"I'm afraid I can hardly say that I know you at all," Charlie replied, "as Jim would never venture on a description, however greatly I encouraged him, feeling, no doubt, his inability to do the subject justice." "That's really rather nice, you know," Ted commented, with a grave air of abstraction; and the girl blushed becomingly. An awkward pause ensued. Then four people spoke together. Three stopped respectfully. "Can you guess, Jim, what Ted has given us for a present?" "That's a hint for you, Charlie. Open your packages at once. I am about to marry a most sordid little woman, whose absorbing thought is: 'Presents, and how to obtain them'." "Sir, you speak that which is not true. Look at this!" "Whew! You've been looting, young man. Where?" "Not at all--present--Lucknow--Gurkhas. By the way, Charlie, did you know that young Roberts, your school-fellow, won the V.C.? Won it twice over, in fact--I saw him." "Well done, D.A.Q.M.G.! That young man will make his mark in the world. He's a man that understands men--and things." Ethel then related Ted's story of the jewels and the bargain made, and Charlie presented his gifts, a pair of paintings brought back with him from England two months before. To everyone's surprise he next dragged out a pair of silver-mounted kukris, Goria Thapa's present to Major Russell, in memory of their father's friendship. Charlie and Ted returned to Jim's quarters, leaving the lovers half an hour of solitude. "My stars, Ted, that's a pretty girl!" observed the former. "Isn't she stunning? She's no end fun either, though she looks so demure." "Jim has displayed unusual discrimination, I must say." * * * * * The day, by custom termed "auspicious"--though why the bridegroom cannot tell--came round at last. Major Russell appeared as joyous as could reasonably be expected--and no more. Whilst awaiting the bride's appearance Captain Dorricot, as best man, apparently considered his a most gladsome task. Why does "a best man" consider it necessary to be ribald? "Major Russell," he whispered, "are you or are you not going to hold yourself straight? Think of me! You're disgracing me before all these people. Don't look so cheap, man; you'll get used to it! "Now remember my advice and start from to-day as master; let her see that you won't be trodden upon." "Oh, don't be an idiot!" "Bless us, he thinks, poor fellow, that it'll be rather nice to be trodden upon by her! Quick! She's coming! Take your eyes from the roof and try to look as though you'd been here before and could do it on your head." Good as the advice was it passed unheeded, for all eyes were now turned towards the church porch as Ethel Woodburn entered--charmingly sweet, and shyly happy. The ceremony over, our friend Ted forgot his new-born dignity and became a boy again, and a perfectly irrepressible one, until Jim and his dainty wife had driven away in the direction of the everlasting hills.