y. The Maitlands and
the Pomeroys had also invited her to May Myo, but Mrs. Gregory overbore
all competition and insisted that she must have Sophy as a companion to
share her bungalow and accompany her songs, and departed in triumph,
carrying the girl with her.

Mrs. Krauss attended her niece to the railway station, loaded her with
books and fruit and saw her off with urgent and affectionate
injunctions and many kisses. During the last few months Mrs. Krauss
appeared to have become a transformed person; she went about
continually in her smart new car, was seen at dances, little dinners
and the theatre, and had recovered a faint shadow of her former good
looks and something of her old animation.

Herr Krauss naturally attributed this change to her niece, and showed
his gratitude to Sophy in various abrupt ways, suffering her to mix
with the English society without sneers or interference. Sophy did not
now see so much of the German community; she was aware that Mrs. Muller
and others no longer approved of her, and Frau Wurm had said openly,
"that although the girl had done her best to learn how to keep a house,
her heart had never been in the business and she was not
_schwaermerisch_ to German people or German ways!"

* * * * * *

Whilst Sophy Leigh had been enjoying herself at May Myo, among the
green hills and soft airs of Upper Burma, Shafto, in the oppressive
sultry heat, had had some pleasant and unpleasant experiences.

The pleasant experience was that his salary had been raised. Now he
could afford to buy another horse and keep a _tum-tum_; with a heavier
purse he was able to send home some well-chosen and handsome
presents--a China crepe shawl for Mrs. Malone, ivory carvings to the
Tebbs, an Indian _chuddah_ to his aunt and a heavy gold bangle for each
of the girls. Unfortunately one gift to "Monte Carlo" had a dire and
unexpected result--it brought him a deluge of letters from Cossie, who
was rapturous over his promotion and "his beautiful, exquisite,
_darling_ gift," which she wore on her arm day and night!

"I felt sure you had _not_ forgotten me," was her ominous opening; "you
could not; there is a secret telepathy between us, and I am _always_
thinking of you, dear old boy."

Several mails later there arrived a letter from Sandy, the contents of
which almost made his cousin's hair stand on end. After one or two
preliminary sentences, Shafto's eyes fell upon these l