Uncle Pelham did not contemplate a night passed in an open verandah with much pleasure. He was somewhat subject to chills, and the keen mountain air had a searching effect on his rheumatic bones. Mrs. Brande had suggested his sending in a polite note to their fellow-travellers and asking for a share of their quarters. “They can only say ‘No,’” she urged encouragingly. “I do not like to run the chance of their only saying ‘No,’” was the somewhat tart answer. “I am certain they will be only too glad to oblige a man in your _position_, P. What is a corner of a bed-room, after all? and I have a notion that I have met one of them somewhere--the one with the pale face and the fishing-basket. It was down at Ŏrai. Don’t you remember him, P.--a very stupid young man?” “My dear, I’m afraid you must give me a more exact description. I know so many stupid young men,” rejoined Mr. Brande in his dryest manner. At this moment, Nuddoo, the superb, stalked in and said with a salaam-- “The Mem Sahib in other room, offers half room to our Miss Sahib.” “There you are, Honor!” cried her uncle gleefully: thinking of the certain cold he had so narrowly escaped. “But who _is_ the Mem Sahib?” inquired his wife, with her most authoritative air. “One native lady--very rich,” was the totally unexpected reply. “Native!” echoed Mrs. Brande and Honor in a breath. Then Honor said, “Well, it is extremely kind of her, and you can say, Nuddoo, that if I am not putting her to inconvenience, I accept with great pleasure.” “Honor!” gasped her aunt. “Yes, Honor, you are a girl after my own heart,” said her uncle; “hall-marked silver, and not electro-plate. I dare say most of the girls we know would have refused to share the chamber of a native lady!” “I’m not a girl,” burst out his wife, “and I would for one. She will be chewing betel nut or opium all night, mark my words; and the place will be choked up by her women, huddled on the floor, staring and whispering and eating cardamums and spices! Leave _all_ your jewellery and your watch with me, my dear; and indeed, Pelham, it is not one girl in a hundred who would turn out to sleep with a begum in order to save your rheumatic old joints.” * * * * * Honor retired at nine o’clock; Mrs. Brande taking leave of her almost as if she was going to execution. She entered the other room, which was at the back of the bungalow, with great precaution, for she saw that her fellow-lodger was apparently asleep. Any way, she was in bed, and her head covered with a quilt. It was the usual white-washed apartment, with a pine ceiling, and contained nothing more than the usual cord matting, table, two chairs, and two beds. A lamp burnt dimly; there was not a sign of any member of the begum’s retinue!