rom Madras had been unpacked, and
this was strewn about the drawing-room and sleeping apartments without
the least attempt at arrangement. The Bungalow had been originally a
very handsome one, but from indolence and carelessness had been allowed
to fall into a partially dilapidated state. The only covering to the
floors of the large, handsome apartments was the common matting of the
country. The same was the case in the broad and spacious verandahs, up
to which the rank vegetation of the compound--for garden there was
none--spread their creeping fibres in wild luxuriance. But her ladyship
offered no ungracious remark on the state of things, but simply
requested her husband to summon the whole of the servants and, in her
presence, inform them that she was their mistress, and to be obeyed in
everything, without remark or hesitation. This was done, and in
forty-eight hours she had completely revolutionized the whole
establishment.

Fifty of the plantation hands were employed in clearing up the compound,
forming a garden and a lawn, while the edges of the verandah were lined
with pots of the most magnificent plants and fragrant flowers that could
be obtained, and before she had been in her new home one week,
everything was in complete order.

She had heard it reported previous to her leaving the capital that Sir
Lexicon had several native mistresses at his different plantations, and
by her ayah or lady's maid, a Madrasse who could speak English, these
stories were confirmed, and she determined to govern herself
accordingly, fully believing that her husband would have the good sense
to remove any such persons as might be at the Bungalow in Pallamcotta
before her arrival. Caring nothing personally for Sir Lexicon, it gave
her little or no concern whether he chose to keep native ladies at the
other plantations or not, but she certainly did not intend that any of
them should reside under the same roof with herself, therefore she was
much annoyed and disgusted to find that her husband had not thought it
necessary to give any orders concerning their removal, and she had only
been a few days at Pallamcotta, when she learned that there were three
Circassian beauties sumptuously cared for and absolutely residing in
apartments fitted up for them; though not actually in the Bungalow, they
communicated with it by means of a short covered way leading from the
back drawing-room.

Taking advantage of Sir Lexicon's absence shortly after