In a large house in Calcutta there lived an Englishman, his wife and her sister. Mrs. C. was of a highly-strung and nervous disposition, and as her husband’s business frequently occasioned his absence from home, they had persuaded her sister Ethel to come out to India on a long visit.
Ethel was a bright, lively girl, very practical and quite the opposite of her sister, whom she often rallied for her timidity. Once when Alice was more trying than usual, Ethel exclaimed: “Perhaps if I were a little like you, Alice, delicate, nervous and silly, I might get a husband who would fuss over me like Charlie does over you.”
Alice laughed at her sister’s earnestness and said: “If you were not healthy and strong-minded you would understand me better, Ethel.”
Not long afterwards the two ladies were left alone for some days as Mr. C. was obliged to go upcountry on business. While he was away, Ethel slept with her sister. It was the cold weather when night closes in early and the evenings are long. Mrs. C. liked an early dinner, soon after which she always retired. Ethel liked to spend the long quiet evenings, reading or writing, and often sat up till midnight.
One afternoon, while they were at lunch, a telegram was brought in, and on opening it, Alice exclaimed delightedly “Charlie will be back in time for dinner.”
The evening passed away till dinner time but Mr. C. did not arrive and the ladies waited till nine o’clock. Then they dined, and when the clock struck ten and still there was no arrival, Alice said she would go to bed, as Charlie must have missed his train and the next was not due till near midnight.
Ethel looked up from her book and said: “Well, I am sleeping in my own room.”
“O! you know I hate to be alone,” exclaimed Alice; “you might come and sleep in mine until Charlie comes in.”
“Alice, you are selfish,” retorted Ethel. “I shall barely be in bed before he walks in. The only thing for me is to go to bed in your room in my evening dress.”
“How silly you are,” said Alice peevishly; “why cannot you undress as usual? Charlie may not come at all to-night and I dread being alone.”