The objects that everywhere particularly attracted her were the old Buddhist temples and tombs and sculptures with which India is studded.

Of these she had taken some hundreds of views, all printed by herself with the greatest care and precision.
But in India, after all, Buddhism is a dead creed.

Its monuments alone remain; she was anxious to see the Buddhist religion in its living state; and that she could only do in these remote outlying Himalayan valleys.
Our outfit, therefore, included a dark tent for Hilda's photographic apparatus; a couple of roomy tents to live and sleep in; a small cooking-stove; a cook to look after it; half-a-dozen bearers; and the highly recommended guide who knew his way about the country.

In three days we were ready, to Sir Ivor's great delight.

He was fond of his pretty wife, and proud of her, I believe; but when once she was away from the whirl and bustle of the London that she loved, it was a relief to him, I fancy, to pursue his work alone, unhampered by her restless and querulous childishness.
On the morning when we were to make our start, the guide who was "well acquainted with the mountains" turned up--as villainous-looking a person as I have ever set eyes on.