occasional trouble brewed when ignorant
and superstitious minds were played upon by malcontents.

Ten minutes' grace was allowed to Mrs. Meredith--no more--and Mr. Bright
offered his arm to Mrs. Barrington Fox and led the way to the
dining-room. Mr. Barrington Fox was seldom to be persuaded into
accepting Station hospitalities; and usually made the time-worn excuse,
as on the present occasion, of inspection duty on the line. The Station,
however, understood it to mean that he had ceased to find pleasure in
his wife's company and was determined not to be victimised.

The dining-room at the Brights' was a large apartment, whitewashed like
a hospital ward, but redeemed by hunting pictures on the walls, graceful
drapery, and good furniture. A _punkha_ with a mat frill hung motionless
overhead, as weather conditions were sufficiently altered to dispense
with an artificial breeze; and the dining table beneath it presented an
inviting aspect with its glittering mass of silver, glass, and flowers.
A draught-screen concealed the door of ingress from the pantry where the
business of serving was carried on by the _khansaman_ assisted by a
group of white-robed domestics. Agitated whispers from behind the screen
were infallible indications of mistakes retrieved in the nick of time;
otherwise, the occasional blow of the ice hammer, or the rolling of the
ice machine on the outer door-mat were the only sounds audible from the
dining-room.

Mrs. Bright, full of confidence in her staff and indifferent to mistakes
which were not inexcusable, showed a complete detachment from the
details of serving while she entertained her guests.

A little reshuffling of the order of precedence, when Mrs. Meredith's
non-appearance was assured, had disposed of Tommy Deare to his entire
satisfaction. Left to shift for himself he moved to the other side of
Honor Bright whom Jack Darling had piloted in. He was a plain,
freckle-faced boy of twenty-two with plenty to say for himself, and a
most engaging smile. In height he was on a level with Honor who was
considered tall; yet, to his disgust, he was referred to as a "little
man." But since it was recognised that "valuable goods are packed in
small parcels," he assured his friends of his inestimable worth, and was
comforted.

"Mrs. Meredith is too absurd about that kid of hers," Mrs. Fox was heard
to remark in the first hush that fell with the arrival of the soup.
"Isn't it the baby who is ill tonight?"