"Forgive me," he explained. "I do not intend to be ungrateful, indeed I am more grateful than I know how to express. But those stories of India started me to thinking of the first years I was out there. It is a strange country, India. I don't think we western people understand it." He and Olive were sitting on the Lodge verandah. Olive nodded, "I do understand what you must feel and I do wish there was something else to interest you." Then she remained silent. After all Captain MacDonnell could not go on in idleness like this. There must be something he could find to do, some real thing. Poorer men were learning trades. It would be better for him to do this if only he could be persuaded to feel enough interest. Olive did not realize she was frowning. Suddenly she exclaimed. "Look here, Captain MacDonnell, didn't I hear Frank say once that you used to be fond of drawing when you were a small boy, that you were once undecided whether to be an artist or a soldier?" Captain MacDonnell smiled. "I believe so, I've an idea I was a pretty conceited youngster and would have made as much of a failure at one as I have of the other." But Olive refused to pay any attention to this speech. For a moment Captain MacDonnell forgot himself thinking of how attractive Olive looked. He had not remembered thinking of this especially when they had met in England, only that she was unusual looking and not in the least like an American or English woman. It was almost as if she might be Spanish. Captain MacDonnell also had some Spanish blood farther back in his own family, when the Spanish were the great voyagers and visited and settled on the coasts of Ireland. But Olive went on talking. "I do wish you would undertake the drawing again, it might at least amuse you, and there are so many interesting people and scenes you could attempt out here." Captain MacDonnell shook his head. "I'm afraid the time has gone by for that," he returned. But Olive had a kind of gentle, sensible persistency that nearly always wins its way. "Still, there wouldn't be any harm in just seeing if it might amuse you," she went on. "I am sure it would be a kind of relief." Captain MacDonnell again looked at Olive. Her deep toned skin was softly flushed and her dark eyes brilliant with earnestness. He laughed a little. "Of course it will, a relief to you, so for that reason I'll attempt it. But on one condition?" Olive flushed a little with embarrassment, since she had never wholly gotten over her shyness. However, she realized that Captain MacDonnell was teasing her. He did very often when he was in a gay humor and Olive felt it was good for her, as she was too inclined to be grave. "What is the condition?" she inquired. "Of course it will be relief to me to know you are happier," at which Captain MacDonnell felt that Olive had scored. "Why, that I won't have to keep on calling you Miss Van Mater. It is too much of a name, just as mine is."