Generalled by Mrs. Hauksbee who, again, had all Mrs. Mallowe's wisdom at her disposal, proud of himself and, in the end, believing in himself because he was believed in, Otis Yeere stood ready for any fortune that might befall, certain that it would be good. He would fight for his own hand, and intended that this second struggle should lead to better issue than the first helpless surrender of the bewildered 'Stunt. What might have happened, it is impossible to say. This lamentable thing befell, bred directly by a statement of Mrs. Hauksbee that she would spend the next season in Darjiling. “Are you certain of that?” said Otis Yeere. “Quite. We're writing about a house now.” Otis Yeere “stopped dead,” as Mrs. Hauksbee put it in discussing the relapse with Mrs. Mallowe. “He has behaved,” she said, angrily, “just like Captain Kerrington's pony--only Otis is a donkey--at the last Gymkhana. Planted his forefeet and refused to go on another step. Polly, my man's going to disappoint me. What shall I do?” As a rule, Mrs. Mallowe does not approve of staring, but on this occasion she opened her eyes to the utmost. “You have managed cleverly so far,” she said. “Speak to him, and ask him what he means.” “I will--at tonight's dance.” “No-o, not at a dance,” said Mrs. Mallowe, cautiously. “Men are never themselves quite at dances. Better wait till tomorrow morning.” “Nonsense. If he's going to revert in this insane way, there isn't a day to lose. Are you going? No? Then sit up for me, there's a dear. I shan't stay longer than supper under any circumstances.” Mrs. Mallowe waited through the evening, looking long and earnestly into the fire, and sometimes smiling to herself. * * * * * “Oh! oh! oh! The man's an idiot! A raving, positive idiot! I'm sorry I ever saw him!” Mrs. Hauksbee burst into Mrs. Mallowe's house, at midnight, almost in tears. “What in the world has happened?” said Mrs. Mallowe, but her eyes showed that she had guessed an answer. “Happened! Everything has happened! He was there. I went to him and said, 'Now, what does this nonsense mean?' Don't laugh, dear, I can't bear it. But you know what I mean I said. Then it was a square, and I sat it out with him and wanted an explanation, and he said--Oh! I haven't patience with such idiots! You know what I said about going to Darjiling next year? It doesn't matter to me where I go. I'd have changed the Station and lost the rent to have saved this. He said, in so many words, that he wasn't going to try to work up any more, because--because he would be shifted into a province away from Darjiling, and his own District, where these creatures are, is within a day's journey”-- “Ah-hh!” said Mrs. Mallowe, in a tone of one who has successfully tracked an obscure word through a large dictionary.