“Not whilst Colonel Pullen is on active service, but he has nothing but his pay to depend upon, and whilst he can work, he must. Which means a residence in India, and perhaps separation from his wife and children--if he should lose his health, a compulsory retirement; and if he keeps it, toiling out there till old age, and then coming home to spin out the remainder of his life on an inadequate pension. A man who accepts service in India should make up his mind to live and die in the country, but so many accidents may prevent it. And at the best, it means banishment from England and all one’s friends and relations. Poor Margaret feels that severely, I am sure!” “Has Mrs. Pullen many relations then?” “She has a mother still living, and several brothers and sisters, besides her husband’s family. What a sweet, gentle woman she is! She was kind to you, Hally, was she not, whilst you were abroad?” By mutual agreement they never spoke of Heyst, or the Red House, or anything which was associated with what Pennell called his wife’s infatuation regarding herself. “Yes! she was very kind--at first,” replied Harriet, “until--until--it all happened, and they went to England. Oh! do not let us talk of it!” she broke off suddenly. “No! we will not! Have you unpacked your mandoline yet, Hally? Fetch it, dear, and let me hear your lovely voice again! I shall get you to sing to me when I am in the vein for composing! You would bring me all sorts of beautiful ideas and phantasies!” “Should I? should I?” exclaimed the girl joyfully. “Oh! how lovely! I should do a part of your work then, shouldn’t I, Tony?--I should inspire you! Why, I would sing day and night for that!” “No! no! my bird, I would not let you tire yourself! A few notes now and then--they will help me more than enough. I must draw from you for my next heroine, Hally! I could not have a fairer model!” “Oh! Tony!” She rushed to him in the extremity of her delight and hid her face upon his breast. “I am not good enough, not pretty enough! Your heroines should be perfect!” “I don’t think so! I prefer them to be of flesh and blood, like you!” He stooped his head and kissed her passionately. “Hally! Hally!” he whispered, “you draw my very life away!” The girl got up suddenly, almost roughly, and walked into the next room to fetch her mandoline. “No! no!” she cried to herself with a cold fear, “not that, my God, not that!” But when she returned with the instrument, she did not revert to the subject, but played and sang as usual to her husband’s admiration and delight. They “did” Florence very thoroughly during the first week of their stay there, and were both completely tired. “I must really stay at home to-morrow,” cried Hally one afternoon on returning to dinner, “Tony, I am regularly fagged out! I feel as if I had a corn upon every toe!”