Look，youhavecastoutLove！WhatGodsaretheseYoubidmeplease?
TheThreeinOne，theOneinThree?Notso！
TomyownGodsIgo。
ItmaybetheyshallgivemegreatereaseThanyourcoldChristandtangledTrinities。
TheConvert。
ShewasthedaughterofSonoo，aHill-man，andJadehhiswife。Oneyeartheirmaizefailed，andtwobearsspentthenightintheironlypoppy-fieldjustabovetheSutlejValleyontheKotgarthside；
so，nextseason，theyturnedChristian，andbroughttheirbabytotheMissiontobebaptized。TheKotgarthChaplainchristenedherElizabeth，and“Lispeth“istheHillorpaharipronunciation。
Later，choleracameintotheKotgarthValleyandcarriedoffSonooandJadeh，andLispethbecamehalf-servant，half-companiontothewifeofthethenChaplainofKotgarth。ThiswasafterthereignoftheMoravianmissionaries，butbeforeKotgarthhadquiteforgottenhertitleof“MistressoftheNorthernHills。”
WhetherChristianityimprovedLispeth，orwhetherthegodsofherownpeoplewouldhavedoneasmuchforherunderanycircumstances，Idonotknow；butshegrewverylovely。WhenaHillgirlgrowslovely，sheisworthtravelingfiftymilesoverbadgroundtolookupon。LispethhadaGreekface——oneofthosefacespeoplepaintsooften，andseesoseldom。Shewasofapale，ivorycolorand，forherrace，extremelytall。Also，shepossessedeyesthatwerewonderful；and，hadshenotbeendressedintheabominableprint-
clothsaffectedbyMissions，youwould，meetingheronthehill-
sideunexpectedly，havethoughthertheoriginalDianaoftheRomansgoingouttoslay。
LispethtooktoChristianityreadily，anddidnotabandonitwhenshereachedwomanhood，asdosomeHillgirls。Herownpeoplehatedherbecauseshehad，theysaid，becomeamemsahibandwashedherselfdaily；andtheChaplain\'swifedidnotknowwhattodowithher。Somehow，onecannotaskastatelygoddess，fivefootteninhershoes，tocleanplatesanddishes。SosheplayedwiththeChaplain\'schildrenandtookclassesintheSundaySchool，andreadallthebooksinthehouse，andgrewmoreandmorebeautiful，likethePrincessesinfairytales。TheChaplain\'swifesaidthatthegirloughttotakeserviceinSimlaasanurseorsomething“genteel。”ButLispethdidnotwanttotakeservice。Shewasveryhappywhereshewas。
Whentravellers——therewerenotmanyinthoseyears——cametoKotgarth，LispethusedtolockherselfintoherownroomforfeartheymighttakeherawaytoSimla，orsomewhereoutintotheunknownworld。
Oneday，afewmonthsaftershewasseventeenyearsold，Lispethwentoutforawalk。ShedidnotwalkinthemannerofEnglishladies——amileandahalfout，andaridebackagain。Shecoveredbetweentwentyandthirtymilesinherlittleconstitutionals，allaboutandabout，betweenKotgarthandNarkunda。Thistimeshecamebackatfulldusk，steppingdownthebreakneckdescentintoKotgarthwithsomethingheavyinherarms。TheChaplain\'swifewasdozinginthedrawing-roomwhenLispethcameinbreathinghardandveryexhaustedwithherburden。Lispethputitdownonthesofa，andsaidsimply:
“Thisismyhusband。IfoundhimontheBagiRoad。Hehashurthimself。Wewillnursehim，andwhenheiswell，yourhusbandshallmarryhimtome。”
ThiswasthefirstmentionLispethhadevermadeofhermatrimonialviews，andtheChaplain\'swifeshriekedwithhorror。However，themanonthesofaneededattentionfirst。HewasayoungEnglishman，andhisheadhadbeencuttothebonebysomethingjagged。Lispethsaidshehadfoundhimdownthekhud，soshehadbroughthimin。
Hewasbreathingqueerlyandwasunconscious。
HewasputtobedandtendedbytheChaplain，whoknewsomethingofmedicine；andLispethwaitedoutsidethedoorincaseshecouldbeuseful。SheexplainedtotheChaplainthatthiswasthemanshemeanttomarry；andtheChaplainandhiswifelecturedherseverelyontheimproprietyofherconduct。Lispethlistenedquietly，andrepeatedherfirstproposition。IttakesagreatdealofChristianitytowipeoutuncivilizedEasterninstincts，suchasfallinginloveatfirstsight。Lispeth，havingfoundthemansheworshipped，didnotseewhysheshouldkeepsilentastoherchoice。Shehadnointentionofbeingsentaway，either。ShewasgoingtonursethatEnglishmanuntilhewaswellenoughtomarryher。Thiswasherlittleprogramme。
Afterafortnightofslightfeverandinflammation，theEnglishmanrecoveredcoherenceandthankedtheChaplainandhiswife，andLispeth——especiallyLispeth——fortheirkindness。HewasatravellerintheEast，hesaid——theynevertalkedabout“globe-
trotters“inthosedays，whentheP。&O。fleetwasyoungandsmall——andhadcomefromDehraDuntohuntforplantsandbutterfliesamongtheSimlahills。NooneatSimla，therefore，knewanythingabouthim。Hefanciedhemusthavefallenoverthecliffwhilestalkingafernonarottentree-trunk，andthathiscooliesmusthavestolenhisbaggageandfled。HethoughthewouldgobacktoSimlawhenhewasalittlestronger。Hedesirednomoremountaineering。
Hemadesmallhastetogoaway，andrecoveredhisstrengthslowly。
LispethobjectedtobeingadvisedeitherbytheChaplainorhiswife；sothelatterspoketotheEnglishman，andtoldhimhowmattersstoodinLispeth\'sheart。Helaughedagooddeal，andsaiditwasveryprettyandromantic，aperfectidyloftheHimalayas；
but，ashewasengagedtoagirlatHome，hefanciedthatnothingwouldhappen。Certainlyhewouldbehavewithdiscretion。Hedidthat。StillhefounditverypleasanttotalktoLispeth，andwalkwithLispeth，andsaynicethingstoher，andcallherpetnameswhilehewasgettingstrongenoughtogoaway。Itmeantnothingatalltohim，andeverythingintheworldtoLispeth。Shewasveryhappywhilethefortnightlasted，becauseshehadfoundamantolove。
Beingasavagebybirth，shetooknotroubletohideherfeelings，andtheEnglishmanwasamused。Whenhewentaway，Lispethwalkedwithhim，uptheHillasfarasNarkunda，verytroubledandverymiserable。TheChaplain\'swife，beingagoodChristiananddislikinganythingintheshapeoffussorscandal——Lispethwasbeyondhermanagemententirely——hadtoldtheEnglishmantotellLispeththathewascomingbacktomarryher。“Sheisbutachild，youknow，and，Ifear，atheartaheathen，“saidtheChaplain\'swife。SoallthetwelvemilesupthehilltheEnglishman，withhisarmaroundLispeth\'swaist，wasassuringthegirlthathewouldcomebackandmarryher；andLispethmadehimpromiseoverandoveragain。SheweptontheNarkundaRidgetillhehadpassedoutofsightalongtheMuttianipath。
ThenshedriedhertearsandwentintoKotgarthagain，andsaidtotheChaplain\'swife:“Hewillcomebackandmarryme。Hehasgonetohisownpeopletotellthemso。”AndtheChaplain\'swifesoothedLispethandsaid:“Hewillcomeback。”Attheendoftwomonths，Lispethgrewimpatient，andwastoldthattheEnglishmanhadgoneovertheseastoEngland。SheknewwhereEnglandwas，becauseshehadreadlittlegeographyprimers；but，ofcourse，shehadnoconceptionofthenatureofthesea，beingaHillgirl。
Therewasanoldpuzzle-mapoftheWorldintheHouse。Lispethhadplayedwithitwhenshewasachild。Sheuneartheditagain，andputittogetherofevenings，andcriedtoherself，andtriedtoimaginewhereherEnglishmanwas。Asshehadnoideasofdistanceorsteamboats，hernotionsweresomewhaterroneous。Itwouldnothavemadetheleastdifferencehadshebeenperfectlycorrect；fortheEnglishmanhadnointentionofcomingbacktomarryaHillgirl。Heforgotallaboutherbythetimehewasbutterfly-huntinginAssam。HewroteabookontheEastafterwards。Lispeth\'snamedidnotappear。
Attheendofthreemonths，LispethmadedailypilgrimagetoNarkundatoseeifherEnglishmanwascomingalongtheroad。Itgavehercomfort，andtheChaplain\'swife，findingherhappier，thoughtthatshewasgettingoverher“barbarousandmostindelicatefolly。”AlittlelaterthewalksceasedtohelpLispethandhertempergrewverybad。TheChaplain\'swifethoughtthisaprofitabletimetoletherknowtherealstateofaffairs——thattheEnglishmanhadonlypromisedhislovetokeepherquiet——thathehadnevermeantanything，andthatitwas“wrongandimproper“ofLispethtothinkofmarriagewithanEnglishman，whowasofasuperiorclay，besidesbeingpromisedinmarriagetoagirlofhisownpeople。Lispethsaidthatallthiswasclearlyimpossible，becausehehadsaidhelovedher，andtheChaplain\'swifehad，withherownlips，assertedthattheEnglishmanwascomingback。
“Howcanwhatheandyousaidbeuntrue?“askedLispeth。
“Wesaiditasanexcusetokeepyouquiet，child，“saidtheChaplain\'swife。
“Thenyouhaveliedtome，“saidLispeth，“youandhe?“
TheChaplain\'swifebowedherhead，andsaidnothing。Lispethwassilent，tooforalittletime；thenshewentoutdownthevalley，andreturnedinthedressofaHillgirl——infamouslydirty，butwithoutthenoseandearrings。Shehadherhairbraidedintothelongpig-tail，helpedoutwithblackthread，thatHillwomenwear。
“Iamgoingbacktomyownpeople，“saidshe。“YouhavekilledLispeth。ThereisonlyleftoldJadeh\'sdaughter——thedaughterofapahariandtheservantofTarkaDevi。Youareallliars，youEnglish。”
BythetimethattheChaplain\'swifehadrecoveredfromtheshockoftheannouncementthatLispethhad\'vertedtohermother\'sgods，thegirlhadgone；andshenevercameback。
Shetooktoherownuncleanpeoplesavagely，asiftomakeupthearrearsofthelifeshehadsteppedoutof；and，inalittletime，shemarriedawood-cutterwhobeather，afterthemannerofpaharis，andherbeautyfadedsoon。
“Thereisnolawwherebyyoucanaccountforthevagariesoftheheathen，“saidtheChaplain\'swife，“andIbelievethatLispethwasalwaysatheartaninfidel。”SeeingshehadbeentakenintotheChurchofEnglandatthematureageoffiveweeks，thisstatementdoesnotdocredittotheChaplain\'swife。
Lispethwasaveryoldwomanwhenshedied。ShealwayshadaperfectcommandofEnglish，andwhenshewassufficientlydrunk，couldsometimesbeinducedtotellthestoryofherfirstlove-
affair。
Itwashardthentorealizethatthebleared，wrinkledcreature，solikeawispofcharredrag，couldeverhavebeen“LispethoftheKotgarthMission。”
THREEAND——ANEXTRA。
“Whenhalterandheelropesareslipped，donotgivechasewithsticksbutwithgram。”
PunjabiProverb。
Aftermarriagearrivesareaction，sometimesabig，sometimesalittleone；butitcomessoonerorlater，andmustbetidedoverbybothpartiesiftheydesiretherestoftheirlivestogowiththecurrent。
InthecaseoftheCusack-Bremmilsthisreactiondidnotsetintillthethirdyearafterthewedding。Bremmilwashardtoholdatthebestoftimes；buthewasabeautifulhusbanduntilthebabydiedandMrs。Bremmilworeblack，andgrewthin，andmournedasifthebottomoftheuniversehadfallenout。PerhapsBremmiloughttohavecomfortedher。Hetriedtodoso，Ithink；butthemorehecomfortedthemoreMrs。Bremmilgrieved，and，consequently，themoreuncomfortableBremmilgrew。Thefactwasthattheybothneededatonic。Andtheygotit。Mrs。Bremmilcanaffordtolaughnow，butitwasnolaughingmattertoheratthetime。
Yousee，Mrs。Hauksbeeappearedonthehorizon；andwheresheexistedwasfairchanceoftrouble。AtSimlaherbye-namewasthe“StormyPetrel。”Shehadwonthattitlefivetimestomyowncertainknowledge。Shewasalittle，brown，thin，almostskinny，woman，withbig，rolling，violet-blueeyes，andthesweetestmannersintheworld。Youhadonlytomentionhernameatafternoonteasforeverywomanintheroomtoriseup，andcallher——well——NOTblessed。Shewasclever，witty，brilliant，andsparklingbeyondmostofherkind；butpossessedofmanydevilsofmaliceandmischievousness。Shecouldbenice，though，eventoherownsex。Butthatisanotherstory。
Bremmilwentoffatscoreafterthebaby\'sdeathandthegeneraldiscomfortthatfollowed，andMrs。Hauksbeeannexedhim。Shetooknopleasureinhidinghercaptives。Sheannexedhimpublicly，andsawthatthepublicsawit。Herodewithher，andwalkedwithher，andtalkedwithher，andpicnickedwithher，andtiffinedatPeliti\'swithher，tillpeopleputuptheireyebrowsandsaid:
“Shocking！“Mrs。Bremmilstayedathometurningoverthedeadbaby\'sfrocksandcryingintotheemptycradle。Shedidnotcaretodoanythingelse。Butsomeeightdear，affectionatelady-
friendsexplainedthesituationatlengthtoherincasesheshouldmissthecreamofit。Mrs。Bremmillistenedquietly，andthankedthemfortheirgoodoffices。ShewasnotascleverasMrs。
Hauksbee，butshewasnofool。Shekeptherowncounsel，anddidnotspeaktoBremmilofwhatshehadheard。Thisisworthremembering。Speakingto，orcryingover，ahusbandneverdidanygoodyet。
WhenBremmilwasathome，whichwasnotoften，hewasmoreaffectionatethanusual；andthatshowedhishand。TheaffectionwasforcedpartlytosoothehisownconscienceandpartlytosootheMrs。Bremmil。Itfailedinbothregards。
Then“theA-D-C。inWaitingwascommandedbyTheirExcellencies，LordandLadyLytton，toinviteMr。andMrs。Cusack-BremmiltoPeterhoffonJuly26that9。30P。M。”——“Dancing“inthebottom-
left-handcorner。
“Ican\'tgo，“saidMrs。Bremmil，“itistoosoonafterpoorlittleFlorrie……butitneednotstopyou，Tom。”
Shemeantwhatshesaidthen，andBremmilsaidthathewouldgojusttoputinanappearance。Herehespokethethingwhichwasnot；andMrs。Bremmilknewit。Sheguessed——awoman\'sguessismuchmoreaccuratethanaman\'scertainty——thathehadmeanttogofromthefirst，andwithMrs。Hauksbee。Shesatdowntothink，andtheoutcomeofherthoughtswasthatthememoryofadeadchildwasworthconsiderablylessthantheaffectionsofalivinghusband。
Shemadeherplanandstakedheralluponit。InthathourshediscoveredthatsheknewTomBremmilthoroughly，andthisknowledgesheactedon。
“Tom，“saidshe，“IshallbediningoutattheLongmores\'ontheeveningofthe26th。You\'dbetterdineattheclub。”
ThissavedBremmilfrommakinganexcusetogetawayanddinewithMrs。Hauksbee，sohewasgrateful，andfeltsmallandmeanatthesametime——whichwaswholesome。Bremmilleftthehouseatfiveforaride。Abouthalf-pastfiveintheeveningalargeleather-
coveredbasketcameinfromPhelps\'forMrs。Bremmil。Shewasawomanwhoknewhowtodress；andshehadnotspentaweekondesigningthatdressandhavingitgored，andhemmed，andherring-
boned，andtuckedandruckedorwhateverthetermsarefornothing。Itwasagorgeousdress——slightmourning。Ican\'tdescribeit，butitwaswhatTheQueencalls“acreation“——athingthathityoustraightbetweentheeyesandmadeyougasp。Shehadnotmuchheartforwhatshewasgoingtodo；butassheglancedatthelongmirrorshehadthesatisfactionofknowingthatshehadneverlookedsowellinherlife。Shewasalargeblondeand，whenshechose，carriedherselfsuperbly。
AfterthedinnerattheLongmores，shewentontothedance——alittlelate——andencounteredBremmilwithMrs。Hauksbeeonhisarm。
Thatmadeherflush，andasthemencrowdedroundherfordancesshelookedmagnificent。Shefilledupallherdancesexceptthree，andthosesheleftblank。Mrs。Hauksbeecaughthereyeonce；andsheknewitwaswar——realwar——betweenthem。Shestartedhandicappedinthestruggle，forshehadorderedBremmilaboutjusttheleastlittlebitintheworldtoomuch；andhewasbeginningtoresentit。Moreover，hehadneverseenhiswifelooksolovely。
Hestaredatherfromdoorways，andglaredatherfrompassagesasshewentaboutwithherpartners；andthemorehestared，themoretakenwashe。Hecouldscarcelybelievethatthiswasthewomanwiththeredeyesandtheblackstuffgownwhousedtoweepovertheeggsatbreakfast。
Mrs。Hauksbeedidherbesttoholdhiminplay，but，aftertwodances，hecrossedovertohiswifeandaskedforadance。
“I\'mafraidyou\'vecometoolate，MISTERBremmil，“shesaid，withhereyestwinkling。
Thenhebeggedhertogivehimadance，and，asagreatfavor，sheallowedhimthefifthwaltz。Luckily5stoodvacantonhisprogramme。Theydancedittogether，andtherewasalittleflutterroundtheroom。Bremmilhadasortofnotionthathiswifecoulddance，butheneverknewshedancedsodivinely。Attheendofthatwaltzheaskedforanother——asafavor，notasaright；andMrs。Bremmilsaid:“Showmeyourprogramme，dear！“Heshoweditasanaughtylittleschoolboyhandsupcontrabandsweetstoamaster。
Therewasafairsprinklingof“H“onitbesides“H“atsupper。
Mrs。Bremmilsaidnothing，butshesmiledcontemptuously，ranherpencilthrough7and9——two“H\'s“——andreturnedthecardwithherownnamewrittenabove——apetnamethatonlysheandherhusbandused。Thensheshookherfingerathim，andsaid，laughing:“Oh，yousilly，SILLYboy！“
Mrs。Hauksbeeheardthat，and——sheownedasmuch——feltthatshehadtheworstofit。Bremmilaccepted7and9gratefully。Theydanced7，andsatout9inoneofthelittletents。WhatBremmilsaidandwhatMrs。Bremmilsaidisnoconcernofanyone\'s。
Whenthebandstruckup“TheRoastBeefofOldEngland，“thetwowentoutintotheverandah，andBremmilbeganlookingforhiswife\'sdandythiswasbefore\'rickshawdayswhileshewentintothecloak-room。Mrs。Hauksbeecameupandsaid:“Youtakemeintosupper，Ithink，Mr。Bremmil。”Bremmilturnedredandlookedfoolish。“Ah——h\'m！I\'mgoinghomewithmywife，Mrs。Hauksbee。I
thinktherehasbeenalittlemistake。”Beingaman，hespokeasthoughMrs。Hauksbeewereentirelyresponsible。
Mrs。Bremmilcameoutofthecloak-roominaswansdowncloakwithawhite“cloud“roundherhead。Shelookedradiant；andshehadarightto。
Thecouplewentoffinthedarknesstogether，Bremmilridingveryclosetothedandy。
ThensaysMrs。Hauksbeetome——shelookedatriflefadedandjadedinthelamplight:“Takemywordforit，thesilliestwomancanmanageacleverman；butitneedsaverycleverwomantomanageafool。”
Thenwewentintosupper。
THROWNAWAY。
“Andsomearesulky，whilesomewillplunge[Soho！Steady！Standstill，you！]
Someyoumustgentle，andsomeyoumustlunge。
[There！There！Whowantstokillyou?]
Some——therearelossesineverytrade——
Willbreaktheirheartserebittedandmade，Willfightlikefiendsastheropecutshard，Anddiedumb-madinthebreaking-yard。”
ToolungalaStockyardChorus。
Torearaboyunderwhatparentscallthe“shelteredlifesystem“
is，iftheboymustgointotheworldandfendforhimself，notwise。Unlesshebeoneinathousandhehascertainlytopassthroughmanyunnecessarytroubles；andmay，possibly，cometoextremegriefsimplyfromignoranceoftheproperproportionsofthings。
Letapuppyeatthesoapinthebath-roomorchewanewly-blackedboot。Hechewsandchucklesuntil，byandby，hefindsoutthatblackingandOldBrownWindsormakehimverysick；sohearguesthatsoapandbootsarenotwholesome。Anyolddogaboutthehousewillsoonshowhimtheunwisdomofbitingbigdogs\'ears。Beingyoung，heremembersandgoesabroad，atsixmonths，awell-manneredlittlebeastwithachastenedappetite。Ifhehadbeenkeptawayfromboots，andsoap，andbigdogstillhecametothetrinityfull-grownandwithdevelopedteeth，justconsiderhowfearfullysickandthrashedhewouldbe！Applythatmotiontothe“shelteredlife，“andseehowitworks。Itdoesnotsoundpretty，butitisthebetteroftwoevils。
TherewasaBoyoncewhohadbeenbroughtupunderthe“shelteredlife“theory；andthetheorykilledhimdead。Hestayedwithhispeopleallhisdays，fromthehourhewasborntillthehourhewentintoSandhurstnearlyatthetopofthelist。Hewasbeautifullytaughtinallthatwinsmarksbyaprivatetutor，andcarriedtheextraweightof“neverhavinggivenhisparentsanhour\'sanxietyinhislife。”WhathelearntatSandhurstbeyondtheregularroutineisofnogreatconsequence。Helookedabouthim，andhefoundsoapandblacking，sotospeak，verygood。Heatealittle，andcameoutofSandhurstnotsohighashewentin。
Themtherewasanintervalandascenewithhispeople，whoexpectedmuchfromhim。Nextayearofliving“unspottedfromtheworld“inathird-ratedepotbattalionwhereallthejuniorswerechildren，andalltheseniorsoldwomen；andlastlyhecameouttoIndia，wherehewascutofffromthesupportofhisparents，andhadnoonetofallbackonintimeoftroubleexcepthimself。
NowIndiaisaplacebeyondallotherswhereonemustnottakethingstooseriously——themiddaysunalwaysexcepted。Toomuchworkandtoomuchenergykillamanjustaseffectivelyastoomuchassortedviceortoomuchdrink。FlirtationdoesnotmatterbecauseeveryoneisbeingtransferredandeitheryouorsheleavetheStation，andneverreturn。Goodworkdoesnotmatter，becauseamanisjudgedbyhisworstoutputandanothermantakesallthecreditofhisbestasarule。Badworkdoesnotmatter，becauseothermendoworse，andincompetentshangonlongerinIndiathananywhereelse。Amusementsdonotmatter，becauseyoumustrepeatthemassoonasyouhaveaccomplishedthemonce，andmostamusementsonlymeantryingtowinanotherperson\'smoney。
Sicknessdoesnotmatter，becauseit\'sallintheday\'swork，andifyoudieanothermantakesoveryourplaceandyourofficeintheeighthoursbetweendeathandburial。NothingmattersexceptHomefurloughandactingallowances，andtheseonlybecausetheyarescarce。Thisisaslack，kutchacountrywhereallmenworkwithimperfectinstruments；andthewisestthingistotakenooneandnothinginearnest，buttoescapeassoonaseveryoucantosomeplacewhereamusementisamusementandareputationworththehaving。
ButthisBoy——thetaleisasoldastheHills——cameout，andtookallthingsseriously。Hewasprettyandwaspetted。Hetookthepettingsseriously，andfrettedoverwomennotworthsaddlingaponytocallupon。HefoundhisnewfreelifeinIndiaverygood。
ItDOESlookattractiveinthebeginning，fromaSubaltern\'spointofview——allponies，partners，dancing，andsoon。Hetasteditasthepuppytastesthesoap。Onlyhecamelatetotheeating，withagrowingsetofteeth。Hehadnosenseofbalance——justlikethepuppy——andcouldnotunderstandwhyhewasnottreatedwiththeconsiderationhereceivedunderhisfather\'sroof。Thishurthisfeelings。
Hequarrelledwithotherboys，and，beingsensitivetothemarrow，rememberedthesequarrels，andtheyexcitedhim。Hefoundwhist，andgymkhanas，andthingsofthatkindmeanttoamuseoneafterofficegood；buthetookthemseriouslytoo，justashetookthe“head“thatfollowedafterdrink。Helosthismoneyoverwhistandgymkhanasbecausetheywerenewtohim。
Hetookhislossesseriously，andwastedasmuchenergyandinterestoveratwo-goldmohurraceformaidenekka-ponieswiththeirmaneshogged，asifithadbeentheDerby。One-halfofthiscamefrominexperience——muchasthepuppysquabbleswiththecornerofthehearth-rug——andtheotherhalffromthedizzinessbredbystumblingoutofhisquietlifeintotheglareandexcitementofalivelierone。Noonetoldhimaboutthesoapandtheblackingbecauseanaveragemantakesitforgrantedthatanaveragemanisordinarilycarefulinregardtothem。ItwaspitifultowatchTheBoyknockinghimselftopieces，asanover-handledcoltfallsdownandcutshimselfwhenhegetsawayfromthegroom。
Thisunbridledlicenseinamusementsnotworththetroubleofbreakinglinefor，muchlessriotingover，enduredforsixmonths——
allthroughonecoldweather——andthenwethoughtthattheheatandtheknowledgeofhavinglosthismoneyandhealthandlamedhishorseswouldsoberTheBoydown，andhewouldstandsteady。Inninety-ninecasesoutofahundredthiswouldhavehappened。YoucanseetheprincipleworkinginanyIndianStation。ButthisparticularcasefellthroughbecauseTheBoywassensitiveandtookthingsseriously——asImayhavesaidsomeseventimesbefore。Ofcourse，wecouldn\'ttellhowhisexcessesstruckhimpersonally。
Theywerenothingveryheart-breakingorabovetheaverage。Hemightbecrippledforlifefinancially，andwantalittlenursing。
Stillthememoryofhisperformanceswouldwitherawayinonehotweather，andtheshroffwouldhelphimtotideoverthemoneytroubles。Buthemusthavetakenanotherviewaltogetherandhavebelievedhimselfruinedbeyondredemption。HisColoneltalkedtohimseverelywhenthecoldweatherended。Thatmadehimmorewretchedthanever；anditwasonlyanordinary“Colonel\'swigging！“
Whatfollowsisacuriousinstanceofthefashioninwhichwearealllinkedtogetherandmaderesponsibleforoneanother。THE
thingthatkickedthebeaminTheBoy\'smindwasaremarkthatawomanmadewhenhewastalkingtoher。Thereisnouseinrepeatingit，foritwasonlyacruellittlesentence，rappedoutbeforethinking，thatmadehimflushtotherootsofhishair。Hekepthimselftohimselfforthreedays，andthenputinfortwodays\'leavetogoshootingnearaCanalEngineer\'sRestHouseaboutthirtymilesout。Hegothisleave，andthatnightatMesswasnoisierandmoreoffensivethanever。Hesaidthathewas“goingtoshootbiggame，andleftathalf-pastteno\'clockinanekka。
Partridge——whichwastheonlythingamancouldgetneartheRestHouse——isnotbiggame；soeveryonelaughed。
NextmorningoneoftheMajorscameinfromshortleave，andheardthatTheBoyhadgoneouttoshoot“biggame。”TheMajorhadtakenaninterestinTheBoy，andhad，morethanonce，triedtocheckhiminthecoldweather。TheMajorputuphiseyebrowswhenheheardoftheexpeditionandwenttoTheBoy\'sroom，whereherummaged。
PresentlyhecameoutandfoundmeleavingcardsontheMess。
Therewasnooneelseintheante-room。
Hesaid:“TheBoyhasgoneoutshooting。DOESamanshootteturwitharevolverandawriting-case?“
Isaid:“Nonsense，Major！“forIsawwhatwasinhismind。
Hesaid:“Nonsenseornonsense，I\'mgoingtotheCanalnow——atonce。Idon\'tfeeleasy。”
Thenhethoughtforaminute，andsaid:“Canyoulie?“
“Youknowbest，“Ianswered。“It\'smyprofession。”
“Verywell，“saidtheMajor；“youmustcomeoutwithmenow——atonce——inanekkatotheCanaltoshootblack-buck。Goandputonshikar-kit——quick——anddriveherewithagun。”
TheMajorwasamasterfulman；andIknewthathewouldnotgiveordersfornothing。SoIobeyed，andonreturnfoundtheMajorpackedupinanekka——gun-casesandfoodslungbelow——allreadyforashooting-trip。
Hedismissedthedriveranddrovehimself。Wejoggedalongquietlywhileinthestation；butassoonaswegottothedustyroadacrosstheplains，hemadethatponyfly。Acountry-bredcandonearlyanythingatapinch。Wecoveredthethirtymilesinunderthreehours，butthepoorbrutewasnearlydead。
OnceIsaid:“What\'stheblazinghurry，Major?“
Hesaid，quietly:“TheBoyhasbeenalone，byhimself，for——one，two，five——fourteenhoursnow！Itellyou，Idon\'tfeeleasy。”
Thisuneasinessspreaditselftome，andIhelpedtobeatthepony。
WhenwecametotheCanalEngineer\'sRestHousetheMajorcalledforTheBoy\'sservant；buttherewasnoanswer。Thenwewentuptothehouse，callingforTheBoybyname；buttherewasnoanswer。
“Oh，he\'soutshooting，“saidI。
JustthenIsawthroughoneofthewindowsalittlehurricane-lampburning。Thiswasatfourintheafternoon。Webothstoppeddeadintheverandah，holdingourbreathtocatcheverysound；andweheard，insidetheroom，the“brr——brr——brr“ofamultitudeofflies。TheMajorsaidnothing，buthetookoffhishelmetandweenteredverysoftly。
TheBoywasdeadonthecharpoyinthecentreofthebare，lime-
washedroom。Hehadshothisheadnearlytopieceswithhisrevolver。Thegun-caseswerestillstrapped，sowasthebedding，andonthetablelayTheBoy\'swriting-casewithphotographs。Hehadgoneawaytodielikeapoisonedrat！
TheMajorsaidtohimselfsoftly:“PoorBoy！Poor，POORdevil！“
Thenheturnedawayfromthebedandsaid:“Iwantyourhelpinthisbusiness。”
KnowingTheBoywasdeadbyhisownhand，Isawexactlywhatthathelpwouldbe，soIpassedovertothetable，tookachair，litacheroot，andbegantogothroughthewriting-case；theMajorlookingovermyshoulderandrepeatingtohimself:“Wecametoolate！——Likearatinahole！——Poor，POORdevil！“
TheBoymusthavespenthalfthenightinwritingtohispeople，andtohisColonel，andtoagirlatHome；andassoonashehadfinished，musthaveshothimself，forhehadbeendeadalongtimewhenwecamein。
Ireadallthathehadwritten，andpassedovereachsheettotheMajorasIfinishedit。
Wesawfromhisaccountshowveryseriouslyhehadtakeneverything。Hewroteabout“disgracewhichhewasunabletobear“——
“indelibleshame“——“criminalfolly“——“wastedlife，“andsoon；
besidesalotofprivatethingstohisFatherandMothertoomuchtoosacredtoputintoprint。ThelettertothegirlatHomewasthemostpitifulofall；andIchokedasIreadit。TheMajormadenoattempttokeepdry-eyed。Irespectedhimforthat。Hereadandrockedhimselftoandfro，andsimplycriedlikeawomanwithoutcaringtohideit。Thelettersweresodrearyandhopelessandtouching。WeforgotallaboutTheBoy\'sfollies，andonlythoughtofthepoorThingonthecharpoyandthescrawledsheetsinourhands。ItwasutterlyimpossibletoletthelettersgoHome。
TheywouldhavebrokenhisFather\'sheartandkilledhisMotherafterkillingherbeliefinherson。
AtlasttheMajordriedhiseyesopenly，andsaid:“NicesortofthingtospringonanEnglishfamily！Whatshallwedo?“
Isaid，knowingwhattheMajorhadbroughtmebutfor:“TheBoydiedofcholera。Wewerewithhimatthetime。Wecan\'tcommitourselvestohalf-measures。Comealong。”
ThenbeganoneofthemostgrimycomicscenesIhaveevertakenpartin——theconcoctionofabig，writtenlie，bolsteredwithevidence，tosootheTheBoy\'speopleatHome。Ibegantheroughdraftofaletter，theMajorthrowinginhintshereandtherewhilehegatheredupallthestuffthatTheBoyhadwrittenandburntitinthefireplace。Itwasahot，stilleveningwhenwebegan，andthelampburnedverybadly。InduecourseIgotthedrafttomysatisfaction，settingforthhowTheBoywasthepatternofallvirtues，belovedbyhisregiment，witheverypromiseofagreatcareerbeforehim，andsoon；howwehadhelpedhimthroughthesickness——itwasnotimeforlittlelies，youwillunderstand——andhowhehaddiedwithoutpain。IchokedwhileIwasputtingdownthesethingsandthinkingofthepoorpeoplewhowouldreadthem。
ThenIlaughedatthegrotesquenessoftheaffair，andthelaughtermixeditselfupwiththechoke——andtheMajorsaidthatwebothwanteddrinks。
Iamafraidtosayhowmuchwhiskeywedrankbeforetheletterwasfinished。Ithadnottheleasteffectonus。ThenwetookoffTheBoy\'swatch，locket，andrings。
Lastly，theMajorsaid:“Wemustsendalockofhairtoo。Awomanvaluesthat。”
Buttherewerereasonswhywecouldnotfindalockfittosend。
TheBoywasblack-haired，andsowastheMajor，luckily。IcutoffapieceoftheMajor\'shairabovethetemplewithaknife，andputitintothepacketweweremaking。Thelaughing-fitandthechokesgotholdofmeagain，andIhadtostop。TheMajorwasnearlyasbad；andwebothknewthattheworstpartoftheworkwastocome。
Wesealedupthepacket，photographs，locket，seals，ring，letter，andlockofhairwithTheBoy\'ssealing-waxandTheBoy\'sseal。
ThentheMajorsaid:“ForGod\'ssakelet\'sgetoutside——awayfromtheroom——andthink！“
Wewentoutside，andwalkedonthebanksoftheCanalforanhour，eatinganddrinkingwhatwehadwithus，untilthemoonrose。I
knownowexactlyhowamurdererfeels。Finally，weforcedourselvesbacktotheroomwiththelampandtheOtherThinginit，andbegantotakeupthenextpieceofwork。Iamnotgoingtowriteaboutthis。Itwastoohorrible。WeburnedthebedsteadanddroppedtheashesintotheCanal；wetookupthemattingoftheroomandtreatedthatinthesameway。Iwentofftoavillageandborrowedtwobighoes——Ididnotwantthevillagerstohelp——whiletheMajorarranged——theothermatters。Ittookusfourhours\'hardworktomakethegrave。Asweworked，wearguedoutwhetheritwasrighttosayasmuchaswerememberedoftheBurialoftheDead。
WecompromisedthingsbysayingtheLord\'sPrayerwithaprivateunofficialprayerforthepeaceofthesoulofTheBoy。Thenwefilledinthegraveandwentintotheverandah——notthehouse——toliedowntosleep。Weweredead-tired。
WhenwewoketheMajorsaid，wearily:“Wecan\'tgobacktillto-
morrow。Wemustgivehimadecenttimetodiein。HediedearlyTHISmorning，remember。Thatseemsmorenatural。”SotheMajormusthavebeenlyingawakeallthetime，thinking。
Isaid:“Thenwhydidn\'twebringthebodybacktothecantonments?“
TheMajorthoughtforaminute:——“Becausethepeopleboltedwhentheyheardofthecholera。Andtheekkahasgone！“
Thatwasstrictlytrue。Wehadforgottenallabouttheekka-pony，andhehadgonehome。
So，wewerelefttherealone，allthatstiflingday，intheCanalRestHouse，testingandre-testingourstoryofTheBoy\'sdeathtoseeifitwasweakatanypoint。Anativeturnedupintheafternoon，butwesaidthataSahibwasdeadofcholera，andheranaway。Astheduskgathered，theMajortoldmeallhisfearsaboutTheBoy，andawfulstoriesofsuicideornearly-carried-outsuicide——talesthatmadeone\'shaircrisp。HesaidthathehimselfhadoncegoneintothesameValleyoftheShadowastheBoy，whenhewasyoungandnewtothecountry；soheunderstoodhowthingsfoughttogetherinTheBoy\'spoorjumbledhead。Healsosaidthatyoungsters，intheirrepentantmoments，considertheirsinsmuchmoreseriousandineffaceablethantheyreallyare。Wetalkedtogetherallthroughtheevening，andrehearsedthestoryofthedeathofTheBoy。Assoonasthemoonwasup，andTheBoy，theoretically，justburied，westruckacrosscountryfortheStation。Wewalkedfromeighttillsixo\'clockinthemorning；butthoughweweredead-tired，wedidnotforgettogotoTheBoy\'sroomandputawayhisrevolverwiththeproperamountofcartridgesinthepouch。Alsotosethiswriting-caseonthetable。WefoundtheColonelandreportedthedeath，feelingmorelikemurderersthanever。Thenwewenttobedandslepttheclockround；fortherewasnomoreinus。
Thetalehadcredenceaslongaswasnecessary，foreveryoneforgotaboutTheBoybeforeafortnightwasover。Manypeople，however，foundtimetosaythattheMajorhadbehavedscandalouslyinnotbringinginthebodyforaregimentalfuneral。ThesaddestthingofallwasaletterfromTheBoy\'smothertotheMajorandme——withbiginkyblistersalloverthesheet。Shewrotethesweetestpossiblethingsaboutourgreatkindness，andtheobligationshewouldbeundertousaslongasshelived。
Allthingsconsidered，sheWASunderanobligation；butnotexactlyasshemeant。
MISSYOUGHAL\'SSAIS。
WhenManandWomanareagreed，whatcantheKazido?
MahomedanProverb。
SomepeoplesaythatthereisnoromanceinIndia。Thosepeoplearewrong。Ourlivesholdquiteasmuchromanceasisgoodforus。
Sometimesmore。
StricklandwasinthePolice，andpeopledidnotunderstandhim；sotheysaidhewasadoubtfulsortofmanandpassedbyontheotherside。Stricklandhadhimselftothankforthis。HeheldtheextraordinarytheorythataPolicemaninIndiashouldtrytoknowasmuchaboutthenativesasthenativesthemselves。Now，inthewholeofUpperIndia，thereisonlyONEmanwhocanpassforHinduorMohammedan，chamarorfaquir，ashepleases。HeisfearedandrespectedbythenativesfromtheGhorKathritotheJammaMusjid；
andheissupposedtohavethegiftofinvisibilityandexecutivecontrolovermanyDevils。ButwhatgoodhasthisdonehimwiththeGovernment?Noneintheworld。HehasnevergotSimlaforhischarge；andhisnameisalmostunknowntoEnglishmen。
Stricklandwasfoolishenoughtotakethatmanforhismodel；and，followingouthisabsurdtheory，dabbledinunsavoryplacesnorespectablemanwouldthinkofexploring——allamongthenativeriff-raff。Heeducatedhimselfinthispeculiarwayforsevenyears，andpeoplecouldnotappreciateit。Hewasperpetually“goingFantee“amongthenatives，which，ofcourse，nomanwithanysensebelievesin。HewasinitiatedintotheSatBhaiatAllahabadonce，whenhewasonleave；heknewtheLizard-SongoftheSansis，andtheHalli-Hukkdance，whichisareligiouscan-canofastartlingkind。WhenamanknowswhodancestheHalli-Hukk，andhow，andwhen，andwhere，heknowssomethingtobeproudof。Hehasgonedeeperthantheskin。ButStricklandwasnotproud，thoughhehadhelpedonce，atJagadhri，atthePaintingoftheDeathBull，whichnoEnglishmanmustevenlookupon；hadmasteredthethieves\'-patterofthechangars；hadtakenaEusufzaihorse-
thiefalonenearAttock；andhadstoodunderthemimbar-boardofaBordermosqueandconductedserviceinthemannerofaSunniMollah。
HiscrowningachievementwasspendingelevendaysasafaquirinthegardensofBabaAtalatAmritsar，andtherepickingupthethreadsofthegreatNasibanMurderCase。Butpeoplesaid，justlyenough:“Whyonearthcan\'tStricklandsitinhisofficeandwriteuphisdiary，andrecruit，andkeepquiet，insteadofshowinguptheincapacityofhisseniors?“SotheNasibanMurderCasedidhimnogooddepartmentally；but，afterhisfirstfeelingofwrath，hereturnedtohisoutlandishcustomofpryingintonativelife。Bytheway，whenamanonceacquiresatasteforthisparticularamusement，itabideswithhimallhisdays。Itisthemostfascinatingthingintheworld；Lovenotexcepted。WhereothermentooktendaystotheHills，Stricklandtookleaveforwhathecalledshikar，putonthedisguisethatappealedtohimatthetime，steppeddownintothebrowncrowd，andwasswallowedupforawhile。Hewasaquiet，darkyoungfellow——spare，black-eyes——and，whenhewasnotthinkingofsomethingelse，averyinterestingcompanion。StricklandonNativeProgressashehadseenitwasworthhearing。NativeshatedStrickland；buttheywereafraidofhim。Heknewtoomuch。
WhentheYoughalscameintothestation，Strickland——verygravely，ashedideverything——fellinlovewithMissYoughal；andshe，afterawhile，fellinlovewithhimbecauseshecouldnotunderstandhim。ThenStricklandtoldtheparents；butMrs。YoughalsaidshewasnotgoingtothrowherdaughterintotheworstpaidDepartmentintheEmpire，andoldYoughalsaid，insomanywords，thathemistrustedStrickland\'swaysandworks，andwouldthankhimnottospeakorwritetohisdaughteranymore。“Verywell，“saidStrickland，forhedidnotwishtomakehislady-love\'slifeaburden。AfteronelongtalkwithMissYoughalhedroppedthebusinessentirely。
TheYoughalswentuptoSimlainApril。
InJuly，Stricklandsecuredthreemonths\'leaveon“urgentprivateaffairs。”Helockeduphishouse——thoughnotanativeintheProvidencewouldwittinglyhavetouched“EstreekinSahib\'s“gearfortheworld——andwentdowntoseeafriendofhis，anolddyer，atTarnTaran。
Herealltraceofhimwaslost，untilasaismetmeontheSimlaMallwiththisextraordinarynote:
“Dearoldman，Pleasegivebeareraboxofcheroots——Supers，No。I，forpreference。TheyarefreshestattheClub。I\'llrepaywhenI
reappear；butatpresentI\'moutofSociety。
Yours，E。STRICKLAND。”
Iorderedtwoboxes，andhandedthemovertothesaiswithmylove。
ThatsaiswasStrickland，andhewasinoldYoughal\'semploy，attachedtoMissYoughal\'sArab。ThepoorfellowwassufferingforanEnglishsmoke，andknewthatwhateverhappenedIshouldholdmytonguetillthebusinesswasover。
Lateron，Mrs。Youghal，whowaswrappedupinherservants，begantalkingathouseswhereshecalledofherparagonamongsaises——themanwhowasnevertoobusytogetupinthemorningandpickflowersforthebreakfast-table，andwhoblacked——actuallyBLACKED——
thehoofsofhishorselikeaLondoncoachman！TheturnoutofMissYoughal\'sArabwasawonderandadelight。Strickland——
Dulloo，Imean——foundhisrewardintheprettythingsthatMissYoughalsaidtohimwhenshewentoutriding。HerparentswerepleasedtofindshehadforgottenallherfoolishnessforyoungStricklandandsaidshewasagoodgirl。
Stricklandvowsthatthetwomonthsofhisservicewerethemostrigidmentaldisciplinehehasevergonethrough。Quiteapartfromthelittlefactthatthewifeofoneofhisfellow-saisesfellinlovewithhimandthentriedtopoisonhimwitharsenicbecausehewouldhavenothingtodowithher，hehadtoschoolhimselfintokeepingquietwhenMissYoughalwentoutridingwithsomemanwhotriedtoflirtwithher，andhewasforcedtotrotbehindcarryingtheblanketandhearingeveryword！Also，hehadtokeephistemperwhenhewasslangedin“Benmore“porchbyapoliceman——
especiallyoncewhenhewasabusedbyaNaikhehadhimselfrecruitedfromIsserJangvillage——or，worsestill，whenayoungsubalterncalledhimapigfornotmakingwayquicklyenough。
Butthelifehaditscompensations。Heobtainedgreatinsightintothewaysandtheftsofsaises——enough，hesays，tohavesummarilyconvictedhalfthechamarpopulationofthePunjabifhehadbeenonbusiness。Hebecameoneoftheleadingplayersatknuckle-
bones，whichalljhampanisandmanysaisesplaywhiletheyarewaitingoutsidetheGovernmentHouseortheGaietyTheatreofnights；helearnedtosmoketobaccothatwasthree-fourthscowdung；
andheheardthewisdomofthegrizzledJemadaroftheGovernmentHousesaises，whosewordsarevaluable。Hesawmanythingswhichamusedhim；andhestates，onhonor，thatnomancanappreciateSimlaproperly，tillhehasseenitfromthesais\'spointofview。
Healsosaysthat，ifhechosetowriteallhesaw，hisheadwouldbebrokeninseveralplaces。
Strickland\'saccountoftheagonyheenduredonwetnights，hearingthemusicandseeingthelightsin“Benmore，“withhistoestinglingforawaltzandhisheadinahorse-blanket，isratheramusing。Oneofthesedays，Stricklandisgoingtowritealittlebookonhisexperiences。Thatbookwillbeworthbuying；andevenmore，worthsuppressing。
Thus，heservedfaithfullyasJacobservedforRachel；andhisleavewasnearlyatanendwhentheexplosioncame。HehadreallydonehisbesttokeephistemperinthehearingoftheflirtationsIhavementioned；buthebrokedownatlast。AnoldandverydistinguishedGeneraltookMissYoughalforaride，andbeganthatspeciallyoffensive“you\'re-only-a-little-girl“sortofflirtation——
mostdifficultforawomantoturnasidedeftly，andmostmaddeningtolistento。MissYoughalwasshakingwithfearatthethingshesaidinthehearingofhersais。Dulloo——Strickland——
stooditaslongashecould。ThenhecaughtholdoftheGeneral\'sbridle，and，inmostfluentEnglish，invitedhimtostepoffandbeheavedoverthecliff。NextminuteMissYoughalbegancrying；andStricklandsawthathehadhopelesslygivenhimselfaway，andeverythingwasover。
TheGeneralnearlyhadafit，whileMissYoughalwassobbingoutthestoryofthedisguiseandtheengagementthatwasn\'trecognizedbytheparents。StricklandwasfuriouslyangrywithhimselfandmoreangrywiththeGeneralforforcinghishand；sohesaidnothing，butheldthehorse\'sheadandpreparedtothrashtheGeneralassomesortofsatisfaction，butwhentheGeneralhadthoroughlygraspedthestory，andknewwhoStricklandwas，hebegantopuffandblowinthesaddle，andnearlyrolledoffwithlaughing。HesaidStricklanddeservedaV。C。，ifitwereonlyforputtingonasais\'sblanket。Thenhecalledhimselfnames，andvowedthathedeservedathrashing，buthewastoooldtotakeitfromStrickland。ThenhecomplimentedMissYoughalonherlover。
Thescandalofthebusinessneverstruckhim；forhewasaniceoldman，withaweaknessforflirtations。Thenhelaughedagain，andsaidthatoldYoughalwasafool。Stricklandletgoofthecob\'shead，andsuggestedthattheGeneralhadbetterhelpthem，ifthatwashisopinion。StricklandknewYoughal\'sweaknessformenwithtitlesandlettersaftertheirnamesandhighofficialposition。
“It\'sratherlikeaforty-minutefarce，“saidtheGeneral，“butbegad，IWILLhelp，ifit\'sonlytoescapethattremendousthrashingIdeserved。Goalongtoyourhome，mysais-Policeman，andchangeintodecentkit，andI\'llattackMr。Youghal。MissYoughal，mayIaskyoutocanterhomeandwait?……
Aboutsevenminuteslater，therewasawildhurrooshattheClub。
Asais，withablanketandhead-rope，wasaskingallthemenheknew:“ForHeaven\'ssakelendmedecentclothes！“Asthemendidnotrecognizehim，thereweresomepeculiarscenesbeforeStricklandcouldgetahotbath，withsodainit，inoneroom，ashirthere，acollarthere，apairoftrouserselsewhere，andsoon。Hegallopedoff，withhalftheClubwardrobeonhisback，andanutterstranger\'sponyunderhim，tothehouseofoldYoughal。
TheGeneral，arrayedinpurpleandfinelinen，wasbeforehim。
WhattheGeneralhadsaidStricklandneverknew，butYoughalreceivedStricklandwithmoderatecivility；andMrs。Youghal，touchedbythedevotionofthetransformedDulloo，wasalmostkind。
TheGeneralbeamed，andchuckled，andMissYoughalcamein，andalmostbeforeoldYoughalknewwherehewas，theparentalconsenthadbeenwrenchedoutandStricklandhaddepartedwithMissYoughaltotheTelegraphOfficetowireforhiskit。ThefinalembarrassmentwaswhenanutterstrangerattackedhimontheMallandaskedforthestolenpony。
So，intheend，StricklandandMissYoughalweremarried，onthestrictunderstandingthatStricklandshoulddrophisoldways，andsticktoDepartmentalroutine，whichpaysbestandleadstoSimla。
Stricklandwasfartoofondofhiswife，justthen，tobreakhisword，butitwasasoretrialtohim；forthestreetsandthebazars，andthesoundsinthem，werefullofmeaningtoStrickland，andthesecalledtohimtocomebackandtakeuphiswanderingsandhisdiscoveries。Someday，Iwilltellyouhowhebrokehispromisetohelpafriend。Thatwaslongsince，andhehas，bythistime，beennearlyspoiltforwhathewouldcallshikar。Heisforgettingtheslang，andthebeggar\'scant，andthemarks，andthesigns，andthedriftoftheundercurrents，which，ifamanwouldmaster，hemustalwayscontinuetolearn。
ButhefillsinhisDepartmentalreturnsbeautifully。
YOKEDWITHANUNBELIEVER。
Iamdyingforyou，andyouaredyingforanother。
PunjabiProverb。
WhentheGravesendtenderlefttheP。&0。steamerforBombayandwentbacktocatchthetraintoTown，thereweremanypeopleinitcrying。Buttheonewhoweptmost，andmostopenlywasMissAgnesLaiter。Shehadreasontocry，becausetheonlymansheeverloved——orevercouldlove，soshesaid——wasgoingouttoIndia；andIndia，aseveryoneknows，isdividedequallybetweenjungle，tigers，cobras，cholera，andsepoys。
PhilGarron，leaningoverthesideofthesteamerintherain，feltveryunhappytoo；buthedidnotcry。Hewassentoutto“tea。”
What“tea“meanthehadnotthevaguestidea，butfanciedthathewouldhavetorideonaprancinghorseoverhillscoveredwithtea-
vines，anddrawasumptuoussalaryfordoingso；andhewasverygratefultohisuncleforgettinghimtheberth。Hewasreallygoingtoreformallhisslack，shiftlessways，savealargeproportionofhismagnificentsalaryyearly，and，inaveryshorttime，returntomarryAgnesLaiter。PhilGarronhadbeenlyinglooseonhisfriends\'handsforthreeyears，and，ashehadnothingtodo，henaturallyfellinlove。Hewasverynice；buthewasnotstronginhisviewsandopinionsandprinciples，andthoughhenevercametoactualgriefhisfriendswerethankfulwhenhesaidgood-bye，andwentouttothismysterious“tea“businessnearDarjiling。Theysaid:——“Godblessyou，dearboy！Letusneverseeyourfaceagain，“——oratleastthatwaswhatPhilwasgiventounderstand。
Whenhesailed，hewasveryfullofagreatplantoprovehimselfseveralhundredtimesbetterthananyonehadgivenhimcreditfor——
toworklikeahorse，andtriumphantlymarryAgnesLaiter。Hehadmanygoodpointsbesideshisgoodlooks；hisonlyfaultbeingthathewasweak，theleastlittlebitintheworldweak。HehadasmuchnotionofeconomyastheMorningSun；andyetyoucouldnotlayyourhandonanyoneitem，andsay:“HereinPhilGarronisextravagantorreckless。”Norcouldyoupointoutanyparticularviceinhischaracter；buthewas“unsatisfactory“andasworkableasputty。
AgnesLaiterwentaboutherdutiesathome——herfamilyobjectedtotheengagement——withredeyes，whilePhilwassailingtoDarjiling——
“aportontheBengalOcean，“ashismotherusedtotellherfriends。Hewaspopularenoughonboardship，mademanyacquaintancesandamoderatelylargeliquorbill，andsentoffhugeletterstoAgnesLaiterateachport。Thenhefelltoworkonthisplantation，somewherebetweenDarjilingandKangra，and，thoughthesalaryandthehorseandtheworkwerenotquiteallhehadfancied，hesucceededfairlywell，andgavehimselfmuchunnecessarycreditforhisperseverance。
Inthecourseoftime，ashesettledmoreintocollar，andhisworkgrewfixedbeforehim，thefaceofAgnesLaiterwentoutofhismindandonlycamewhenhewasatleisure，whichwasnotoften。Hewouldforgetallaboutherforafortnight，andrememberherwithastart，likeaschool-boywhohasforgottentolearnhislesson。
ShedidnotforgetPhil，becauseshewasofthekindthatneverforgets。Only，anotherman——areallydesirableyoungman——
presentedhimselfbeforeMrs。Laiter；andthechanceofamarriagewithPhilwasasfaroffasever；andhislettersweresounsatisfactory；andtherewasacertainamountofdomesticpressurebroughttobearonthegirl；andtheyoungmanreallywasaneligiblepersonasincomesgo；andtheendofallthingswasthatAgnesmarriedhim，andwroteatempestuouswhirlwindofalettertoPhilinthewildsofDarjiling，andsaidsheshouldneverknowahappymomentalltherestofherlife。Whichwasatrueprophecy。
Philgotthatletter，andheldhimselfill-treated。Thiswastwoyearsafterhehadcomeout；butbydintofthinkingfixedlyofAgnesLaiter，andlookingatherphotograph，andpattinghimselfonthebackforbeingoneofthemostconstantloversinhistory，andwarmingtotheworkashewenton，hereallyfanciedthathehadbeenveryhardlyused。Hesatdownandwroteonefinalletter——areallypathetic“worldwithoutend，amen，“epistle；explaininghowhewouldbetruetoEternity，andthatallwomenwereverymuchalike，andhewouldhidehisbrokenheart，etc。，etc。；butif，atanyfuturetime，etc。，etc。，hecouldaffordtowait，etc。，etc。，unchangedaffections，etc。，etc。，returntoheroldlove，etc。，etc。，foreightclosely-writtenpages。Fromanartisticpointofview，itwasveryneatwork，butanordinaryPhilistine，whoknewthestateofPhil\'srealfeelings——nottheonesherosetoashewentonwriting——wouldhavecalleditthethoroughlymeanandselfishworkofathoroughlymeanandselfish，weakman。Butthisverdictwouldhavebeenincorrect。Philpaidforthepostage，andfelteverywordhehadwrittenforatleasttwodaysandahalf。
Itwasthelastflickerbeforethelightwentout。
ThatlettermadeAgnesLaiterveryunhappy，andshecriedandputitawayinherdesk，andbecameMrs。SomebodyElseforthegoodofherfamily。WhichisthefirstdutyofeveryChristianmaid。
Philwenthisways，andthoughtnomoreofhisletter，exceptasanartistthinksofaneatlytouched-insketch。Hiswayswerenotbad，buttheywerenotaltogethergooduntiltheybroughthimacrossDunmaya，thedaughterofaRajputex-Subadar-MajorofourNativeArmy。ThegirlhadastrainofHillbloodinher，and，liketheHillwomen，wasnotapurdahnashin。WherePhilmether，orhowheheardofher，doesnotmatter。Shewasagoodgirlandhandsome，and，inherway，verycleverandshrewd；though，ofcourse，alittlehard。ItistoberememberedthatPhilwaslivingverycomfortably，denyinghimselfnosmallluxury，neverputtingbyananna，verysatisfiedwithhimselfandhisgoodintentions，wasdroppingallhisEnglishcorrespondentsonebyone，andbeginningmoreandmoretolookuponthislandashishome。Somemenfallthisway；andtheyareofnouseafterwards。Theclimatewherehewasstationedwasgood，anditreallydidnotseemtohimthattherewasanythingtogoHomefor。
Hedidwhatmanyplantershavedonebeforehim——thatistosay，hemadeuphismindtomarryaHillgirlandsettledown。Hewassevenandtwentythen，withalonglifebeforehim，butnospirittogothroughwithit。SohemarriedDunmayabytheformsoftheEnglishChurch，andsomefellow-planterssaidhewasafool，andsomesaidhewasawiseman。Dunmayawasathoroughlyhonestgirl，and，inspiteofherreverenceforanEnglishman，hadareasonableestimateofherhusband\'sweaknesses。Shemanagedhimtenderly，andbecame，inlessthanayear，averypassableimitationofanEnglishladyindressandcarriage。[ItiscurioustothinkthataHillman，afteralifetime\'seducation，isaHillmanstill；butaHillwomancaninsixmonthsmastermostofthewaysofherEnglishsisters。Therewasacooliewomanonce。Butthatisanotherstory。]Dunmayadressedbypreferenceinblackandyellow，andlookedwell。
MeantimetheletterlayinAgnes\'sdesk，andnowandagainshewouldthinkofpoorresolutehard-workingPhilamongthecobrasandtigersofDarjiling，toilinginthevainhopethatshemightcomebacktohim。HerhusbandwasworthtenPhils，exceptthathehadrheumatismoftheheart。Threeyearsafterhewasmarried——andafterhehadtriedNiceandAlgeriaforhiscomplaint——hewenttoBombay，wherehedied，andsetAgnesfree。Beingadevoutwoman，shelookedonhisdeathandtheplaceofit，asadirectinterpositionofProvidence，andwhenshehadrecoveredfromtheshock，shetookoutandrereadPhil\'sletterwiththe“etc。，etc。，“
andthebigdashes，andthelittledashes，andkisseditseveraltimes。NooneknewherinBombay；shehadherhusband\'sincome，whichwasalargeone，andPhilwascloseathand。Itwaswrongandimproper，ofcourse，butshedecided，asheroinesdoinnovels，tofindheroldlover，toofferhimherhandandhergold，andwithhimspendtherestofherlifeinsomespotfarfromunsympatheticsouls。Shesatfortwomonths，aloneinWatson\'sHotel，elaboratingthisdecision，andthepicturewasaprettyone。ThenshesetoutinsearchofPhilGarron，Assistantonateaplantationwithamorethanusuallyunpronounceablename……
Shefoundhim。Shespentamonthoverit，，forhisplantationwasnotintheDarjilingdistrictatall，butnearerKangra。Philwasverylittlealtered，andDunmayawasverynicetoher。
NowtheparticularsinandshameofthewholebusinessisthatPhil，whoreallyisnotworththinkingoftwice，wasandislovedbyDunmaya，andmorethanlovedbyAgnes，thewholeofwhoselifeheseemstohavespoilt。
Worstofall，Dunmayaismakingadecentmanofhim；andhewillbeultimatelysavedfromperditionthroughhertraining。
Whichismanifestlyunfair。
FALSEDAWN。
To-nightGodknowswhatthingshalltide，TheEarthisrackedandfaint——
Expectant，sleepless，open-eyed；
Andwe，whofromtheEarthweremade，ThrillwithourMother\'spain。
InDurance。
Nomanwilleverknowtheexacttruthofthisstory；thoughwomenmaysometimeswhisperittooneanotherafteradance，whentheyareputtinguptheirhairforthenightandcomparinglistsofvictims。Aman，ofcourse，cannotassistatthesefunctions。Sothetalemustbetoldfromtheoutside——inthedark——allwrong。
Neverpraiseasistertoasister，inthehopeofyourcomplimentsreachingtheproperears，andsopreparingthewayforyoulateron。Sistersarewomenfirst，andsistersafterwards；andyouwillfindthatyoudoyourselfharm。
SaumarezknewthiswhenhemadeuphismindtoproposetotheelderMissCopleigh。Saumarezwasastrangeman，withfewmerits，sofarasmencouldsee，thoughhewaspopularwithwomen，andcarriedenoughconceittostockaViceroy\'sCouncilandleavealittleoverfortheCommander-in-Chief\'sStaff。HewasaCivilian。VerymanywomentookaninterestinSaumarez，perhaps，becausehismannertothemwasoffensive。Ifyouhitaponyoverthenoseattheoutsetofyouracquaintance，hemaynotloveyou，buthewilltakeadeepinterestinyourmovementseverafterwards。TheelderMissCopleighwasnice，plump，winningandpretty。Theyoungerwasnotsopretty，and，frommendisregardingthehintsetforthabove，herstylewasrepellantandunattractive。Bothgirlshad，practically，thesamefigure，andtherewasastronglikenessbetweentheminlookandvoice；thoughnoonecoulddoubtforaninstantwhichwasthenicerofthetwo。
Saumarezmadeuphismind，assoonastheycameintothestationfromBehar，tomarrytheelderone。Atleast，weallmadesurethathewould，whichcomestothesamething。Shewastwoandtwenty，andhewasthirty-three，withpayandallowancesofnearlyfourteenhundredrupeesamonth。Sothematch，aswearrangedit，wasineverywayagoodone。Saumarezwashisname，andsummarywashisnature，asamanoncesaid。HavingdraftedhisResolution，heformedaSelectCommitteeofOnetosituponit，andresolvedtotakehistime。Inourunpleasantslang，theCopleighgirls“huntedincouples。”Thatistosay，youcoulddonothingwithonewithouttheother。Theywereverylovingsisters；buttheirmutualaffectionwassometimesinconvenient。Saumarezheldthebalance-
hairtruebetweenthem，andnonebuthimselfcouldhavesaidtowhichsidehisheartinclined；thougheveryoneguessed。Herodewiththemagooddealanddancedwiththem，butheneversucceededindetachingthemfromeachotherforanylengthoftime。
Womensaidthatthetwogirlskepttogetherthroughdeepmistrust，eachfearingthattheotherwouldstealamarchonher。Butthathasnothingtodowithaman。Saumarezwassilentforgoodorbad，andasbusiness-likelyattentiveashecouldbe，havingdueregardtohisworkandhispolo。Beyonddoubtbothgirlswerefondofhim。
Asthehotweatherdrewnearer，andSaumarezmadenosign，womensaidthatyoucouldseetheirtroubleintheeyesofthegirls——
thattheywerelookingstrained，anxious，andirritable。Menarequiteblindinthesemattersunlesstheyhavemoreofthewomanthanthemanintheircomposition，inwhichcaseitdoesnotmatterwhattheysayorthink。ImaintainitwasthehotAprildaysthattookthecoloroutoftheCopleighgirls\'cheeks。TheyshouldhavebeensenttotheHillsearly。Noone——manorwoman——feelsanangelwhenthehotweatherisapproaching。Theyoungersistergrewmorecynical——nottosayacid——inherways；andthewinningnessoftheelderworethin。Therewasmoreeffortinit。
NowtheStationwhereinallthesethingshappenedwas，thoughnotalittleone，offthelineofrail，andsufferedthroughwantofattention。Therewerenogardensorbandsoramusementsworthspeakingof，anditwasnearlyaday\'sjourneytocomeintoLahoreforadance。Peopleweregratefulforsmallthingstointerestthem。
AboutthebeginningofMay，andjustbeforethefinalexodusofHill-goers，whentheweatherwasveryhotandtherewerenotmorethantwentypeopleintheStation，Saumarezgaveamoonlightriding-picnicatanoldtomb，sixmilesaway，nearthebedoftheriver。Itwasa“Noah\'sArk“picnic；andtherewastobetheusualarrangementofquarter-mileintervalsbetweeneachcouple，onaccountofthedust。Sixcouplescamealtogether，includingchaperons。Moonlightpicnicsareusefuljustattheveryendoftheseason，beforeallthegirlsgoawaytotheHills。Theyleadtounderstandings，andshouldbeencouragedbychaperones；
especiallythosewhosegirlslooksweetishinridinghabits。I
knewacaseonce。Butthatisanotherstory。Thatpicnicwascalledthe“GreatPopPicnic，“becauseeveryoneknewSaumarezwouldproposethentotheeldestMissCopleigh；and，besidehisaffair，therewasanotherwhichmightpossiblycometohappiness。
Thesocialatmospherewasheavilychargedandwantedclearing。
Wemetattheparade-groundatten:thenightwasfearfullyhot。