s looking at it hungrily--I mean
thirstily," he added quickly.

He filled the glass after the fashion of Dickens's butler, trying to
froth it up with a heading of sparkling beads.

"May I drink this, Doctor?" said Archie.

"Drink it? Of course! You are one of my patients still."

"Thanks. But ladies first.--Here, Mrs Smithers; you look tired and
hot. I will have the next glass."

"No, sir, please," said the woman firmly. "You want it worse than I
do."

"Don't waste time," said the Doctor sternly. "Drink the water, my lad."

The deliciously cool draught trickled down Archie's throat till the
bottom of the glass became top.

"De-licious," he said.

The Doctor took the glass, filled it, emptied it, smacked his lips, and
then refilled and handed it to Mrs Smithers.

"Your turn, nurse," he said. "Then take the can and go all round, and
finish off by taking a glass up to the Frenchman."

"Ah, I was looking round, sir, for him," said Archie.

"Yes, I am getting too full here, my lad. I have had him carried up to
that room where Pegg's on duty."

"Oh, I'm going there, sir, and I shall see him."

"One moment, Duchess; half a glass, please. I feel like a volcanic
cinder.--As you say, my lad--de-licious," he continued, as he handed
back the glass. "I am proud of that water, and so you ought to be."

"I am, Doctor."

"That's all due to me, sir. When we first came--you know the Major's
way--`Nonsense,' he said. `There will be three hundred idle men here
with nothing to do, and they can fetch as much water as we want for the
day's supply from the river.' And I said, `No. In a hot country like
this I want my men to have good, pure, sparkling well water, and not to
be forced to drink croc and campong drainage soup. I want a thoroughly
good well dug by an engineering company.' I got it, too, just when he
was red-hot over his idea for a magazine. And now, sir, there's my
well, always full of that delicious spring water that will do the men
more good than any medicine I can exhibit; and where's his magazine?
You tell me that."

"If he were here, Doctor, he'd tell you that he'd rather have the
magazine intact than the well."

"Never mind. I've got the water."

"Yes, Doctor. But how's Mrs Morley?"

"Ah, poor dear soul!" replied the Doctor, and his eyes looked moist.
"Worked to death, thank goodness!"

"Thank goodness?" said Archie wonderingly.

"Yes, my lad. It keeps her from thinking and fre