"I don't know," she said. "It might do good, or it might not. I will think about it." "And about my going away for three days, my dear." "Oh, one moment, Henry," said Mrs Doctor. "There was something else I wished to ascertain." "What, another something else?" groaned the doctor. "Yes, another something else, sir. You promised me, that if you could not quite check that terrible habit of yours of talking about Ophir and King Solomon, that you would modify it." "Yes, my dear," said the doctor, giving his ear a rub, and accompanying it by a submissive look. "I heard you last night exciting the ridicule of all the gentlemen by your pertinacious declarations regarding that mythical idea." "Don't say ridicule, my dear." "But I do say ridicule, Henry, and I object to having my husband laughed at by ignorant people--he being a very clever man. So be careful in the future. Now you may go." "For three days, my dear?" "Yes; and pray take care of yourself." "I will, my darling," he cried, in delight; and he was about to embrace the lady warmly, when a step was heard in the veranda, and a voice exclaiming: "May I come in?" VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. A LITTLE CLOUD. "Yes; come in Mr Harley," and the tall, stern-looking Resident entered the room with the free at-home-ness of people living out at a station where circumstances force the Europeans into the closet intimacy. "Is anything the matter?" exclaimed the doctor's wife, as she saw his anxious face. "Well, not yet," he said; "but I must confess to being a little nervous about something that has happened. Don't go away, Bolter." "Only going to make a few preparations for a run out. Back directly." "No, no," said the Resident; "you would oblige me by staying. I think, Bolter, you will have to give up all thought of going out at present." "Then something is the matter!" said the doctor. "Oh, it isn't doctor's work--at present," said the Resident, smiling. "The fact is, the Rajah has been hanging about Perowne's place a good deal lately." "Yes, we had observed it," said Mrs Bolter, severely. "And the foolish fellow seems to think he has had a little encouragement from Miss Perowne." Mrs Doctor nodded and tightened her lips as the Resident went on: "The result is, that he has been to Perowne's this morning and proposed in due form for her hand." "Why, the scoundrel has got about a dozen wives," cried the doctor. "Yes, and of course Perowne tried to smooth him down and to soften the disappointment; but he has gone away furious. I have just come from Perowne's, and I called to put you on your guard." "Think there's any danger?" said the doctor, sharply. "Can't say. You know what these people are if they do not have their own way." "Yes," said the doctor, thoughtfully. "They can be crafty and cruel enough I know; and they don't love us any better than they did ten years ago, when I was all through the old troubles."