No one looked askance at her any longer.
Even Mrs.Burton's criticism was limited to a strictly secret smile.
Netta Ermsted was the last to leave Bhulwana.

She returned nervous and fretful, accompanied by Tessa whose joy over rejoining her friends was as patent as her mother's discontent.

Tessa had a great deal to say in disparagement of the Rajah of Markestan, and said it so often and with such emphasis that at last Captain Ermsted's patience gave way and he forbade all mention of the man under penalty of a severe slapping.

When Tessa had ignored the threat for the third time he carried it out with such thoroughness that even Netta was startled into remonstrance.
"You are quite right to keep the child in order," she said.

"But you needn't treat her like that.