Hekepthisunrequitedattachmentbyhimasmenkeepawell-smokedpipe——forcomfort’ssake，andbecauseithadgrowndearintheusingItbroughthimhappilythroughtheSimlaseason。
HannasydewasnotlovelyTherewasacrudityinhismanners，andaroughnessinthewayinwhichhehelpedaladyontoherhorse，thatdidnotattracttheothersextohimEvenifhehadcastaboutfortheirfavor，whichhedidnotHekepthiswoundedheartalltohimselfforawhile。
ThentroublecametohimAllwhogotoSimla，knowtheslopefromtheTelegraphtothePublicWorksOfficeHannasydewasloafingupthehill，oneSeptembermorningbetweencallinghours，whena’rickshawcamedowninahurry，andinthe’rickshawsattheliving，breathingimageofthegirlwhohadmadehimsohappilyunhappy。
HannasydeleanedagainsttherailingandgaspedHewantedtorundownhillafterthe’rickshaw，butthatwasimpossible；sohewentforwardwithmostofhisbloodinhistemplesItwasimpossible，formanyreasons，thatthewomaninthe’rickshawcouldbethegirlhehadknownShewas，hediscoveredlater，thewifeofamanfromDindigul，orCoimbatore，orsomeout-of-the-wayplace，andshehadcomeuptoSimlaearlyintheseasonforthegoodofherhealth。
ShewasgoingbacktoDindigul，orwhereveritwas，attheendoftheseason；andinalllikelihoodwouldneverreturntoSimlaagain，herproperHill-stationbeingOotacamundThatnight，Hannasyde，rawandsavagefromtherakingupofalloldfeelings，tookcounselwithhimselfforonemeasuredhourWhathedecideduponwasthis；
andyoumustdecideforyourselfhowmuchgenuineaffectionfortheoldlove，andhowmuchaverynaturalinclinationtogoabroadandenjoyhimself，affectedthedecisionMrsLandys-HaggertwouldneverinallhumanlikelihoodcrosshispathagainSowhateverhediddidn’tmuchmatterShewasmarvellouslylikethegirlwho“tookadeepinterest“andtherestoftheformulaAllthingsconsidered，itwouldbepleasanttomaketheacquaintanceofMrs。
Landys-Haggert，andforalittletime——onlyaverylittletime——tomakebelievethathewaswithAliceChisaneagainEveryoneismoreorlessmadononepointHannasyde’sparticularmonomaniawashisoldlove，AliceChisane。
HemadeithisbusinesstogetintroducedtoMrsHaggert，andtheintroductionprosperedHealsomadeithisbusinesstoseeasmuchashecouldofthatladyWhenamanisinearnestastointerviews，thefacilitieswhichSimlaoffersarestartlingTherearegarden-parties，andtennis-parties，andpicnics，andluncheonsatAnnandale，andrifle-matches，anddinnersandballs；besidesridesandwalks，whicharemattersofprivatearrangement。
Hannasydehadstartedwiththeintentionofseeingalikeness，andheendedbydoingmuchmoreHewantedtobedeceived，hemeanttobedeceived，andhedeceivedhimselfverythoroughlyNotonlywerethefaceandfigure，thefaceandfigureofAliceChisane，butthevoiceandlowertoneswereexactlythesame，andsoweretheturnsofspeech；andthelittlemannerisms，thateverywomanhas，ofgaitandgesticulation，wereabsolutelyandidenticallythesameTheturnoftheheadwasthesame；thetiredlookintheeyesattheendofalongwalkwasthesame；thesloopandwrenchoverthesaddletoholdinapullinghorsewasthesame；andonce，mostmarvellousofall，MrsLandys-Haggertsingingtoherselfinthenextroom，whileHannasydewaswaitingtotakeherforaride，hummed，notefornote，withathroatyquiverofthevoiceinthesecondline：——“PoorWanderingOne！”exactlyasAliceChisanehadhummeditforHannasydeintheduskofanEnglishdrawing-roomIntheactualwomanherself——inthesoulofher——therewasnottheleastlikeness；sheandAliceChisanebeingcastindifferentmouldsButallthatHannasydewantedtoknowandseeandthinkabout，wasthismaddeningandperplexinglikenessoffaceandvoiceandmannerHewasbentonmakingafoolofhimselfthatway；andhewasinnosortdisappointed。
Openandobviousdevotionfromanysortofmanisalwayspleasanttoanysortofwoman；butMrsLandys-Haggert，beingawomanoftheworld，couldmakenothingofHannasyde’sadmiration。
Hewouldtakeanyamountoftrouble——hewasaselfishmanhabitually——tomeetandforestall，ifpossible，herwishes。
Anythingshetoldhimtodowaslaw；andhewas，therecouldbenodoubtingit，fondofhercompanysolongasshetalkedtohim，andkeptontalkingabouttrivialitiesButwhenshelaunchedintoexpressionofherpersonalviewsandherwrongs，thosesmallsocialdifferencesthatmakethespiceofSimlalife，HannasydewasneitherpleasednorinterestedHedidn’twanttoknowanythingaboutMrs。
Landys-Haggert，orherexperiencesinthepast——shehadtravellednearlyallovertheworld，andcouldtalkcleverly——hewantedthelikenessofAliceChisanebeforehiseyesandhervoiceinhisears。
Anythingoutsidethat，remindinghimofanotherpersonalityjarred，andheshowedthatitdid。
UnderthenewPostOffice，oneevening，MrsLandys-Haggertturnedonhim，andspokehermindshortlyandwithoutwarning“Mr。
Hannasyde。”saidshe，“willyoubegoodenoughtoexplainwhyyouhaveappointedyourselfmyspecialcavalierservente？Idon’tunderstanditButIamperfectlycertain，somehoworother，thatyoudon’tcaretheleastlittlebitintheworldforME。”Thisseemstosupport，bytheway，thetheorythatnomancanactortellliestoawomanwithoutbeingfoundoutHannasydewastakenoffhisguardHisdefenceneverwasastrongone，becausehewasalwaysthinkingofhimself，andheblurtedout，beforeheknewwhathewassaying，thisinexpedientanswer：——“NomoreIdo。”
Thequeernessofthesituationandthereply，madeMrsLandys-
HaggertlaughThenitallcameout；andattheendofHannasyde’slucidexplanation，MrsHaggertsaid，withtheleastlittletouchofscorninhervoice：——“SoI’mtoactasthelay-figureforyoutohangtheragsofyourtatteredaffectionson，amI？”
Hannasydedidn’tseewhatanswerwasrequired，andhedevotedhimselfgenerallyandvaguelytothepraiseofAliceChisane，whichwasunsatisfactoryNowitistobethoroughlymadeclearthatMrs。
HaggerthadnottheshadowofaghostofaninterestinHannasyde。
Onlyonlynowomanlikesbeingmadelovethroughinsteadofto——speciallyonbehalfofamustydivinityoffouryears’standing。
HannasydedidnotseethathehadmadeanyveryparticularexhibitionofhimselfHewasgladtofindasympatheticsoulinthearidwastesofSimla。
Whentheseasonended，HannasydewentdowntohisownplaceandMrs。
Haggerttohers“Itwaslikemakinglovetoaghost。”saidHannasydetohimself，“anditdoesn’tmatter；andnowI’llgettomywork。”ButhefoundhimselfthinkingsteadilyoftheHaggert-
Chisaneghost；andhecouldnotbecertainwhetheritwasHaggertorChisanethatmadeupthegreaterpartoftheprettyphantom……
Hegotunderstandingamonthlater。
ApeculiarpointofthispeculiarcountryisthewayinwhichaheartlessGovernmenttransfersmenfromoneendoftheEmpiretotheotherYoucanneverbesureofgettingridofafriendoranenemytillheorshediesTherewasacaseonce——butthat’sanotherstory。
Haggert’sDepartmentorderedhimupfromDindigultotheFrontierattwodays’notice，andhewentthrough，losingmoneyateverystep，fromDindigultohisstationHedroppedMrsHaggertatLucknow，tostaywithsomefriendsthere，totakepartinabigballattheChutterMunzil，andtocomeonwhenhehadmadethenewhomealittlecomfortableLucknowwasHannasyde’sstation，andMrs。
HaggertstayedaweekthereHannasydewenttomeetherAndthetraincamein，hediscoveredwhichhehadbeenthinkingofforthepastmonthTheunwisdomofhisconductalsostruckhimTheLucknowweek，withtwodances，andanunlimitedquantityofridestogether，clinchedmatters；andHannasydefoundhimselfpacingthiscircleofthought：——HeadoredAliceChisane——atleastheHAD
adoredherANDheadmiredMrsLandys-HaggertbecauseshewaslikeAliceChisaneBUTMrsLandys-HaggertwasnotintheleastlikeAliceChisane，beingathousandtimesmoreadorableNOWAliceChisanewas“thebrideofanother。”andsowasMrsLandys-Haggert，andagoodandhonestwifetooTHEREFORE，he，Hannasyde，was。
herehecalledhimselfseveralhardnames，andwishedthathehadbeenwiseinthebeginning。
WhetherMrsLandys-Haggertsawwhatwasgoingoninhismind，shealoneknowsHeseemedtotakeanunqualifiedinterestineverythingconnectedwithherself，asdistinguishedfromtheAlice-
Chisanelikeness，andhesaidoneortwothingswhich，ifAliceChisanehadbeenstillbetrothedtohim，couldscarcelyhavebeenexcused，evenonthegroundsofthelikenessButMrsHaggertturnedtheremarksaside，andspentalongtimeinmakingHannasydeseewhatacomfortandapleasureshehadbeentohimbecauseofherstrangeresemblancetohisoldloveHannasydegroanedinhissaddleandsaid，“Yes，indeed。”andbusiedhimselfwithpreparationsforherdeparturetotheFrontier，feelingverysmallandmiserable。
ThelastdayofherstayatLucknowcame，andHannasydesawheroffattheRailwayStationShewasverygratefulforhiskindnessandthetroublehehadtaken，andsmiledpleasantlyandsympatheticallyasonewhoknewtheAlice-ChisanereasonofthatkindnessAndHannasydeabusedthecoolieswiththeluggage，andhustledthepeopleontheplatform，andprayedthattheroofmightfallinandslayhim。
Asthetrainwentoutslowly，MrsLandys-Haggertleanedoutofthewindowtosaygoodbye：——“Onsecondthoughtsaurevoir，Mr。
HannasydeIgoHomeintheSpring，andperhapsImaymeetyouinTown。”
Hannasydeshookhands，andsaidveryearnestlyandadoringly：——“I
hopetoHeavenIshallneverseeyourfaceagain！”
AndMrsHaggertunderstood。
WRESSLEYOFTHEFOREIGNOFFICE。
Iclosedanddrewformylove’ssake，Thatnowisfalsetome，AndIslewtheRieverofTarrantMoss，AndsetDumenyfree。
Andevertheygivemepraiseandgold，AndeverImoanmyloss，ForIstrucktheblowformyfalselove’ssake，AndnotforthemenattheMoss。
TarrantMoss。
Oneofthemanycursesofourlifeouthereisthewantofatmosphereinthepainter’ssenseTherearenohalf-tintsworthnoticingMenstandoutallcrudeandraw，withnothingtotonethemdown，andnothingtoscalethemagainstTheydotheirwork，andgrowtothinkthatthereisnothingbuttheirwork，andnothingliketheirwork，andthattheyaretherealpivotsonwhichtheadministrationturnsHereisaninstanceofthisfeelingAhalf-
casteclerkwasrulingformsinaPayOfficeHesaidtome：——“DoyouknowwhatwouldhappenifIaddedortookawayonesinglelineonthissheet？”Then，withtheairofaconspirator：——“ItwoulddisorganizethewholeoftheTreasurypaymentsthroughoutthewholeofthePresidencyCircle！Thinkofthat？”
Ifmenhadnotthisdelusionastotheultra-importanceoftheirownparticularemployments，IsupposethattheywouldsitdownandkillthemselvesButtheirweaknessiswearisome，particularlywhenthelistenerknowsthathehimselfcommitsexactlythesamesin。
EventheSecretariatbelievesthatitdoesgoodwhenitasksanover-drivenExecutiveOfficertotakecensusofwheat-weevilsthroughadistrictoffivethousandsquaremiles。
TherewasamanonceintheForeignOffice——amanwhohadgrownmiddle-agedinthedepartment，andwascommonlysaid，byirreverentjuniors，tobeabletorepeatAitchison’s“TreatiesandSunnuds“
backwards，inhissleepWhathedidwithhisstoredknowledgeonlytheSecretaryknew；andhe，naturally，wouldnotpublishthenewsabroadThisman’snamewasWressley，anditwastheShibboleth，inthosedays，tosay：——“WressleyknowsmoreabouttheCentralIndianStatesthananylivingman。”Ifyoudidnotsaythis，youwereconsideredoneofmeanundertanding。
Now-a-days，themanwhosaysthatheknowstheraveloftheinter-
tribalcomplicationsacrosstheBorderisofmoreuse；butinWressley’stime，muchattentionwaspaidtotheCentralIndianStatesTheywerecalled“foci“and“factors。”andallmannerofimposingnames。
AndherethecurseofAnglo-IndianlifefellheavilyWhenWressleylifteduphisvoice，andspokeaboutsuch-and-suchasuccessiontosuch-and-suchathrone，theForeignOfficeweresilent，andHeadsofDepartmentsrepeatedthelasttwoorthreewordsofWressley’ssentences，andtacked“yes，yes。”onthem，andknewthattheywere“assistingtheEmpiretograpplewithseriouspoliticalcontingencies。”Inmostbigundertakings，oneortwomendotheworkwhiletherestsitnearandtalktilltheripedecorationsbegintofall。
Wressleywastheworking-memberoftheForeignOfficefirm，and，tokeephimuptohisdutieswhenheshowedsignsofflagging，hewasmademuchofbyhissuperiorsandtoldwhatafinefellowhewas。
Hedidnotrequirecoaxing，becausehewasoftoughbuild，butwhathereceivedconfirmedhiminthebeliefthattherewasnoonequitesoabsolutelyandimperativelynecessarytothestabilityofIndiaasWressleyoftheForeignOfficeTheremightbeothergoodmen，buttheknown，honoredandtrustedmanamongmenwasWressleyoftheForeignOfficeWehadaViceroyinthosedayswhoknewexactlywhento“gentle“afractiousbigmanandtoheartenupacollar-
galledlittleone，andsokeepallhisteamlevelHeconveyedtoWressleytheimpressionwhichIhavejustsetdown；andeventoughmenareapttobedisorganizedbyaViceroy’spraiseTherewasacaseonce——butthatisanotherstory。