_bukh_!"

"I don't know what that means--but I'll be glad of lunch, and more glad
of a bit of a jaw!"

"Now, tell me all about yourself, Douglas," said his schoolfellow, as
they sat _vis-à-vis_ in the marble hall. "You don't look particularly
chirpy. Still in the office?"

"Yes--I expect to live and die there."

"Poor old boy--and doing work you hate!"

"Oh, I'm getting used to it now. I shall manage to hang on."

"And Mrs. Shafto--how is she?"

"As usual--going strong. We live in the same boarding-house."

"'Umph! Well, let me tell you this--you are in the black books at
home. I hear you refuse all invitations and make monstrous excuses."

"You know I'd love to go down to 'Tremenheere,' but how can I? My time
is not my own, and I only got a week's holiday in August and three days
at Christmas. There's nothing to tell about my career--let's hear
yours?"

Thus invited, Geoffrey, a gay young officer in a crack regiment, broke
into short and vivid descriptions of Indian quarters, polo matches, and
capital black-buck shooting in the Central Provinces, and gave a full