'For a native, if you will; and do you know, it strikes me that I have seen it before.'
Here it occurred to Tom that he was doing a mean thing, and he moved away.
The next time he saw Grace she was taking her place in a quadrille, in the company of a young and very handsome cavalry officer. Tom did not feel quite so comfortable as he had done, but he held his peace. While they waited for the other couples to come her partner was protesting with her earnestly.
'You will break all our hearts,' he said.
'Then somebody else must mend them,' answered Grace.
'But, seriously, why are you going? Do you think it will be safer at Meerut?'
'I am not going to Meerut.'
'Not? I thought your home was there.'
'So it is; but I have promised to pay a visit to Nowgong.'
'Really! Such an out-of-the-way station. Excuse me; but are you wise?'