mrs. Goldring with an emphatic air. "Come, Jane,-how you do loll about! Why did you not

s Jeannie's 'germander' eyes," said the Judge with a smile, patting hi