ers commanded the respect of the entire
establishment.

The subject of the little lady from _Belait_ was a favourite theme of
conversation when domestics congregated in the region of the kitchen to
gossip and smoke, and criticism was condescending and tolerant because
of her good looks, which made their inevitable appeal. But opinion was
agreed that no longer was Meredith Sahib the same man. Henceforth, if
they would keep their situations, they must satisfy his lady. Her little
hand would point the way he must in future tread.

And he, the respected Magistrate and Collector, representative of the
Government in the District--a sahib whose word had authority over
thousands on the land, and before whom all delinquents trembled!

Such was the influence of beauty!

According to the words of a local poet who sang his verses in the
Muktiarbad bazaar to an accompaniment of tom-tomming:

_A beautiful wife is as wine in the head to her husband; as wax is
in the palm of her hand.
His wisdom cometh to naught in his dwelling; his will is bartered
for the things in her gift.
Beguiled is he by the words of her mouth, and he taketh only the way
that will please her.
Bereft is he of his power to govern, yet happy is he in the bonds of
enslavement._

And these did he compose out of the rumours current in the market-place
respecting Meredith Sahib and the Memsahib he had taken to wife. _Yah,
Khodah!_ the white race were amazingly simple!

The sound of an infant's distressed wail broke the calm of the
descending gloom. Voices within the tent conferred together in agitated
whispers. There was a call for hot water, and in a moment the Madrassi
ayah rushed forth for the steaming kettle which was boiling for scullery
needs, and carried it off without a question. The waterman, clad only in
a loin-cloth, hurried round to the bath tent, and a diminutive, tin
bath-tub was extracted. Apparently the child was to be immersed.

"What has happened?" called the Sahib's body servant, the _bearer_, who
was the major-domo of the camp. But the waterman, fully appreciative of
his temporary importance, refused to reply as he disappeared from view.

"Ice--ice!" the lady cried dashing through the bamboo chick and almost
tearing it from its fastenings. "Give me ice quickly." She looked
haggard and distracted. Dark circles ringed her eyes; her sleeves rolled
above the elbows revealed rounded arms from