o. At least it is never insincere."

"Of that I am sure." Mrs. Ralston spoke with ready kindliness. "But, oh,
my dear, if it were only a little more charitable!"

Netta Ermsted smiled at her like a wayward child. "I like saying nasty
things about people," she said. "It amuses me. Besides, they're nearly
always true. Do tell me what you think of that latest hat erection of
Lady Harriet's! I never saw her look more aristocratically hideous in my
life than she looked at the Rajah's garden-party yesterday. I felt quite
sorry for the Rajah, for he's a nice boy notwithstanding his forty
wives, and he likes pretty things." She gave a little laugh, and
stretched her white arms up, clasping her hands behind her head. "I have
promised to ride with him in the early mornings now and then. Won't
darling Dick be jealous when he knows?"

Mrs. Ralston uttered a sigh. There were times when all her attempts to
reform this giddy little butterfly seemed unavailing. Nevertheless,
being sound of principle and unfailingly conscientious, she made a
gallant effort. "Do you think you ought to do that, dear? I always think
that we ought to live more circumspectly here at Bhulwana than down at
Kurrumpore. And--if I may be allowed to say so--your husband is such a
good, kind man, so indulgent, it seems unfair to take advantage of it."

"Oh, is he?" laughed Netta. "How ill you know my doughty Richard! Why,
it's half the fun in life to make him mad. He nearly turned me over his
knee and spanked me the last time."

"My dear, I wish he had!" said Mrs. Ralston, with downright fervour. "It
would do you good."

"Think so?" Netta flicked the ash from her cigarette with a disdainful
gesture. "It all depends. I should either worship him or loath him
afterwards. I wonder which. Poor old Richard! It's silly of him to stay
in love with the same person always, isn't it? I couldn't be so
monotonous if I tried."

"In fact if he cared less about you, you would think more of him,"
remarked Mrs. Ralston, with a quite unusual touch of severity.

Netta Ermsted laughed again, her light, heartless laugh. "How crushingly
absolute! But it is the literal truth. I certainly should. He's cheap
now, poor old boy. That's why I lead him such a dog's life. A man should
never be cheap to his wife. Now look at your husband! Indifference
personified! And you have never given him an hour's anxiety in his
life."

Mrs. Ralston's pale blue eyes suddenly shone. She looked almos