A Bottle in the Smoke

ent revolved to her compound, Mrs. Samptor felt the delight and importance of the occasion, and certainly she spared no pains to make it pleasant. The fact of her being country

d them with an iron rod. In bazaar dealing, gardening, pickle-making, and all housewifery lore she was supreme. Being childless, her whole devotion was given to h

stess. They sat obediently under the safe shade of a spreading peepul tree on the lawn, where stood the tea-table, wh

arm into the jailer's and beg

nd in better order! What can a humble Superintendent of the District Jail

o eat a lot of your cakes," remarked Jane

-tails and remind him of his promise. As for Harry, he won't ever touch anything between

ice cakes," exclaimed the doctor, who h

happen to know that you haven't brok

ne of the spirits said to inhabit peepul tree

e doctor than she generally did. He was righ

re?" asked the doc

nt to share them with Noel Stenhouse, and to see how he is. No wonder he gets down with fever living among those horrid natives and slaving for the good

d and wife exchanged greetings which showed that they were still lovers after years of marriage. The sorrow whi

minded Jane having brought her father back to partake of the notable cakes. Pr

with him? Oh, of course, the new Assistant! Dear me, what a handsome young man!" she murm

ar figure in the station, was seldom se

emed to be a new light in the dark, penetrating glance often half veiled by folds of heavy eyelids. "What a handsome, personable man the Collector might be if he always held himself like that,"

hispered Mrs. Campbell; whereupo

e no eyes for the new-comer yet. Yes, but he does look a fine, straight

imself under the peepul tree drinking tea and looking with keen i

not draw him aside without delay and put him in possession of the facts necessary for his guidance at this juncture. "Duty obliges me to enlighten him! As Mrs. Samptor says, 'Who if not I?' What a mercy he happens to be in good h

ring, in her most sprightly manne

seems to be the order of the afternoon her

ked the Collector sharply, his eye travelling towards the lawn where mallets were being chosen and all seemed in train for a social ho

ars my piece of news. Well I know he hates natives and half-castes, and croquet into the bargain, but I

interspersed with faint praise of her hostess's gardening powers, for the little lady held the acknowledged palm in all floral matters throughout the station. But the Collector seemed to require some topic of keene

, madam," said the Collector, raising his bushy eyebrows.

lly. "I grieve to have to shock you, Mr. Worsley, but better now than later. In fa

" asked the Collector, pull

Well, the poor young man is actually a half-caste! Does no

confided in

ng I saw him for the first time only five minutes ago.

ard it from the young man himself? I suppose I must accept that as 'first hand'; a

ng to expose us to such a situation. I reckoned, Collector, you had only to be told the fact to see it to be your duty as head of this station to try at least and arra

rearrange your views as to the acceptance of this new servant of t

nter spirited away quickly enough bec

e Collector, drawing himself up with a haughty air. After a moment's silence h

e most forsaken part of the garden, Mrs. Goldring?-especially seeing he c

ved that his tête-à-tête was having such a definite interruption, for he

you. The Judge has just been saying what an acquisition he will be to our little circle, and I'm sure we're all of the same

ense of gratification could induce him to accept her proposal of dining out. He was too wedded to his own surroundings either in camp or bungalow to be persuaded to exchange them of an eveni

n I shall secure him! Oh dear, if that isn't a big goat trespassing among my preci

face, while Mrs. Goldring gazed with sullen contempt on wha

re than a match for her. Scrambling up a tree, he clung there, looking down triumphantly; but the owner of the trampled crotons was not to be

e Collector, shaking with laughter as he went forward to proffer assistance. Mrs. Samptor, however, dis

ur husband did not witness the acrobatic performanc

rds explained, she tried to shut her eyes during its progress. She moved off in majestic solitude, filled wi

o scruples in changing her point of view when brought face to face with the frank young

the look of his eyelids that he has taken a fancy to the young man already"; and off she had bounded to the croton walk, to perceive, however, that she had come too late. "The fat was in the fire," she narrated to her husband that evening as they sat in the verandah after di

sponse, but Mrs. Samptor was used to forego responses, and fre