is Highness the
Rajah of Dah, in whose capital you stand. My dear, Mr Murray and his
nephew have kindly consented to take tiffin with us."

"You are very kind," said Murray, hesitating.

"No apologies are necessary," said the elder of the two ladies, rather a
yellow, quick-spoken body; and she made as if to take the newcomer's
arm. "We are only too glad to see a fresh face--a white one, are we
not, Amy?"

"Indeed we are, mamma," said the bright-looking girl addressed, and in a
half-amused way, she took Ned's arm as her father went on in front.

"I little thought of seeing English visitors," she continued. "Shall I
be impertinent if I ask why you have come so far?"

"Oh no!" said Ned rather brusquely, for he resented the questioning.
"Uncle and I have come up on a sporting and natural history trip. We
are going on directly."

"Indeed! Then the rajah has given you leave?"

"What rajah? The man here?"

"Yes," said the girl, smiling.

"Oh no! We did not know it was necessary. Uncle will ask him then, I
suppose. Does he call it his property?"

The girl looked round at him in surprise,--

"Oh yes; he is the rajah or prince of the country."

"Yes; but I thought all this belonged to the Queen."

"Well, I suppose it does, but our prince here thinks he is as important
a person as the queen of England, and does exactly as he likes."

"Oh!"

"You must recollect that we are a very very long way from Singapore
here, and, excepting what he has been told of England and her power, the
rajah knows very little about our country, and laughs at my father as if
he were telling him romances when he talks of our army and ships of
war."

"He must be awfully conceited, then."

"He is," said the girl laughing. "I believe he thinks he is the
greatest monarch upon earth."

"Then you are the only English people here?"

"Oh no. We have Mr and Mrs Braine and their son, and Mr and Mrs
Greig."

"Who are they?"

"Mr Braine is a gentleman papa recommended to the rajah. He wanted
some one to advise him and help him to introduce English customs, and to
drill his army. Mr Greig is a merchant who lives here to purchase the
produce of the country to send down to Singapore. You will see them, I
daresay, for they are sure to come in as soon as they know that you are
here."

"It all seems very funny. I thought we were coming into quite a wild
place where there were elephants and tigers, and great snakes and birds
that