“I will put it out for you,” said Georgia. “You have seen Miss North already, I think?” “Yes, indeed. It was this afternoon that I had the astonishment and delight of learning that the Kumpsioner Sahib had atoned for all his sins against this frontier.” “What, does Burgrave climb down?” cried Dick. “Not a bit of it, Major. He’s on the war-path, and seeing red. But he has escorted Miss North safely here.” “Oh, is Mr Burgrave anxious for war?” asked Mabel. “I suppose that’s the trouble which is coming on the frontier, then?” She stopped suddenly, with a guilty glance at Georgia. “Never mind, Mab; I heard it,” said her sister-in-law quietly. “I should think so!” cried Fitzgerald Anstruther. “The old joker--beg your pardon, Mrs North--the old ch--General--was riding like mad. No, Miss North, war is the last thing that our most peaceful-minded Commissioner desires. He is coming to bring this benighted province up to date, and assimilate it to the well-governed districts he has known hitherto.” “After all, we can’t be sure of his intentions,” said Georgia. “What we have heard may be only rumour.” “No; he is on the war-path, Mrs North, as I said. Young Timson, of the Telegraphs, who came up with him, was in with me just now, and says that he talked quite openly of his plans.” “I don’t mind the man’s intentions,” cried Dick hotly, “if they are founded on an honest opinion. What I do mind is his talking of them to outsiders as if they were accomplished facts, before he has said a word to the men on the spot.” “Oh, but you forget that the Commissioner’s intentions are as good as accomplished facts, Major,” said Fitz. “‘Is it not already done, Sahib?’ as my old villain of a bearer says when I tell him to do something he has no idea of doing. “‘For the Khans must come down and Amirs they must frown When the Kumpsioner Sahib says “Stop”! (Poor beggars!--we’re here to say “Stop”!)’ aren’t we?” he added dolefully. “Timson says that Burgrave is particularly strong on cutting loose from Nalapur.” “Oh, do explain these technicalities a little!” pleaded Mabel. Her brother took up the task promptly, seeming to find in it some sort of relief to his feelings.