Languages come as easily to him as crochet-work to a woman." This paragon had been Resident in the Principality of Bakuta to the north of Bombay when Stella had first arrived.

But he had been moved now to Chitipur in Rajputana.

It was supposed that he was writing in his leisure moments a work which would be the very last word upon the native Principalities of Central India.

Oh, Stella was to be congratulated! And Mrs.Carruthers, in her fine mansion on Malabar Hill, breathed a sigh of envy at the position of the wife of a high official of the British _Raj_.
Thresk looked over again to the portrait on the piano.
"I am very glad," he said cordially as once more he rose.
"But you shall sit next to Mrs.Repton to-night," said Mrs.Carruthers.
"And she will tell you more." "Thank you," answered Thresk.

"I only wished to know that things are going well with Mrs.Ballantyne--that was all.".