'And I like it. If it wasn't for the governor's fun, and the tamarinds,
and something else that I know of, I would run off to India. I hate
stifling rooms, and sick people, and the smell of drugs, and the stink
of pills on my hands;--faugh!'




CHAPTER V

CALF-LOVE


One day, for some reason or other, Mr. Gibson came home unexpectedly.
He was crossing the hall, having come in by the garden-door--the garden
communicated with the stable-yard, where he had left his horse--when
the kitchen door opened, and the girl who was underling in the
establishment, came quickly into the hall with a note in her hand, and
made as if she was taking it upstairs; but on seeing her master she
gave a little start, and turned back as if to hide herself in the
kitchen. If she had not made this movement, so conscious of guilt, Mr.
Gibson, who was anything but suspicious, would never have taken any
notice of her. As it was, he stepped quickly forwards, opened the
kitchen door, and called out, 'Bethia' so sharply that she could not
delay coming forwards.

'Give me that note,' he said. She hesitated a little.

'It's for Miss Molly,' she stammered out.