difficult part of your work, to snub and keep in order the young
officers of our own and other corps."

Isobel laughed. "That doesn't sound a very difficult programme,
uncle, except the last item; I have already had a little experience
that way, haven't I, Doctor? I hope I shall have the benefit of
your assistance in the future, as I had aboard the ship."

"I will do my best," the Doctor said grimly; "but the British
subaltern is pretty well impervious to snubs; he belongs to the
pachydermatous family of animals; his armor of self conceit renders
him invulnerable against the milder forms of raillery. However, I
think you can be trusted to hold your own with him, Miss Hannay,
without much assistance from the Major or myself. Your real difficulty
will lie rather in your struggle against the united female forces
of the station."

"But why shall I have to struggle with them?" Isobel asked, in
surprise, while her uncle broke into a laugh.

"Don't frighten her, Doctor."

"She is not so easily frightened, Major; it is just as well that
she should be prepared. Well, my dear Miss Hannay, Indian society
has this peculiarity, that the women never grow old. At least,"
he continued, in reply to the girl's look of surprise, "they are
never conscious of growing old. At home a woman's family grows up
about her, and are constant reminders that she is becoming a matron.
Here the children are sent away when they get four or five years
old, and do not appear on the scene again until they are grown