"From whence I feel convinced it will never come back!" she said; "well, it cannot be helped. After all, it would not be much use to me now." "I left your brother Nicky in charge of my stud while I am away; he is monarch of all he surveys. I expect he will keep the horses going pretty well." "Yes, poor Nicky," she said, "he is so fond of riding, and would never get a mount at all only for you. You have been very good to him, Mr. Salwey." "Good to myself," he rejoined. "Nicky is capital company for me, and I like him; there is a lot of grit about that boy; unless I am mistaken, he will turn out well." As they talked, they were strolling slowly round the great ball-room, the dance being over, and among the crowd they encountered Captain Haig, who paused, not a little startled to behold the Miss Chandos of other days! On the spur of the moment he accosted her and begged for a dance. This she at once accorded him, and having scribbled down "Captain Haig" opposite number nine, passed on. Mrs. Lepell, who had found partners for Pussy, was now besieged for introductions to her friend, "the girl in white," and in a few moments after Verona's return to her side she had not one dance to spare. Dominga and Captain Fielder were inseparable, and for once reckless of appearances; Dom with her lithe white figure, her red hair, green wreath, and bright shameless eyes, looked like a beautiful Bacchante. As Captain Haig lounged on the edge of the crowd, he overheard several sentences which sank into his mind and there abode. "Do just look at that red-haired girl! how she is enjoying herself," remarked a man to his partner--a lady of a certain age and importance. "What a graceful creature she is!" "Yes, she seems crazy with excitement! I really wonder Captain Fielder cares to make himself so conspicuous, especially as he is staying at Government House. She is a Eurasian, from that sugar factory near Rajahpore. Her mother is as black as your boot--she has aunts and uncles in the bazaar!" "Nonsense, I would not have believed it." "It is true, and here comes another of them," as Blanche swept by, in the arms of a dusky partner. Blanche, showing all her teeth, as she chattered incessantly; Blanche decked out in a flame-coloured frock, with long blue silk gloves and strings of shells in her hair. "I daresay you would not believe that that girl opposite in white is their sister," and the lady indicated Verona with her fan. "She has been in England, and looks quite presentable, only for her paste ornaments! Mrs. Lepell brought her here to-night--such a mistake! they are awful people, and have no pretensions to be in society." "At any rate, the girl seems to have any number of fellows clamouring to dance with her!" remarked the man rather dryly. "She is uncommonly handsome. I should never have thought that _she_ had a touch of the tar brush."