‘Lucky dog!’ said Forster. He is one of those fellows who imagine that no age, position, or circumstances are powerful enough to prevent a man admiring a pretty woman. ‘If all I have heard about her from Dunn is true, you are not likely to have your house much to yourself whilst Miss Anstruther is in it, Norton.’
‘Well, I shall go out of it, then,’ I answered, not over pleased at the notion of never being left in peace with Janie.
‘Dunn says she’s beautiful. I didn’t know you expected her in the Ostrich. He’ll never believe now that I went on board with the intention of seeing himself.’
‘He must have but a small opinion of your friendship for him.’
‘Ah, yes, perhaps; but this is not an ordinary occasion. From all I hear, Norton, Miss Anstruther must be—you’ll excuse my saying so—a regular out-and-outer.’
‘Indeed! You know more about her than I do. She has not been above a week or ten days in Madras.’
‘I know; but Dunn was introduced to her in England, and quite excited to find she had come out to this country. Will she remain long with you?’
‘Till Colonel Anstruther returns from China,’ I replied, with an inward sigh.
‘Lucky fellow!’ repeated Forster, with a grin. ‘Don’t you wish he may lay his venerable bones there?’