"Don't be ill natured, Doctor," the Major broke in. "Mrs. Roberts,
my dear, is a good-looking woman, and a general flirt. I don't think
there is any harm in her whatever. Mrs. Prothero, the Adjutant's
wife, has only been out here eighteen months, and is a pretty little
woman, and in all respects nice.-There is only one other, Mrs.
Scarsdale; she came out six months ago. She is a quiet young woman,
with, I should say, plenty of common sense: I should think you will
like her. That completes the regimental list."

"Well, that is not so very formidable. Anyhow, it is a. comfort
that we shall have no one here today."

"You will have the whole regiment here in a few minutes, Isobel,
but they will be coming to see the Doctor, not you; if it hadn't
been that they knew you were under his charge everyone would have
come down to meet him when he arrived. But if you feel tired, as
I am sure you must be after your journey, there is no reason why
you shouldn't go and lie down quietly for a few hours."

"I will stop here, uncle; it will be much less embarrassing to see
them all for the first time when they come to see Dr. Wade and I am
quite a secondary consideration, than if they had to come specially
to call on me."

"Well, I agree with you there, my dear. Ah! here come Doolan and
Prothero."

A light trap drove into the inclosure and drew up in front of the
veranda, and two officers jumped down,-whilst the syce, who had
been standing on a step behind, ran to the horse's head. They hailed