ith him, and
unless he has improved since then, I am sure I have no wish to renew his
acquaintance."

"I like him very much," the Major said shortly; "he is great friends
with Dr. Wade, who has the very highest opinion of him, and I believe he
is generally considered to be one of the most rising young officers of
his grade."

"Oh, I have nothing to say against him," Captain Forster said; "but he
was a poor creature at school, and I do not think that there was any
love lost between us. Did you know him before you came here?"

"I only met him at the last races in Cawnpore," the Major said; "he was
stopping with the Doctor."

"Quite a character, Wade."

Isobel's tongue was untied now.

"I think he is one of the kindest and best gentlemen I ever met," the
girl said hotly; "he took care of me coming out here, and no one could
have been kinder than he was."

"I have no doubt he is all that," Captain Forster said gently; "still he
is a character, Miss Hannay, taking the term character to mean a person
who differs widely from other people. I believe he is very skillful in
his profession, but I take it he is a sort of Abernethy, and tells the
most startling truths to his patients."

"That I can quite imagine," Isobel said; "the Doctor hates humbug of
all sorts, and I don't think I should like to call him in myself for an
imaginary ailment."

"I rather put my foot in it there," Captain Forster said to himself, as
he sauntered back to his tent. "The Major didn't like my saying anything
against Bathurst, and the girl did not like my remark about the Doctor.
I wonder whether she objected also to what I said about that fellow
Bathurst--a sneaking little hound he was, and there is no doubt about
his showing the white feather in the Punjaub. However, I don't think
that young lady is of the sort to care about a coward, and if she asks
any questions, as I dare say she will, after what I have said, she will
find that the story is a true one. What a pretty little thing she is!
I did not see a prettier face all the time I was at home. What with her
and Mrs. Doolan, time is not likely to hang so heavily here as I had
expected."

The Major, afraid that Isobel might ask him some questions about this
story of Bathurst leaving the army, went off hastily as soon as Captain
Forster had left. Isobel sat impatiently tapping the floor with her
foot, awaiting the Doctor, who usually came for half an hour's chat in
the afternoon.

"Well