'Good-morning, Veneaty,' said Mrs. G.; 'come for your rent, I suppose.' 'Missis please to give, I take.' 'Here it is; count it,' said the lady, 'and see that it is right.' 'What for I count? Missis never make mistake.' 'But you must count to satisfy me.' Veneaty had done this with his eye the moment he saw the rupees on the table, but he said: 'Missis give order, I count.' And count he did, as slowly and deliberately as a child. 'Well,' said the lady, 'is it right?' 'All right,' said Veneaty. 'Missis please take receipt.' Mrs. G. did so, and locked it up in her desk. She then expected that the houseman would take his departure, but he continued standing at the table without offering to go. Then the lady said: 'What is it now, Veneaty? I see you have something more to say. What is it?' 'I no like to tell Missis; I too much fraiding.' 'But what are you afraid of?' said Mrs. G. 'Missis too much angry if I tell,' returned Veneaty. 'And if I am angry,' said Mrs. G. 'for I suspect what it is you wish to say, I shall not be angry with you.' 'Then I tell; but I too much sorry, not my fault.' 'What you want to say is,' said Mrs. G., 'that you want me to leave the house; is it not?' 'Missis never tell that word. I no want, but Mister Captain he too much want, therefore I tell; he tell too much; punish me you no leave the bungalow. What I do, I too much sorry.' 'Do not be afraid, Veneaty; he cannot punish you.' 'Missis how can tell. He tell Burra General Saib give order, and cantonment General Saib give order what I do.' 'You tell the Staff-Officer that you have asked me to leave the house; that will set you right.' 'But Mister Captain too much bobbery man; every man too much fraiding him.' 'Never mind what people say; you tell Captain W. that you have requested me to go out, and that I won't go.' 'No, Missis, I never tell that word. Mister Captain too much angry.' 'Very well,' said the lady, 'I will tell him myself; and I will also tell him that you have asked me to go out.' 'Missis too much good Missis, but I too much fraiding.' 'Well, Veneaty, never fear for me. I will take care of myself.' Then Veneaty, with even greater reverence than usual, departed, thinking that Mrs. G. was a too-much brave woman. Nothing fresh occurred till a day or two before the 15th, when Captain W. again made his appearance. Mrs. G. had in the meantime done nothing; everything was in its place, even to the vase of flowers. After the ordinary salutations, the Captain said: 'I fear you are driving things to the last moment, Mrs. G.; you have only to the 15th, by which time we must have the bungalow. I really fear you are putting yourself to unnecessary inconvenience.' 'Thank you very much,' returned Mrs. G.; 'I have not been put to any inconvenience.' 'But I fear you will be, if you don't make preparations in time.' 'Oh, never fear,' said the lady; 'I shall make preparations in time--that you may depend on.'