learn. As far as I can see, everything is perfect just as it is.
This is a charming room, and I am sure there is no fault to be
found with the arrangement of these flowers on the table. As for
the cooking, everything looks very nice, and anyhow, if you have
not been able to get them to cook to your taste, it is of no use
my attempting anything in that way. Besides, I suppose I must learn
something of the language before I can attempt to do anything. No,
uncle, I will sit in this chair if you like, and make tea and pour
it out, but that is the beginning and the end of my assumption of
the head of the establishment at present."

"Well, Isobel, I hardly expected that you were going to run the
establishment just at first; indeed, as far as that goes, one's
butler, if he is a good man, has pretty well a free hand. He is
generally responsible, and is in fact what we should call at home
housekeeper--he and the cook between them arrange everything.
I say to him, 'Three gentlemen are coming to tiffen.' He nods and
says 'Atcha, sahib,' which means 'All right, sir,' and then I know
it will be all right. If I have a fancy for any special thing, of
course I say so. Otherwise, I leave it to them, and if the result
is not satisfactory, I blow up. Nothing can be more simple."

"But how about bills, uncle?"

"Well, my dear, the butler gives them to me, and I pay them. He
has been with me a good many years, and will not let the others--
that is to say, the cook and the syce, the washerman, and so on,
cheat me beyond a reasonable amount. Do you, Rumzan?"

Rumzan, who was standing behind the Major's chair, in a white turban