“And Captain Hilton?” said the Princess, smiling.
“I don’t know about Hilton,” replied Chumbley. “I fancy he’s more ambitious than I am. For my part I should want an elephant, plenty of fishing, plenty of shooting—”
“Anything else?” said the Princess, who seemed amused at the young man’s cool, easy-going way.
“Well, it’s a regular paradise out here. Very beautiful.”
“Yes, my country is beautiful,” said the Princess.
“Well, if I were to come out to such a place to play Adam, I should want an Eve. You don’t understand that.”
“What savages you think us,” said the Princess, warmly. “I challenge you! I know more of your religion and history than you do about mine.”
“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Chumbley heartily; and the Princess looked angry, but afterwards seemed to enjoy the young man’s genuine mirth.
“Do you English think it good manners to laugh at a Malay lady?” she said reproachfully.
“Laugh? At you?” he said frankly. “My dear Princess, I was laughing at myself. Why, I’m one of the most ignorant fellows under the sun. I know my drill, and how to handle a gun; that’s about all.”