in society; but out here it is certainly not so among the women
--they stand upon their husband's dignity in a way that would be
pitiable if it were not exasperating. Of course, there are plenty
of good women among them, as there are everywhere--women whom
even India can't spoil; but what with exclusiveness, and with the
amount of admiration and adulation they get, and what with the
want of occupation for their thoughts and minds, it is very hard
for them to avoid getting spoilt."

"Well, I hope I shan't get spoilt, Doctor; and I hope, if you see
that I am getting spoilt, you will make a point of telling me so
at once."

The Doctor grunted. "Theoretically, people are always ready to receive
good advice, Miss Hannay; practically they are always offended by
it. However, in your case I will risk it, and I am bound to say
that hitherto you have proved yourself more amenable in that way
than most young women I have come across."

"And now, if we have done, we will go out on the veranda," the
Major said. "I am sure the Doctor must be dying for a cheroot."

"The Doctor has smoked pretty continuously since we left Allahabad,"
Isobel said. "He wanted to sit up with the driver, but, of course,
I would not have that. I had got pretty well accustomed to smoke
coming out, and even if I had not been I would much rather have
been almost suffocated than have been in there by myself. I thought
a dozen times the vehicle was going to upset, and what with the
bumping and the shouting and the cracking of the whip--especially
when the horses wouldn't start, which was generally the case at