Barkins and I picked up each something to throw at the round, smooth, smiling face thrust in at the door, which was held close to the neck, so that we saw a head and nothing more. "No flow thing at Ching," the Chinaman said softly. "Offlicer don't flow thing. Ching come in?" "Yes," said Barkins, "come in. What is it?" Ching entered looking very important, and gave his head a shake to make his tail fall neatly between his shoulders, and drew the long blue sleeves of his gown over the backs of his hands till only the tips of his fingers, with their very long nails, were visible. He advanced smiling at us each in turn, and bowing his round head like a china mandarin. "You all velly good boy?" he said softly. "Oh yes; beauties," said Barkins. "What's up?" "You likee ask leave go for bit walkee walkee?" "Don't!" roared Smith. "Don't talk like a nurse to us. Why don't you speak plain English?" "Yes; Ching speak ploper Inglis. No speakee pigeon Englis. All ploper. Interpleter. You likee go shore for walkee, see something?" "You beggar, you were listening," cried Barkins. "How long had you been there?" "Ching just come ask young genelman likee walkee walkee." "Yes, allee likee walkee walkee velly much," said Barkins, imitating the Chinaman's squeak. "Why? Can you give us leave?" Ching shook his head. "Go ask offlicer. Go for walkee walkee, take Ching; you likee see something velly nice ploper?" "Yes," I cried eagerly. "Can you take us to see a Chinese theatre?" Ching closed his eyes and nodded. "You come 'long o' Ching, I showee something velly nice ploper." "All right," I cried. "Now, Tanner, go and try it on with the doctor." "No, no. Ask offlicer. Doctor only give flizzick. Velly nastee. Ugh!" Ching's round face was a study as he screwed it up to show his disgust with the doctor's preparations. Barkins went off and returned directly. "Well," we cried; "seen Price?" and Ching, who was squatted on the floor, looked up smiling. "No." "Not seen him?" "No; I ran against Dishy, and thought I'd ask him plump." "And you did?" "Yes." "What did he say?" "I know," cried Smith; "that we were always going out." "That's it exactly." "And he won't let us go?" I said in a disappointed tone. "Who says so?" cried Barkins, changing his manner. "The old chap was in splendid fettle, and he smiled,--now, now, don't both of you be so jolly full of doubts. On my honour as an officer and a gentleman, he smiled and clapped me on the shoulder." "Yes, my lad, of course," he said. "We shall be off again soon, and then it will be all work and no play again, and we mustn't make Jack a dull boy, must we?" "He's going off his head," said Smith. "Let him go, then," I cried, "if it makes him like this." "Don't chatter so, Gnat," cried Smith. "I say, did he really say we might go?" "Yes; and that we ought to start at once before the day grew hotter, and that we were to take great care of ourselves." "Hurra!"