and mistress easily got ague. And then appeared our mistress how beautiful she looked!

I had never seen her so superbly dressed. She wore a white satin gown, cut low at the edge, bordered and embroidered with gold silk. A beautiful chain encircled her throat: from it was suspended a magnificent diamond pendant. Gems sparkled in the lobes of her small ears, and in the knot of ribbon which seemed to loop up the puffs of her waved hair. A spray of mauve orchids reposed upon her bosom. How splendid she appeared, and master was evidently quite proud of her he handed her respectfully into the coach, and ayah arranged dress and woollen shawls. Then master stepped into the carriage, slammed the door to, and off they went. Why Krishna, you look dazed!" laughed ayah.

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"What diamonds!" I gasped. In truth it was my lady whom I admired and not the costly gems; but I was too shy and reverent to say so. To praise her would have been absurd impertinence on my part: therefore I lauded the

dazzling jewels.

Missie was long ere this fast asleep in bed, so Martin and his wife seated themselves upon the back verandah and invited me to take my supper with them. Butler threw aside his coat and turban, and I followed suit: ayah girded up her long dress and took off her shoes.

"We shall see the fireworks later on from here," said she. He must be a great soldier-this general: see what a fuss they make about him: to-morrow will be durbar. I shall take Missie to it. These rockets won't go off till ten o'clock: so, chokra, you can sleep when you have supped, and I'll awaken you in good time."

I thanked ayah. Both she and butler were very kind to me and I was grateful. Cook-matey now brought forward our evening meal of curry and rice, bringing it in a covered pan from the kitchen which was separated from the bungalow by a covered way. Lights twinkled in the servants' quarters: a grotesque shadow of cook danced on the wall behind the chatty which held the sitting hen.

Matey poured curry into one bowl and rice into another. Ayah portioned out the mess: we dipped our fingers in and partook it was excellent.

"Missus reminds me of Captain Walker's bride up in Bombay," observed ayah presently. "You remember, Martin?" He shook his head and sighed; then muttered: "bad luck to say so, Martha !"

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Who was she?" I asked boldly: I perceived that Martin's wife had a tale to tell, and wished to keep awake by reciting it: the butler's head nodded already.

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a

"She was our mistress," answered the native woman, very young and very pretty lady. She came out from England to be his bride, and Captain Walker engaged Martin and me as servants. She was very simple and had no sort of pride. It was a pity she was not a regular Christian, but belonged to the Brahmo-Somaj. Brahmins and English people are united in it, and she told me she joined the sect somewhere in London: but only un-casted Hindus take part in such kind of worship. Captain Walker was of yet another faith but what it was I know not: he never went to any church. There are many different kinds of beliefs among those whom we somehow call Christians. But this is not my story, and, as you are a heathen chokra, to talk of religion to you is as foolish as if one spoke English to an ape or buffalo. You would only understand as much, or less, than they! Well; Captain Walker was a few years older than his lady, just as our master here is plenty older than our mistress. At first she was very gay and happy, going to dances nearly every night. Then she got tired, and by-andbye fell sick. One day, just at the dawn, she died: ah, me! -I cried many tears; but master did not shed one. The doctor shook his head; it is bad not to weep: the blood flows too much upwards then and it chokes the brain and veins.

"Of course I got the little lady ready for her coffin; put sweet flowers in her hands, and loosed her beautiful hair about her shoulders. I knew that I must be quick about it as they must bury her before sundown. When she was ready to receive him, I went to fetch my master.

"To my astonishment he was upon the verandah conversing with two natives: one of these was the pariah who superintends the burning of Hindu corpses in the ghât. I stood at attention in the doorway, waiting till master-catching

sight of his servant should permit me to make salaam and speak.

"Presently I heard him say:

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Very well it is now six o'clock. Get all things ready; and, at sunset, come and fetch madam's coffin.' Then he gave rupees to the men, and so dismissed them both. Afterwards he turned and saw me.

"Master,' said I, our lady's coffin arrived an hour ago. It was the only one which was suitable and ready. It is too large, but I have arranged it. Will master come before the lid is screwed down?'

"He followed me into the large bedroom where his bride awaited him lying in her coffin upon high trestles. He stood very quietly beside the bier. I hoped that now he would break down and weep aloud, but never one tear came. I prayed to our Blessed Lady to obtain this relief for him, but all in vain. Maybe, since he was not a real Christian, even she could not get the gift of tears for him.

"He gazed, and gazed upon his sweet lady, and then he clasped his hands upon his heart and groaned in anguish: the agony he endured caused the sweat to break out in large beads upon his brow. After a few moments the physical torment passed, and he gasped a little.

6

"Leave the screws loose, ayah; leave them loose,' said Captain presently. My darling shall be burned, not buried. I shall lift her out myself and place her upon the pyre: my lovely, lovely girl!'

"Conceive my horror! What! burn the poor English lady like a Hindu! Ah-oh!. But it was not my place to protest. When master was gone I let the proper undertaker's men come in: they loosely screwed down the lid and went away. It was very cold all that day. In the afternoon a country cart came round and a carriage. Missus' body was placed upon the bandy, and strewn with leaves and flowers. Master, Martin and I drove in the carriage to the burning ghât, but I dared not look the Captain in the face, so grieved and shocked was I.

"Plenty of gentlemen met us when we arrived at our destination: a big pyre was in readiness. When the men stepped forward to take the corpse, a fellow-officer of Captain Walker

:

whispered to him: have the coffin screwed down more tightly.' But master was obstinate: he bade the coolies lift off the lid instead. I was afraid and closed my eyes in terror; but Martin muttered: She is all right-the cold weatherbear up Martha.' I heard the ghât pariahs offer to lift mistress out of her casket; but the Captain waved them angrily away: no one but himself should touch his wife's body he meant to put the poor lady upon the pyre himself. Of course this was impossible. The other officers evidently deemed him crazy, and I think that he was. He took his grief like an elephant rather than as a Christian, although perhaps I should not say so; and then, poor soul, he was not a proper Christian. Well; the gentlemen were very kind. They lifted the poor lady out upon a blanket which I had lapped under and around her because the coffin was too big even after she was bound and shrouded-ah; me! Do not shudder chokra; we all must die some day-so they put her upon the pile of rosined wood and wrapped the woollen round her.

"Then someone whistled; and, at this signal, the coolies set fire to the faggots which were already soaked in burning stuffs. Yet-because the ghât men were so worried-the job being unusual, and the Captain trying-they forgot to weight down the corpse as is generally done by casting heavy logs upon it. Alas! this proved a dreadful oversight.

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The flames, and pitchy smoke, curled up and crept along the faggots like fiery serpents which sought to devour and feast upon my lady. The Captain watched their wicked flare. as though fascinated. His friends looked shocked,-as indeed they were, and well might be. Then, above the perfumed gums, I smelt the blanket as it frizzled-the body was growing hot. Suddenly-without any warning-occurred a horrid thing! The dead woman's muscles sprang before they shrank and broke, and forced her corse erect into a sitting posture. Her hair streamed upon the thick murky vapour; her arms jerked out; her eyes opened and glared.

"My master gave vent to an awful shriek-resembling that of a rat caught in a gin and pierced to its very vitals. I saw him spring one step forward; and then, as the body sank back into a vivid gulf of fire, he too fell-dead! You

see, Krishna, he had long suffered from spasms of the heart, and the shock ended him.

"Ha! Ha! There goes the first rocket! How early they have begun them! They can't have got further than the fish-course of the dinner. Wake up Martin! wake up!" cried ayah excitedly.

The fireworks were magnificent. They went on rising, and banging, and exploding, and falling till eleven o'clock. In the pleasure of watching them, I forgot ayah's gruesome

story.

Just before twelve o'clock master and mistress returned. Afterwards lights were put out: all in the bungalow settled down to darkness and to sleep.

CHAPTER IX.

The durbar was held next day. The superior servants attended master and mistress and Juli. They waited outside the Government building whilst their employers were within, and enjoyed a sight of the festivities. Cook-matey and I stayed at home of course: we had to look after the bungalow and kitchen. Overcome by the fatigue of the preceding night, and the hot languor of a sultry windless day, I fell asleep, not awakening until the gentry returned from durbar: I got a smart beating from butler in consequence of this sloth. I deserved this chastisement for I had not done sundry small jobs which he had set for me to perform in his absence. Yet, because it was the first real punishment which I had endured for years, I sulked over it. I was tired and cross that day: alas! it was a most unlucky one for me; full of dire misfortune.

There was a dinner party at the commanding officer's; and, at seven o'clock, ayah, having put Juli to bed, turned her attention to her lady's wardrobe. I was on the upper verandah at the time, for I had been playing games with Missie, and was tidying away the toys, puzzle pictures, blocks-and so Our lady reposed upon a long chair, outside her bedroom, at the further end of the long gallery. She was reading a book. Presently ayah stepped from behind the bedroom

on.