“Yes, I see that one should attend to the care of health for the sake of others,” said Alicia, remembering the anxiety which her own little attack of fever had cost her husband. “And if you are not weary of an old man’s talk,” continued her father, “might I ask whether, when pursuing your work so eagerly, you had no idea that you were doing what Harold, had he known of it, would have forbidden?” Alicia coloured, and assented by silence. After a while, however, she observed, “My husband had never spoken on the subject.” “Affection needs not the spoken command; it divines the will, and obeys it.” “You are rather hard on me, father,” said Alicia. “I fear that you will often blame me, if you notice such little things.” “These little things seem to me symbolized by the dimak,” observed Mr. Hartley. “Small errors do not startle conscience as do more evident sins, that, like the jackals, give loud warning of their approach. We may be in little danger of defrauding, or lying, or hating; but the small faults creep noiselessly on us, working, as it were, under ground, yet gradually marring beauty of character and injuring peace of mind.” “To what special faults do you allude?” asked Alicia. “Want of consideration for others, foolish talking, exaggeration, and discontent; to which I must add another, to which, I grieve to say, I too often give place. This is irritability of temper,—most unbecoming in a Christian.” “I have never seen you show irritability, dear father, except, perhaps, once or twice with the servants.” “Sometimes in the bazaars the blasphemy of the infidel or the insolence of the Moslem makes me speak with unguarded heat.” “Surely such anger is lawful in a missionary defending his Master’s cause,” said Alicia. “My daughter, no cause is gained by its advocate losing his temper. I have bitterly repented of words spoken in a moment of irritation.” Here the conversation was suddenly interrupted by Robin’s bursting into the veranda, a spade in one hand, and in the other an earthen saucer, which he triumphantly waved aloft. “After four hours of work, behold the spoils of victory!” he cried, and he handed the saucer to Alicia. “What are these hideous fat white creatures?” she exclaimed, looking with disgust at three huge grubs, each of the size of her little finger. “These are the mother-queens of the dimak,” said Robin gaily, “which the natives, with a sublime contempt for grammatical rules about gender, call badshahs (kings). Whether kings or queens, they are the source of all the mischief done by white ants; and since these are ‘in captive held,’ we may get rid of their troublesome subjects.” “What am I to do with the horrid creatures?” said Alicia. “Put them in spirits, and keep them as curiosities, or trophies, if you like the word better. Now, I must be off, for I have other work to do besides digging;” and with quick step Robin quitted the veranda.