"Dr. Wenaston has invited Mr. Alderbury to come and stay here a few days. He has business in Chirapore. Will you see to the spare room. I brought out new curtains and chintz to re-cover the sofa and chairs. Set the dirzee to work at once." "It shall be begun this very day. I was only thinking about it yesterday afternoon when I came in from the town. It's more than a month since you came back, miss; and those curtains have been lying by ever since you unpacked them. As William--that was my first--used to say (he was a great man for show, being a Eurasian and a good deal darker than me): 'When you've got fine feathers, don't hide them.' What brought the spare room to my mind was Mr. Alderbury's name. I heard that it would be likely that he would be coming to Chirapore before long." "Did you?" asked Eola, looking round at her housekeeper in surprise. "I suppose you heard it in the bazaar. I don't know how these things get about, but in this country nothing is sacred from bazaar gossip. What do they say?" "The business of the Reverend Mr. Alderbury is connected with Ananda, the son of Pantulu Iyer, a rich native of this town. Perhaps you know the story. If so, I'd better be going as there is lots to be done this morning, and the dirzee is never in the way when he is wanted." Mrs. Hulver spoke with an injured tone and a misjudged expression on her smooth round olive face. She was an inveterate gossip, and her visits to the shops and market were prompted as much by curiosity to hear the news as to verify the butler's charges. Nothing hurt her more than to imply a knowledge of this weakness. She had a little sitting-room that opened into the back verandah. The door was seldom shut in the daytime. From a point of vantage in the doorway she superintended the tailor, and kept an eye on all that went on in the back verandah. She made as though she would seek her room with as little delay as possible. Eola, repentant that she had hurt her feelings by remarks about the bazaar gossip, softened in her manner and begged to hear the news. "Do tell me, Mrs. Hulver, what they say. I have not heard anything except that Mr. Alderbury is coming by the Doctor's invitation. My brother only spoke of his visit this morning when he received Mr. Alderbury's reply to the invitation. The Principal was late in getting home from his ride, and had to hurry over breakfast to be in College in time." The housekeeper was mollified and the dirzee forgotten in her eagerness to relate the news that was already thrilling the town. "The story goes in the bazaar that Pantulu's son has turned Christian, and the whole family is in a great taking about it. They don't know what to do." "Is that all? There is nothing much in that. Of course it is a good thing when a native becomes a Christian; but in these days it is not a matter to make a fuss about."