"Now tell me about Ananda," said Alderbury recalling her thoughts. "I know very little about him. My information has come from Mrs. Hulver who picks up gossip in the bazaar. You had better hear the story from her first hand. I will send for her." A message was taken by the butler who met the housekeeper as she returned from her walk in the compound. She went into her room to remove the mushroom hat and dispose of her umbrella; and she took the opportunity of telling young William that she had made arrangements for him to leave at daybreak the following morning. She entered the front verandah, keen inquiry in her eye as to the reason of her call. "Were you wishing to have a few words with my son, sir? If so, I should be pleased if you could come in half an hour. He is just going to have his bath. A dressing-down from your point of view will be very good for him. As William--that was my third--used to say: 'Don't confine yourself to big guns in dealing with an enemy. Bullets speak quite as plainly as cannon balls though they are neither so big nor so noisy.'" "I don't think your son wants any lecturing from me. No doubt he is fully repentant after all that has happened. Dr. Wenaston told me the story of his fight, and I am sure young William will keep away from the canteen in future," said Alderbury kindly. "He will try, sir; I know that; but canteens draw very strongly at times. There's the smell to contend with as well as the open door. As William--that was my third--used to say: 'An open door will tempt a saint.'" "I want you to tell me all you know and have heard about Ananda. Sit down, Mrs. Hulver," he said, giving her a chair. "I don't see why you should stand. Let us have a comfortable chat whilst we are about it." He noted the cloud of anxiety that seemed to overshadow her usually placid face and put it down to trouble over her son. Her words confirmed his suspicion. "To tell you the truth, sir, I have had no time to consider Mr. Ananda. I have been so worried by young William's conduct." "You mustn't think too much about it. You can't expect everybody to be a saint." "I don't, sir, and least of all young William from the way he has begun----" "What did you hear of Ananda in the bazaar?" asked Alderbury interrupting her. "As far as I can recollect the family ill-treated him, knocked him about with a stick and he ran away. They didn't like his turning Christian. As William--that was my third--used to say: 'What women haven't got to answer for, you may safely put down to religion.'" "It was supposed that he was in hiding somewhere on the college premises. It seems the gardener heard of the arrival of your son and thought it was Ananda." "The gardener?" said Mrs. Hulver puckering her brow. "So we may thank him for that budmash's visit. I shall have to remember that." She thought of the roses and felt that the man had got even with her after all; but she kept her thoughts to herself.