Rujub, the Juggler

her, relying upon Prothero's riding, but although his success was generally popular among the E

eling quite faint

s not the bets, I never even thought about them-it was just because I wanted to see Mr. Prothero's horse win.

ize, Miss Hanna

about the gloves, Mr. Wil

the strength of it. I only put on a hundred rupees, and so have won four hundred, but most of them have won ever so much more than that; and all I have lost

a half,

, and it is always a satisfaction when the loss comes on someone to whom it doesn't matter a bit. I think the regiment ought to give a dinner to Prothero, Major; it was entirely his ri

who had only remained a few minutes at the carriage, asked, as he

excited over it, Mr. Bathurst. You have not

octor made me put into a sweep last night at the club, I drew a blank; but the shouti

now men felt like that. They don't ge

to persuade me that it is the effect of overwork, but I h

ok nervous, M

ealthy, no one will give him credit for being nervous.

tters much one way or t

does. I regard it as being

prised at the earnestne

I suppose, because it is regarded as a feminine quality; but I think a good many men are nervous. We had several entertainments on

t me. I really find it a great nuisance. I fancy a woman with nerves considers herself as a martyr, and deserving of all pity and sympathy. It is almost a fashionable complaint, and she

his race again, Miss Hanna

ing, after all, and if there were a hospital here I should order you to send the money the gloves wil

s I will look out for a deserving charity. Well, if you won't b

rse?" Isobel said, turning to Mr. Ba

, and as there is always a superabundance of men at s

ur line, Mr

e good if they would but let you, but it is so difficult to get them to take up new ideas. Their religion, with all its customs and ceremonies, seems designed expressly to bar out all improvements. Except in

ipate themselves from all their restrictions, but they might influence their children, and in time pave the way for a moral revolution. But it is ridiculous," he said, breaking off suddenly, "my talking like this here, but you see it is what you cal

his moment and caught

rm just as a race is going to start. You may imagine, my dear, what a thorn he is in the side of the bigwigs. You have heard of Talleyrand's advice to a young off

aughed and

ike to talk to people who can think of something bes

he land settlement, and a score of other questions, but for this a few weeks of perfect leisure will be required. Seriously, you know that I think Bathurst one of the finest young fellows in the service, but his very earnestness injures both h

go slow-is applicable. You have the prejudices of a couple of thousand years against change. The people of all things are jealous of the slightest appearance of interference with their customs. The change will no doubt come

r. Bathurst's remarks are only in answer to something I said," and Isobel turn

tily into it, and she was as yet by no means tired of it, but she had upon her arrival at Cawnpore been a little disappointed that there was no definite work for her to perform, and

ature and seemed to open a wide area for thought. She put it aside now and chatted gayly with the Hunters

at other stations were mentioned. The vast, seething native population were no more alluded to than if they were a world apart. Bathurst's words had for the first time bro

variety of questions as to native customs. "I suppo

of them, and very depressing it is to see

e done for the

e schools for girls, but you see they marry

ng do th

at two or three years old; and so, poor little thing, she remains to the end of her life in a position

her first insight into nati

it yesterday, Miss Hannay. He is an enthusiast; we

me of his fads. I do not say that he is not right, but he sees the immensity of the need

me; that is to say of setting me to

hile ladies are welcome enough when they pay a visit of ceremony to the Zenana of a native, if they were to try to teach their wives to be discontented with their lots-for that is what it would be-they would be no longer welcome. School

d his guest had started two hours before for Deennugghur. He had a batch of letters and report

knowing as I do what difficulty there is in getting him out of his shell. He and I became great chums when I was over at Deennugghur two years ago, and the young fellow is not gi

mes in the evening when we are quite alone, but he will never stay long. He always excuses himself on t

s first business in life is to be dancing attendance on you. Bathurst looks at life seriously, and no wonder, going about as he does

s. Hunter said gravely, "that Mr. B

ches a card when he does; and yet he is the sort of man one would think would throw himself into what is going on. He is a strong, active, healthy man, whom o

to forget himself, as it were, and was full of fun and life. You must allow that it is a little sing

trouble in his life. Of what nature I can, of course, form no idea. He was little mor

As Bathurst is the son of a distinguished soldier, and is now the owner of a fine property at home, I don't see what trouble he can have had. He may possibly, for anything I k

rowing his whole life and energy into his work, and wearing himself out trying to lessen the evils he sees around him, ought to do good to us all. Look at these boys," an

that for? That is not fair, is it, Major? We amuse ourselves, of course, when there is nothing else to do,

he Doctor said. "I don't believe that you know above a dozen native words now. You can shout for b

k, Doctor," Wilson said, a little crestfa

s in the vernacular, Wilson. So you need not

pers this morning," Isobel said. "You snap at us a

s longer, and it is pleasant to have someone who can talk and think about something besides horses and balls. But I will go away; I do

se, Doctor?" the Major asked, as

d get up a donkey race confined strictly to the subalterns o

eredly, after the laugh which followed the Doctor's exit h

it to us all round. However, nobody minds what the Doctor says; his bark is very bad, but he has no bite. Wa

thereby effectually silencing Richards, who had just pulled up hi

had looked forward to learning a good deal from him about the native customs and ways, and had intended to have a long ta

ighted with the illuminations of the gardens and with the palace itself, with its mixture

ed in after breakfast. "Everyone has been telling me that the Rajah paid you the greatest attention, and

I should enjoy the evening very much more if he would leave me alone and let me go about and look quietly at the place and the gardens, which are really beautiful. No doubt he is pleasant enough, and I suppose I ough

his wealth

e had all the wealth of India, that would not improve Nana Sahib in my eyes. There are women, of course, who do think a great deal about money, and who

y be flattered with the notice and admiration of a person

t connoisseur of English beauty, and has frequently expressed his d

the English girl who would

open handed and liberal; very fond of entertaining; a great admirer of us as a nation. He is a wonderf

on't like him at all,"

made you a little more conspicuous than y

le word he said was sincere, but that he was acting; and over and over again as he was talking I said to myself, 'What is this man really like? I know he is not the least bit in the world what he pretends to be. But what is the real

that the Rajah is a good fellow and a firm friend of the Europeans, and my only doubt has arisen from the fact that it was unnatural he should like us when he has considerable grounds for grievance against us. We have always relied upon his influence, whi

omplimentary, Docto

When I see children and dogs stick to a man I am convinced that he is all right, though I may not personally have taken to him. When I see a dog put his tail between his legs and decline to accept the advances of a man, and when I see children slip away from him as soon as they can, I distrust him at once, however pleasant a fello

among the ladies especially he is a great favorite. It is ridiculous to suggest that everyone should have been wrong about him, merely b

for it; I don't know what it was like. They say snakes fascinate birds before they eat t

said; "and I can assure you that his approbation goes for a great deal h

pore society; it is a matter of entire indifferen

rtainment. A good deal to her uncle's vexati

y, my dear?" he aske

ve got a bad headache, which is true; or you can say that I don't care for gayety, w

o Bithoor accompanied only by Dr. Wade. He was rather surprised when the Doctor

le since Isobel gave us her opinion of him. He is an important personage, and if there is any truth in t

atter made his excuses for Isobel's absence on

id that with the Major's permission he would call i

was very civil and polite, but I could see that he was savage. I fancy he got up

is nonsens

thing several times before, when he has been s

hat evening. He was courteous and polite to his guests, but he was irrita

e guessed that had he done so she would have gone across to Mrs. Doolan or one of her lady fr

the Nana said courteously. "It was a great disappointment to

o not care much about going out in such hot weather as this. I have not been accustomed

omen when they first come into our climate; it is always a great pleasure to me to rece

she said, "but it would be a truer kin

ay. You should think a little of the p

le's pleasure whether I am at a party or not," Isobel said. "I suppose you mean that

the Doctor, began to tell him of a tiger that had been doing a great deal of harm at a village some thirty miles away, and

short one. The Rajah

ctor said. "I have returned to my convicti

," Isobel said indignantly. "I thought better of you than

ughed. "However, I am glad that you will

us to go over and lunch there, uncle?

n parties, and after that he will show you over the place, and exhibit his jewels and curiosities.

husbands. The lunch was a banquet, and after it was over the parties were taken round the place, paid a visit to the Zenana, inspected the gardens and stables, and were drive

she had enjoyed her visit very much, and that the

I don't pretend to know, but I am quite sure that the character of a smiling host

woman," the Major said, somewhat vexed; "but as it is

on, for the rumors of disaffection among the troops gained in strength, and although nothing positive was known, and everyone scoffed at the