“Well, I suppose it does, but our prince here thinks he is as important a person as the queen of England, and does exactly as he likes.”
“Oh!”
“You must recollect that we are a very very long way from Singapore here, and, excepting what he has been told of England and her power, the rajah knows very little about our country, and laughs at my father as if he were telling him romances when he talks of our army and ships of war.”
“He must be awfully conceited, then.”
“He is,” said the girl laughing. “I believe he thinks he is the greatest monarch upon earth.”
“Then you are the only English people here?”
“Oh no. We have Mr and Mrs Braine and their son, and Mr and Mrs Greig.”
“Who are they?”
“Mr Braine is a gentleman papa recommended to the rajah. He wanted some one to advise him and help him to introduce English customs, and to drill his army. Mr Greig is a merchant who lives here to purchase the produce of the country to send down to Singapore. You will see them, I daresay, for they are sure to come in as soon as they know that you are here.”
“It all seems very funny. I thought we were coming into quite a wild place where there were elephants and tigers, and great snakes and birds that we could collect.”