he city as
well as the music and dancing in the rooms behind her.

"Yes," she said with a smile, for he appeared to take it for granted,
as others had done, that they had no brilliant social functions in
Montreal. "I think I do; but when you have so much of it, the thing
seems a little aimless, doesn't it?"

"Aimless?" inquired Kinnaird, who appeared to ponder over this until a
light broke in on him. "Well," he admitted, "I suppose it is. Still,
what else could half of them do?"

Ida laughed good-humoredly; and the man made a little expostulatory
gesture.

"I generally avoid any discussions of that kind. They never lead to
anything," he said. "I was wondering whether you could learn to like
London as well as Montreal?"

"I don't know," replied Ida, in her most matter-of-fact manner.

"Oh," said her companion, "it seems a senseless question, but I want
to explain. I have been offered an opportunity to go away--to do
something--very soon. I should be away two years, at least; and as the
notice is a short one, I have practically to make up my mind
to-night."

It almost appeared that he had expected Ida to show some sign of
interest, or, perhaps, concern, but none was perceptible.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To a colony in tropical Africa. They want somebody to hammer a native
levy into shape and keep the niggers in some kind of order."

"Don't they have fever there?"

"I believe it isn't a particularly salubrious place," said Kinnaird,
smiling, "but that kind of thing affects only some constitutions, and
it makes promotion quicker."

Ida, who had perused a good many works of travel, knew a little about
the fevers that afflict the country in question. In fact, she fancied
that she knew more than the man did; but his careless indifference to
the personal hazard pleased her. She noticed that he had spoken
naturally, as he felt, without any idea of producing an effect on her.

"What is the result of that kind of work?" she asked.

"The result?" queried Kinnaird, with a puzzled air. "A battalion of
thick-headed niggers with some slight knowledge of civilized drill,
and, perhaps, a few stockades blown up in the bush."

Then, as he saw the half-veiled amusement in her eyes, a light seemed
to break in on him.

"If one managed the thing efficiently, it would, perhaps, lead to the
offer of a second-rate semi-administrative post somewhere else in the
tropics, though I believe the emoluments are not what