hink so," cried the lad, as he handed the
little one back to its mother, who said a few words in her own tongue to
the Doctor, and then turned to the two ladies, and after bowing to them
with native grace, bent low to Archie, gave him a grateful look, and
walked slowly away.

"Oh, you young humbug!" growled the Doctor.

"Why?" said Archie warmly.

"Just to show off before my wife and Minnie. I believe you were
growling all the time and calling it a dirty little nigger."

"That I wasn't! I don't mind babies when they are as big as that."

"No--don't _mind_," said the Doctor sarcastically.

"And I didn't call it a little nigger. I was wishing there was some
sugar near.--Oh, I say, doesn't your durian smell?"

"Horrid!" exclaimed Minnie.

"All right, my dear," said the Doctor. "I can bear it. But you will
come down some day, my lady."

"Never, uncle!"

"We shall see," said the Doctor. "My word, what a beauty!--Here,
Archie, drop in this evening and help me to have it for dessert."

"I'm sure Archie won't touch the nasty thing, uncle."

"Oh, won't I?" cried the lad. "Only too glad of the chance."

Minnie made a grimace and turned away, but turned back directly on
hearing Archie's next words:

"I say, Doctor, that woman shows how the people here like you."

"Well, yes," said the gentleman addressed, "I suppose they do feel a
little obliged; but I don't think they care much."

"Oh, uncle," cried Minnie, "I am sure they do. See how pleased that
boatman was--that man who came up to you out of the sampan, and who
brought us that fish afterwards. Why, I believe that he would have done
anything for you."

"I believed once that he was going to do something for me, my dear."

"Now, don't talk nonsense, my dear," said Mrs Morley. "I told you not
to talk about that."

"You did, Mary. But it was an awkward position; wasn't it, Minnie?"

"I agree with aunt, uncle, that a lot of it was invention."

"Oh, it wasn't invention, Archie. It was an awful position for a poor
surgeon."

"I haven't heard anything about this," said Archie.

"Well, it was like this, my boy. He was about one of the biggest and
fiercest fellows that I have seen here. There was only one good thing
about him: he could speak bad English. He came up here one day and
tried to make me understand that he was in terrible pain. But that was
plain enough, for as soon as he was in my room he began stamping about,
pointing to his mouth