in the hills, and her efforts
were warmly supported by Mr. Krauss, but his wife made no reply--she
merely beamed and shook her head. Eloquence and persuasion were
wasted. He and Sophy might just as well have appealed to the alabaster
Buddha in the drawing-room. Flora Krauss never argued--possibly this
was one phase of her indolent nature. She merely assumed an immovable,
negative attitude and met every suggestion with a smile and a shake of
the head.

Sophy had no desire to leave Rangoon; she protested that she had only
been out seven months and really required no change; but her appeal was
silenced by the voice of authority.

"My dear child," said her aunt, "you've no idea what you would be like
in three months' time. I am hardened and acclimatised, but your nice
complexion would soon take leave, never to return. You would be
covered with hideous spots and you would probably get fever. Mrs.
Gregory is most anxious for your company and _I_ am equally anxious for
your departure. You will have a very good time up at May Myo and go
you must!"

Sophy had no alternative and was compelled to obey orders.

"I shall miss you most dreadfully, my dear," said her aunt; "it is so
nice to have you flitting about the house, not to speak of your
vivacious company and delicious music. Your music is really wonderful;
it seems to exorcise an evil spirit that gives me no peace."

"Oh, Aunt Flora," expostulated the girl, "how can you say such things?
Surely you don't believe in evil spirits?"

"But, my dear child, how can I help it when I live in a country where
millions of people worship and fear them?"

"Those are only ignorant natives; you would not allow their
superstitions to affect you."

"Well, at any rate, your playing uplifts and soothes me; I can't
imagine how you inherited this gift; your mother was not particularly
musical, nor was I. I recollect my misery as a girl in struggling
through 'The Harmonious Blacksmith,' and I never remember hearing that
we had any musical genius in the family. Of course, the natives here
would find an easy answer and say that you had been a great musician in
another incarnation."

On hearing this solemn explanation Sophy burst into peals of laughter,
at which rejoinder Mrs. Krauss looked both shocked and hurt and, after
an awkward silence, the subject dropped.

And so, in spite of Sophy's efforts to remain in Rangoon, she was
figuratively driven into the arms of Mrs. Gregor