“I say, what a crew!” he exclaimed, “That fellow with the red tie and yellow boots, and the one in the white sweater!”
“Yes, they were unconventional, I admit, but good kind souls, and I was not in the least ashamed of being in their society. I enjoyed myself immensely—my first ball!”
“Your first ball!” he repeated scornfully. “Well, you had a festive time going home in that shandrydan, I should say!”
As I did not wish to pursue the subject, I asked:
“Do you take sugar?”
“If you please; and so I see you have brought your dog?”
“Yes, but only for a short stay. Dogs are not admitted here. I must find him a home somewhere. They won’t have him at the rectory, and the gamekeeper says no, too—though he admires Kip.”
“So Mrs. Lingard bars dogs?”
“All but her own griffons. And you are starting for India on Friday? How I envy you! I wonder if you will be anywhere near my brother?”
“I am going to Secunderabad in the Deccan.”