rly those who
are most afraid of it."

"But it's only in Bombay?" Lady Meadowcroft cried, clutching at the
last straw. I could see she was registering a mental determination to go
straight up-country the moment she landed.

"Not a bit of it!" the Captain answered, with provoking cheerfulness.
"Rampaging about like a roaring lion all over India!"

Lady Meadowcroft's thumb must have suffered severely. The nails dug into
it as if it were someone else's.

Half an hour later, as we were on deck in the cool of the evening, the
thing was settled. "My wife," Sir Ivor said, coming up to us with a
serious face, "has delivered her ultimatum. Positively her ultimatum.
I've had a mort o' trouble with her, and now she's settled. EITHER, she
goes back from Bombay by the return steamer; OR ELSE--you and Miss
Wade must name your own terms to accompany us on our tour, in case of
emergencies." He glanced wistfully at Hilda. "DO you think you can help
us?"

Hilda made no hypocritical pretence of hanging back. Her nature was
transparent. "If you wish it, yes," she answered, shaking hands upon the
bargain. "I only want to go about and see India; I can see it quite
as well with Lady Meadowcroft as without her--and even better. It is
unpleasant for a woman to travel unattached. I require a chaperon, and
am glad to find one. I will join your party, paying my own hotel and
travelling expenses, and considering myself as engaged in case your wife
should need my services. For that, you can pay me, if you like, some
nominal retaining fee--five pounds or anything. The money is immaterial
to me. I like to be useful, and I sympathise with nerves; but it may
make your wife feel she is really keeping a hold over me if we put the
arrangement on a business basis. As a matter of fact, whatever sum
she chooses to pay, I shall hand it over at once to the Bombay Plague
Hospital."

Sir Ivor looked relieved. "Thank you ever so much!" he said, wringing
her hand warmly. "I thowt you were a brick, and now I know it. My wife
says your face inspires confidence, and your voice sympathy. She MUST
have you with her. And you, Dr. Cumberledge?"

"I follow Miss Wade's lead," I answered, in my most solemn tone, with
an impressive bow. "I, too, am travelling for instruction and amusement
only; and if it would give Lady Meadowcroft a greater sense of security
to have a duly qualified practitioner in her suite, I shall be glad on
the same terms to swell your party. I