MissTAshighupontheshoulderaspossible。
MissDAmIquitetallenough？IknowitmakesMayOlderlooklopsided。
MissTYes，butMayhasn’tyourshouldersHersarelikeahock-bottle。
BEARERRappingatdoor。CaptainSahibaya。
MissDJumpingupwildly，andhuntingforbodice，whichshehasdiscardedowingtotheheatoftheday。CaptainSahib！WhatCaptainSahib？Oh，goodgracious，andI’monlyhalfdressed！
Well，Isha’n’tbother。
MissTCalmly。Youneedn’tItisn’tforusThat’sCaptainGadsbyHeisgoingforaridewithMammaHegenerallycomesfivedaysoutoftheseven。
AGONIZEDVOICEPromaninnerapartment。Minnie，runoutandgiveCaptainGadsbysometea，andtellhimIshallbereadyintenminutes；and，OMinnie，cometomeaninstant，there’sadeargirl！
MissTOh，bother！Aloud。Verywell，Mamma。
Exit，andreappears，afterfiveminutes，flushed，andrubbingherfingers。
MissDYoulookpinkWhathashappened？
MissTInastagewhisper。Atwenty-four-inchwaist，andshewon’tletitoutWherearemybangles？Rummageronthetoilet-table，anddabsatherhairwithabrushintheinterval。
MissDWhoisthisCaptainGadsby？Idon’tthinkI’vemethim。
MissTYoumusthaveHebelongstotheHarrarsetI’vedancedwithhim，butI’venevertalkedtohimHe’sabigyellowman，justlikeanewly-hatchedchicken，withanenormousmoustacheHewalkslikethisimitatesCavalryswagger，andhegoes“Ha-Hmmm！”deepdowninhisthroatwhenhecan’tthinkofanythingtosayMammalikeshimIdon’t。
MissDAbstractedly。Doeshewaxthatmoustache？
MissTBusywithPowder-puff。Yes，IthinksoWhy？
MissDBendingoverthebodiceandsewingfuriously。Oh，nothing-only-MissTSternly。Onlywhat？Outwithit，Emma。
MissDWell，MayOlger-she’sengagedtoMrCharteris，youknow-said-Promiseyouwon’trepeatthis？
MissTYes，IpromiseWhatdidshesay？
MissDThat-thatbeingkissedwitharushwithamanwhodidn’twaxhismoustachewas-likeeatinganeggwithoutsalt。
MissTAtherfullheight，withcrushingscorn。MayOlgerisahorrid，nastyThing，andyoucantellherIsaidsoI’mgladshedoesn’tbelongtomyset-Imustgoandfeedthisman！DoIlookpresentable？
MissDYes，perfectlyBequickandhandhimovertoyourMother，andthenwecantalkIshalllistenatthedoortohearwhatyousaytohim。
MissT’SureIdon’tcareI’mnotafraidofCaptainGadsby。
Inproofofthisswingsintothedrawing-roomwithamannishstridefollowedbytwoshortsteps，whichProducestheeffectofarestivehorseenteringMissesCAPTAINGADSBY，whoissittingintheshadowofthewindow-curtain，andgazesroundhelplessly。
CAPTAINGADSBYAside。Thefilly，byJove！’Mustha’
pickedupthatactionfromthesireAloud，rising。Goodevening，MissThreegan。
MissTConsciousthatsheisflushing。Goodevening，CaptainGadsbyMammatoldmetosaythatshewillbereadyinafewminutesWon’tyouhavesometea？Aside。IhopeMammawillbequickWhatamItosaytothecreature？Aloudandabruptly。
Milkandsugar？
CAPTGNosugar，tha-anks，andverylittlemilkHa-Hmmm。
MissTAside。Ifhe’sgoingtodothat，I’mlostIshalllaughI
knowIshall！
CAPTGPullingathismoustacheandwatchingitsidewaysdownhisnose。Ha-HammAside。’Wonderwhatthelittlebeastcantalkabout’Mustmakeashotatit。
MissTAside。Oh，thisisagonizingImustsaysomething。
BothTogetherHaveyouBeen-CAPTGIbegyourpardonYouweregoingtosay-MissTWhohasbeenwatchingthemoustachewithawedfascination。Won’tyouhavesomeeggs？
CAPTGLookingbewilderedlyatthetea-table。Eggs！Aside。
OHades！Shemusthaveanursery-teaatthishourS’posethey’vewipedhermouthandsenthertomewhiletheMotherisgettingonherdudsAloud。No，thanks。
MissTCrimsonwithconfusion。Oh！Ididn’tmeanthatI
wasn’tthinkingofmou-eggsforaninstantImeansaltWon’tyouhavesomesa-sweets？Aside。He’llthinkmearavinglunaticI
wishMammawouldcome。
CAPTGAside。Itwasanursery-teaandshe’sashamedofitByJove！Shedoesn’tlookhalfbadwhenshecolorsuplikethat。
Aloud，helpinghimselffromthedish。HaveyouseenthosenewchocolatesatPeliti’s？
MissTNo，ImadethesemyselfWhataretheylike？
CAPTGThese！De-liciousAside。Andthat’safact。
MissTAside。Oh，bother！he’llthinkI’mfishingforcomplimentsAloud。No，Peliti’sofcourse。
CAPTGEnthusiastically。NottocomparewiththeseHowd’youmakethem？Ican’tgetmykhansamahtounderstandthesimplestthingbeyondmuttonandfowl。
MissTYes？I’mnotakhansamah，youknowPerhapsyoufrightenhimYoushouldneverfrightenaservantHeloseshisheadIt’sverybadpolicy。
CAPTGHe’ssoawf’lystupid。
MissTFoldingherhandsinherZap。Youshouldcallhimquietlyandsay：“Okhansamahjee！”
CAPTGGettinginterested。Yes？Aside。Fancythatlittlefeatherweightsaying，“Okhansamahjee“tomybloodthirstyMirKhan！
MissTThenyoushouldexplainthedinner，dishbydish。
CAPTGButIcan’tspeakthevernacular。
MissTPatronizingly。YoushouldpasstheHigherStandardandtry。
CAPTGIhave，butIdon’tseemtobeanythewiserAreyou？
MissTIneverpassedtheHigherStandardButthekhansamahisverypatientwithmeHedoesn’tgetangrywhenItalkaboutsheep’stopees，orordermaundsofgrainwhenImeanseers。
CAPTGAsidewithintenseindignation。I’dliketoseeMirKhanbeingrudetothatgirl！Hullo！SteadytheBuffs！Aloud。Anddoyouunderstandabouthorses，too？
MissTAlittle-notverymuchIcan’tdoctorthem，butIknowwhattheyoughttoeat，andIaminchargeofourstable。
CAPTGIndeed！YoumighthelpmethenWhatoughtamantogivehissaisintheHills？Myruffiansayseightrupees，becauseeverythingissodear。
MissTSixrupeesamonth，andonerupeeSimlaallowance-
neithermorenorlessAndagrass-cutgetssixrupeesThat’sbetterthanbuyinggrassinthebazar。
CAPTGAdmiringly。Howdoyouknow？
MissTIhavetriedbothways。
CAPTGDoyouridemuch，then？I’veneverseenyouontheMall。
MissTAside。Ihaven’tpassedhimmorethanfiftytimes。
Aloud。Nearlyeveryday。
CAPTGByJove！Ididn’tknowthatHa-HammPullsathismousacheandissilentforfortyseconds。MissTDesperately，andwonderingwhatwillhappennext。ItlooksbeautifulI
shouldn’ttouchitifIwereyouAside。It’sallMamma’sfaultfornotcomingbeforeIwillberude！
CAPTGBronzingunderthetanandbringingdownhishandveryquickly。Eh！What-at！Oh，yes！Ha！Ha！Laughsuneasily。
Aside。Well，ofallthedashedcheek！IneverhadawomansaythattomeyetShemustbeacoolhandorelse-Ah！thatnursery-tea！
VOICEPROMTHEUNKNOWNTchk！Tchk！Tchk！
CAPTGGoodgracious！What’sthat？
MissTThedog，IthinkAside。Emmahasbeenlistening，andI’llneverforgiveher！
CAPTGAside。Theydon’tkeepdogshereAloud。’Didn’tsoundlikeadog，didit？
MissTThenitmusthavebeenthe~atLet’sgointotheveranda。
Whatalovelyeveningitis！
StepsintoverandaandlooksoutacrossthehillsintosunsetTheCAPTAINfollows。
CAPTGAside。Superbeyes！IwonderthatInevernoticedthembefore！Aloud。There’sgoingtoheadanceatViceregalLodgeonWednesdayCanyousparemeone？
MissTShortly。No！Idon’twantanyofyourcharity-dances。
YouonlyaskmebecauseMammatoldyoutoIhopandIbump。
YouknowIdo！
CAPTGAside。That’strue，butlittlegirlsshouldn’tunderstandthesethingsAloud。No，onmyword，Idon’tYoudancebeautifully。
MissTThenwhydoyoualwaysstandoutafterhalfadozenturns？IthoughtofficersintheArmydidn’ttellfibs。
CAPTGItwasn’tafib，believemeIreallydowantthepleasureofadancewithyou。
MissTWickedly。Why？Won’tMammadancewithyouanymore？
CAPTGMoreearnestlythanthenecessitydemands。Iwasn’tthinkingofyourMotherAside。Youlittlevixen！
MissTStilllookingoutofthewindow。Eh？Oh，IbegyourpardonIwasthinkingofsomethingelse。
CAPTGAside。Well！Iwonderwhatshe’llsaynextI’veneverknownawomantreatmelikethisbeforeImightb~Dashit，I
mightbeanInfantrysubaltern！Aloud。Oh，pleasedon’ttrouble。
I’mnotworththinkingaboutIsn’tyourMotherreadyyet？
MissTIshouldthinkso；butpromiseme，CaptainGamsby，youwon’ttakepoordearMammatwiceroundJakkoanymoreIttiresherso。
CAPTGShesaysthatnoexercisetiresher。
MissTYes，butshesuffersafterwardYoudon’tknowwhatrheumatismis，andyououghtn’ttokeepheroutsolate，whenitgetschillintheevenings。
CAPTGAside。RheumatismIthoughtshecameoffherhorseratherinabunchWhew！OnelivesandlearnsAloud。I’msorrytohearthatShehasn’tmentionedittome。
MissTFlurried。Ofcoursenot！PoordearMammaneverwould。
Andyoumustn’tsaythatItoldyoueitherPromisemethatyouwon’tOh，CAPTAINGamsby，promisemeyouwon’tI
CAPTGIamdumb，or-Ishallbeassoonasyou’vegivenmethatdance，andanother-ifyoucantroubleyourselftothinkaboutmeforaminute。
MissTButyouwon’tlikeitonelittlebitYou’llbeawfullysorryafterward。
CAPTGIshalllikeitaboveallthings，andIshallonlybesorrythatIdidn’tgetmoreAside。NowwhatintheworldamI
saying？
MissTVerywellYouwillhaveonlyyourselftothankifyourtoesaretroddenonShallwesaySeven？
CAPTGAndElevenAside。Shecan’tbemorethaneightstone，but，eventhen，it’sanabsurdlysmallfootLooksathisownridingboots。
MissTThey’rebeautifullyshinyIcanalmostseemyfaceinthem。
CAPTGIwasthinkingwhetherIshouldhavetogooncrutchesfortherestofmylifeifyoutrodonmytoes。
MissTVerylikelyWhynotchangeElevenforasquare？
CAPTGNo，please！IwantthembothwaltzesWon’tyouwritethemdown？
MissTJdon’tgetsomanydancesthatIshallconfusethemYouwillbetheoffender。
CAPTGWaitandsee！Aside。Shedoesn’tdanceperfectly，perhaps，butMissTYourteamusthavegotcoldbythistimeWon’tyouhaveanothercup？
CAPTGNo，thanksDon’tyouthinkit’spleasanteroutintheveranda？Aside。IneversawhairtakethatcolorinthesunshinebeforeAloud。It’slikeoneofDicksee’spictures。
MissTYesIIt’sawonderfulsunset，isn’tit？Bluntly。ButwhatdoyouknowaboutDicksee’spictures？
CAPTGIgoHomeoccasionallyAndIusedtoknowtheGalleriesNervously。Youmustn’tthinkmeonlyaPhilistinewith-amoustache。
MissTDon’t！Pleasedon’tI’msosorryforwhatIsaidthenIwashorriblyrudeItslippedoutbeforejthoughtDon’tyouknowthetemptationtosayfrightfulandshockingthingsjustforthemeresakeofsayingthem？I’mafraidIgavewaytoit。
CAPTGWatchingthegirlassheflushes。IthinkIknowthefeelingItwouldbeterribleifweallyieldedtoit，wouldn’tit？Forinstance，Imightsay-POORDEARMAMMAEntering，habited，hatted，andbooted。Ah，CaptainGamsby？’Sorrytokeepyouwaiting’Hopeyouhaven’tbeenbored’Mylittlegirlbeentalkingtoyou？
MissTAside。I’mnotsorryIspokeabouttherheumatismI’mnot！I’mNOT！IonlywishedI’dmentionedthecornstoo。
CAPTGAside。Whatashame！IwonderhowoldsheisItneveroccurredtomebeforeAloud。We’vebeendiscussing“Shakespeareandthemusicalglasses“intheveranda。