“That’s sarcastic of you, Wodenhamer, and naughty and unkind. I think he refers, Mrs. Browne, to the fact that I was gazetted for duty in Assam last month, and just a fortnight and three days after I came back the Briton announced that I was going. Do you know the Briton? Capital paper in many respects, but erratic occasionally in matters of considerable importance. Delicious paper for description of ball dresses. I revel in the Briton’s ball dresses.”
“Who d’you think does that sort of thing for them?” Mr. Peckle inquired. “Some lady, I suppose.”
“No indeed, Mr. Peckle,” volunteered one in grey bengaline and gold embroidery, on the other side of the table. “It’s Captain Dodge, if you please! I know, because at the Belvedere dance on Friday he came and implored me to tell him what colour Lady Blebbins was wearing. It was hyacinth and daffodil faille—the simplest thing, but he was awfully at a loss, poor fellow! And afterwards I saw him put it down on the back of his dance-card.”
“I daresay they pay for such things,” Mr. Peckle remarked.
“I fancy Dodge gets a polo pony out of it,” observed Mr. Cran.
“I didn’t give that man Dodge credit for so much imagination,” said Mr. Sayter. “I wonder if I could induce him to put me in! I’d like to be treated poetically in the newspapers, for once. But I’m afraid he won’t,” Mr. Sayter continued sadly, “because I can’t wear mull muslin—isn’t that what you call it?” to Helen. “I can’t wear it because I should suffer from the cold, and yet the baboos do! That’s queer, you know. The baboo is vain enough already, and I’m not vain at all; yet Heaven permits the baboo to disport himself in the sweetest gossamer and threatens me with fever and rheumatism if I should even think of such a thing!”
“But surely, Mr. Sayter,” Helen interposed, “nobody suffers from the cold here!”
“Oh, my dear lady! You don’t know! The cold is the one thing we can’t get acclimatised to in India! To-night it would be Arctic if we weren’t dining. Kitmutgar, bund caro darwaza![[80]] We’ll have a fire up stairs afterwards.”
[80]. Shut the door.
“A fire!” said Helen in astonishment.