With the new clothes came a new stock of self-confidence. Otis Yeere discovered that he could enter a room without breaking into a gentle perspiration--could cross one, even to talk to Mrs. Hauksbee, as though rooms were meant to be crossed. He was for the first time in nine years proud of himself, and contented with his life, satisfied with his new clothes, and rejoicing in the friendship of Mrs. Hauksbee. “Conceit is what the poor fellow wants,” she said in confidence to Mrs. Mallowe. “I believe they must use Civilians to plough the fields with in Lower Bengal. You see I have to begin from the very beginning--haven't I? But you'll admit, won't you, dear, that he is immensely improved since I took him in hand. Only give me a little more time and he won't know himself.” Indeed, Yeere was rapidly beginning to forget what he had been. One of his own rank and file put the matter brutally when he asked Yeere, in reference to nothing, “And who has been making you a Member of Council, lately? You carry the side of half a dozen of 'em.” “I--I'm awf'ly sorry. I didn't mean it, you know,” said Yeere, apologetically. “There'll be no holding you,” continued the old stager, grimly. “Climb down, Otis--climb down, and get all that beastly affectation knocked out of you with fever! Three thousand a month wouldn't support it.” Yeere repeated the incident to Mrs. Hauksbee. He had come to look upon her as his Mother Confessor. “And you apologized!” she said. “Oh, shame! I hate a man who apologizes. Never apologize for what your friend called 'side.' Never! It's a man's business to be insolent and overbearing until he meets with a stronger. Now, you bad boy, listen to me.” Simply and straightforwardly, as the 'rickshaw loitered round Jakko, Mrs. Hauksbee preached to Otis Yeere the Great Gospel of Conceit, illustrating it with living pictures encountered during their Sunday afternoon stroll. “Good gracious!” she ended, with the personal argument, “you'll apologize next for being my attache?” “Never!” said Otis Yeere. “That's another thing altogether. I shall always be”-- “What's coming?” thought Mrs. Hauksbee. “Proud of that,” said Otis. “Safe for the present,” she said to herself. “But I'm afraid I have grown conceited. Like Jeshurun, you know. When he waxed fat, then he kicked. It's the having no worry on one's mind and the Hill air, I suppose.” “Hill air, indeed!” said Mrs. Hauksbee to herself. “He'd have been hiding in the Club till the last day of his leave, if I hadn't discovered him.” And aloud--“Why shouldn't you be? You have every right to.” “I! Why?” “Oh, hundreds of things. I'm not going to waste this lovely afternoon by explaining; but I know you have. What was that heap of manuscript you showed me about the grammar of the aboriginal--what's their names?”