"No, no!" said the Rajah, laughing; "do not help her, Miss Stuart; help me, and I will be so grateful. It is so easy to say I will give a grand party, but it is hard to make it so that it will please these English gentlemen and ladies." "Ladies and gentlemen, Prince," said the Inche Maida. "Of course--yes," he replied. "That is where I make things wrong. You English place the ladies first, and I always make mistakes like that." "You will soon acquire our habits," said Grey, who could not help her eyes wandering in search of Hilton. "Thank you," said the Prince. "I shall try; but as I say, it is so hard to make a feast quite right. If I want to make a banquet for my people with flowers, and fireworks, and elephants, and gongs, and tom-toms, it is all so easy; but an English party, to satisfy all you--ah! it is too much." Meanwhile, heart-sick and disgusted with everything and everybody present, Hilton wandered away to the pagoda, where Mr Stuart had taken up hi quarters directly after supper. "Hullo! young fellow," said the old merchant, gruffly, "come to your senses again?" "Senses? Haven't been out of them that I know of," retorted Hilton. "Well, ye've been running wild after Perowne's lassie." "Mr Stuart!" "And one never sees her without Captain Hilton ahint her." "Mr Stuart, I was not aware that I was answerable to you for my conduct," exclaimed the young officer, hotly. "Nay--nay--nay--dinna--don't be fashed, laddie, I was vexed to see ye rinning after a lassie who will throw ye over for the next man she sees--that's a'--" "Mr Stuart, I will not listen to anything in Miss Perowne's disparagement!" cried the young man hotly. "How dare you speak to me like this!" "Have a cigar, laddie?" said the old Scot, drily. "They're verra good, and they'll soothe ye down better than anything I ken." Hilton glared at him angrily. "There, there, there, let me have my say, laddie. I rather like ye, Hilton, though ye are only a soldier; so don't fly in a passion with an old man. Tak' a cigar." Hilton hesitated, but finally took the cigar, lit it, and began to smoke. "I ken weel what's wrong," said the old man; "but never heed it, mon. It mak's ye sore to-day, but ye'll soon get over it. I've seen ivery thing that's gone on sin the lassies have been here. Try a drappie o' that whuskie, laddie; that and yon cigar will mak' ye forget all about the trouble wi' the girl." "Mr Stuart, I must request you to be silent upon this question, unless you wish to quarrel." "Quarrel? Not I, lad! I'm as peaceable a body as ever lived; but tak' my advice--don't wherret yoursel' about Helen Perowne. She's not made for ye." "Sir!"