Chumbley strolled on with the Princess in the soft light shed by the paper lanterns beneath the spreading palms, between whose mighty pinnate leaves an occasional glimpse of the lustrous starlit sky could be obtained. All around was very beautiful, and through the soft, scent-laden summer air came the strains of music sounding soft and subdued. There was a delicious languor in the breeze that seemed to prison the spirits in a gentle calm; and as Chumbley strolled softly on, he said, slowly: "Well, I don't know, Princess; but just now I seem to fancy that it would be just the sort of life that would suit me." "And Captain Hilton?" said the Princess, smiling. "I don't know about Hilton," replied Chumbley. "I fancy he's more ambitious than I am. For my part I should want an elephant, plenty of fishing, plenty of shooting--" "Anything else?" said the Princess, who seemed amused at the young man's cool, easy-going way. "Well, it's a regular paradise out here. Very beautiful." "Yes, my country is beautiful," said the Princess. "Well, if I were to come out to such a place to play Adam, I should want an Eve. You don't understand that." "What savages you think us," said the Princess, warmly. "I challenge you! I know more of your religion and history than you do about mine." "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Chumbley heartily; and the Princess looked angry, but afterwards seemed to enjoy the young man's genuine mirth. "Do you English think it good manners to laugh at a Malay lady?" she said reproachfully. "Laugh? At you?" he said frankly. "My dear Princess, I was laughing at myself. Why, I'm one of the most ignorant fellows under the sun. I know my drill, and how to handle a gun; that's about all." "You depreciate yourself," said the Princess, in an admonitory tone; "but I do know who were Adam and Eve. You mean that if you lived out here you would want a wife." Chumbley nodded. "Marry Helen Perowne and settle down out here. I would build you a house." "Heaven forbid!" said Chumbley, laughing. "No, Princess, I am not one of her slaves. I look at her now as I should at a beautiful picture." "You look at a beautiful picture?" replied the Princess, wonderingly. "Oh, yes, I understand now. What? so soon! Well, well, I daresay you are right, Mr Harley," she said, in reply to a remark made by the Resident. "Yes, he's quite right, madam," said Dr Bolter, who also bustled up. "Dew's falling fast. We must not have any of my folks down with fever after so pleasant a trip." "I always take your advice, doctor," said the Princess, smiling; "and say it is good." "It is a long way back," said the Resident, smiling. "Yes, but you have the stream with you," said the Princess. "Where is the Sultan? There: you shall go. I will not keep you longer than is right, for I want you to come again." "After so pleasant a welcome, I'm sure all will be too happy," said the Resident.