Colonel Sladen puffed and glared, for the moment positively speechless. “Permit me to introduce the decorating committee for the ball,” continued this bold young person. “The secretary has given the club over to us for two days. We have _carte blanche_, and no time to lose. Each apartment has its own allotted number of workers. This one represents our share,” looking round with the complacent eye of a proprietor. “Of course it will have to be thoroughly fumigated and ventilated; but I dare say it won’t make a bad tea-room.” “Do you mean to say that we are to turn out?” demanded Colonel Sladen, “and to give up our smoking-room for this tomfoolery?” “There will be no tomfoolery about the _supper_,” she retorted impressively. “I shall really be much obliged if you”--looking round and speaking authoritatively--“will all clear out.” “Then I suppose we must fall back on the card-room,” growled Colonel Sladen, not displeased at thus securing an early rubber. “Oh, pray don’t!” with a deprecatory gesture, “the card-room is already in hand; it is to be the ladies’ cloak-room.” Colonel Sladen restrained himself with great difficulty as he asked, in a sort of choked voice-- “And pray what arrangements have been made for whist?” “Oh, a tent will be good enough for the card-players!” was the contemptuous reply. “I never heard of such management! _I_ shan’t come to this blessed ball!” “Oh yes you will,” returned Miss Valpy, serenely. She was already at work, collecting and piling up newspapers. “Think of the prawns and pomphret coming all the way from Bombay, and _how_ disappointed they would be not to see you!” “Ah, and the Agra beauty who is also expected--Miss Glossop; _she_ will cut you all out! Ha, ha, ha!” retorted Colonel Sladen, with angry exultation. “That’s what people generally say of a girl they have never seen,” rejoined Miss Valpy, coolly sweeping spills off the chimney-piece. “Now, _I_ have seen her. There are twenty prettier faces in Shirani.” “Including the face of Miss Valpy!” with ferocious sarcasm. “It is extremely kind of you to say so,” making him a mocking curtsey, “and for once I am quite of your opinion.” Colonel Sladen could not find any appropriate retort beyond some inarticulate emotional noises. “Fanny”--to her sister--“help Mrs. Glover and Mrs. Bell. Abdar”--to a servant--“take out all the chairs into the verandah, and send in the coolies to lift the table.”