"I think not. Old Cinnamond has taken the field, but there are plenty of troops in Ranjitgarh. But if she is there, Hal?" "I might speak--I ain't master of myself, Bob." "Well, my dear fellow, and why not? Have you forgot what I said--that you were to have the next turn? Speak, by all means, and take her with my blessing, if she'll take you." "Bob, I won't have it. I have been making a fool of myself when I didn't know what I was saying, and you are behaving like a brick because you are sorry for me." "Ton my word, it's nothing of the sort. I can say now what I wouldn't say once, that I had rather see her happy with you than unhappy with me. I'm not going to let you outdo me there, you see, though I may be a little bit late." "Good old Bob!" said Gerrard weakly. "Not a bit of it. Ain't we chums, old boy? Now remember, _pop_ goes the weasel!" [1] Mutineers. [2] New hand. CHAPTER XXI. FAINT HEART AND FAIR LADY. "My dear, I fear you will think I have been indiscreet." Mrs James Antony looked up, and caught her husband's humourously deprecating expression. "Oh, James, I know that means you have done something dreadful, and want me to get you out of the difficulty!" she sighed. "Well, love, what is it?" "I have sent a _kasid_ to meet poor Gerrard, to tell him he is to come to us, and we will take no refusal. As soon as the man was gone, I remembered that you would probably object to his being thrown into Miss Cinnamond's company." "But surely you must see for yourself, love, that it would be most awkward for both of them? I almost think I had better ask Mrs Jardine to take in dear Honour for the time. She would be delighted, I am sure." "You know best, my dear. If Lady Cinnamond would not mind finding herself under such an obligation to Mrs Jardine, it is not for me to make objections." "She would dislike it extremely, love, as you well know. But what else is there to be done?" "I don't myself see why there should be any awkwardness at all," said James Antony sturdily. "If Miss Cinnamond is going to marry Gerrard, they had better come to an understanding and get it over, and if not--why, they will have to meet in the future, and they may as well begin now. If the girl chooses to be silly about it, she had better go back to her mother." "But, James, love, you don't consider. How could I let her go back, knowing that poor dear Mrs Cowper has taken such a dislike to her sister? Now that she has lost her babe, it would be terrible if they met before time had softened her grief a little. And it is not as if dear Honour were in the least to blame. I am sure she was keeping house for her father most beautifully when he was compelled to take the field. We are indebted to the Cinnamonds for so many civilities that it would be hard indeed if we could not help them out of a difficulty by entertaining the poor girl for a while."