Chapter 15-

Mating Call

THEY did not go up Wallach's Folly the next day. They were having tea on the lawn at the side of the bungalow when Henry told her they could not go. Jean had handed him his second cup of tea.

More cake? Jean asked.

'Please. He held out his plate. Then he said casually, so as not to alarm her. I'm afraid we'll have to keep Herman tied up for a few days, and also put off Wallach's Folly."

Oh, why?"

'Listen to that,' said Henry. The hoot. Can you hear it? From somewhere in the jungle all round then came a melancholy booming call. 'Ooooo... Ooooo...Oooo!"

'Oh, that? I've been meaning to ask you. It has been going on for the last half-hour. So depressing, isn't it? Is it some kind of bird?'

'Python,' Henry told her.

"A python! Here?"

"Tea and pythons. they both thrive in the same sort of climatic conditions. Where tea grows, pythons must be expected."

'But here? Near the bunga.w?

'Not necessarily. You can't tell withm half mile. They are exceptionally good ventriloquists... There! See what I mean?"

Oooo. Oooo... Oooo,' came the sound again, much louder now, and from an entirely new direction.

'It's their mating call. Amazing how the sex instinct affects the animal world. But this call often means that it is also going to rain. They love the ram for their love making.

Jean shrugged her shoulders in a gesture of revulsion and made a face. Are they are they dangerous, Henry?' she asked.

'Only if they're taken by surprise. Then they'll attack anything within range. And once they get their teeth into something. well. that's the end. Their teeth can work only one way, downwards; 

they can't let go even if they have latched on to something which is too big to swallow. It's just a one-way passage."

'Can they swallow a human-being?"

"A really big one might, but never from choice. Only if it were taken by surprise. But they always crush their victinis first. I mean, before swallowing them. In the old days they used to keep pythons for trials by ordeal. The culpest's hody used to be greased so that he should have a chance.

'Ughhh! How big are they. Henry?"

The usual length is between fifteen and twenty feet, and I have shot one twenty-five feet long, the usual weight is about two hun- dred pounds....

Two hundred pounds!"

'Often much more; and some of the rooles swear they have seen pythons of forty and fifty fert long. But you know how they exaggerate

'But what shall we do, Henry? That means we can't even step out of this place. And I shall be having nightmares every time you go on your rounds."

Henry laughed more to reassure her than for any other reason, Pythons are not all that dangerous; not to human beings. Of course, the coolies who work in the jungle have to be damned care ful because they often run slap into them. At the same time, they can be pretty dangerous to animals animals are their natural food; and old Herman would he just the right size. I'll go and blow its head off once someone has located where it's lying up.... It's a he all right; you can tell by the boom. Listen! Notice how it vibrates? That's the male. Anyway, until they find where he's camping. I'd just as soon not go off the roads. And we'll have to put off going to Wallach's Folly to some other time."

Will they be able to locate him easily?

'Not from the sounds; at least, not without a good many day's laborious tracking. But now we know there's a python around, the toolies will keep their eyes skinned, and come and tell me when they locate him. It means baksheesh too; the first man who comes and tells me will get five chips. Pythons leave quite big tracks wherever they go in search of a girl friend... marks as big as from motor tytes.... Someone's bound to locate the thing in a day or two, and then I'll go and blow it to bits. Which reminds me: I'd better try out the new cartridges I brought out from England. I don't think we shall be getting any more big-game ammunition out here for a long time--ah, I told you it might rain!"

The wind came whistling up the Koyna gorge and rose to a roar, and heavy, dark, low-flying clouds came up from nowhere and covered the view as though with a gauze curtain. Even as the ser- vants were rushing about taking the tea things in, large hail-stones were drumming against the tiles and hitting the verandah steps and bounding away in all directions.

Leaning against the wooden verandah railing. Jean looked moodily at the storm and said. I'm not going to step out of the house until I know the... the thing has been killed." I shouldn't worry all that much," said Henry reassuringly. 'It's not really dangerous. Except for dogs. Herman mustn't go off into the jungle on his own until this is over."

The next morning was clear and bright, and when Jean woke up Henry was already in the gun-room, carrying out his weekly gun- oiling. The number one boy stood beside him handing out cleaning rods and bits of four-by-two flannelette. There was the big four- sixty-five double by Roland Lock. his elephant rifle, and then there was his special love, a shining blue, walnut-stocked, heavily en- graved Holland and Holland shotgun with the detachable side- locks. From the way he handled it, Jean could see he loved the Holland, rubbing the stock with his fingers and wiping out the last vestige of surplus oil from the barrels again and again until they shone like mirrors. After that came the two smaller rifles, the two- fifty-six Mauser and the Remington bolt action two-twe. And last of all the old Manton shotgun with its old-fashioned cocking hammers. Every weapon was always cleaned and oiled. always beautifully shining, ready for instant use. They were all taken out every Tuesday morning and oiled and cleaned even if they had not been used during the previous week.

I wonder how long this roons is going to go on stinking of perfume," said Jean, wrinkling her nose. Most of the stuff got soaked into the carpet, when the bottle broke,' said Henry.

Was it a big bottle, darling?" asked Jean, 'I do wish it hadn't got smashed even before I could see it. But you'll buy me another, just as big, won't you, darling...?"

'Shush!" said Henry, holding up his hand and cocking his head to one side.

The python was still about. 'Oooo... Oooo... Oooo,' came the call, even louder than on the previous day.

'Getting impatient for love, isn't he?' remarked Henry, rising. With all that rain last night. Come,' he said to Jean.

They went and sat side by side on the verandah steps. Henry ordered a mali to put up a target on one of the trees beyond the lawn on the side of the bungalow. The target was a white-painted cardboard circle about twelve inches in diameter. That'll do, Henry told the mali when he had reached the correct distance. The mali nailed the disc to the trunk of a big blue-pine tree which stood close to the edge of the valley.

'D'you think that's a hundred yards?' asked Henry. More, darling. At least a hundred and fifty."

Henry broke open a fresh box of cartridges, loaded two cigar- sized shells into his four-sixty-five, and knelt down and aimed.

This is going to be a trifle noisy.' he told Jean. 'You'd better keep your ears closed."

The first two shots went crashing into the valley, one after the other. Even before the sound had died out, Henry unloaded and broke another box of cartridges and loaded the rifle again and fired two more shots. In all he opened five boxes and tested two rounds from each box. Then he sent the mali to bring back the target.

"What do you think?' he asked Jean, who had sat beside him all the time, showing her the neat round punctures made in the white cardboard disc. 'All ten shots within six inches.

"Is that very good?"

With a heavy rifle, yes.

'Darling, you're a wonderful shot,' said Jean. The best in the world."

Arm-in-arm, they went back into the gun-room, and Henry sat down to clean the heavy rifle once again.

'Doesn't your shoulder hurt?' enquired Jean.

'No. She kicks like hell, of course, but one has to hold her tight.

It's just a trick, really." "All the boys came out to watch."

They always do: sort of tamasha for them. Now all we have to do is wait until someone brings the khabbar, and Mrs. Winton,

you've got your python-skin shoes."

'Darling, you're a lovely man,' said Jean, nuzzling the back of his neck. Quite the hairiest male I know, even if you are reeking of perfume.'

I've been sitting on that damned carpet, Henry explained. "That means I've got all of ninety cartridges for the Big Bertha, all firing sweetly. That's a lot of fire-power, with me shooting as I shot just now. Should last me all through the war, even if the war lasts three years, as Chamberlain has been saying it might. Have I stopped being a lovely man?

'Not yet."

"Then kiss me again, please. It feels mice."

When Henry reached his office that day. Trevor was waiting to see him.

Good morning, sir. I've come to ask a favour."

"Yes?"

There's a damn boa constrictor in the garden.

'Not boa, python."

"Same, no?

'Well, not quite.'

'My the coolies are all scared green. Many of them came asking me why I don't shoot the boa... the python.

That was the sort of thing Eddie Trevor was always trying to do. Anything to attract the limelight, Henry reflected. But then you couldn't be an international hockey star without wanting to push yourself into the limelight all the time.

You weren't by any chance thinking of going to look for it.

were you?' asked Henry. I've no gun, sir. I wanted to ask you for a gun and some car- tridges. What would you use for a python, Mr. Winton?"

A buckshot, preferably two bucks! ot, put only in the head- and then two more, just to make sure and then two more again- all in the head.

I know that. No use shooting a python anywhere else but the head."

'Have you shot anything before?"

Plenty. Fred Miranda has a gun, a Tolly's and so has Mervin Henderson, the SM. I have shot pig and buck and even a sambhar. Once I sat up for a panther too, but couldn't get him. Chum had killed...

Henry wasn't interested in knowing about Trevor's panther. 'But don't you know you can't go looking for a python?-chasing the source of the calls? And if any of the coolies bring the khabbar, I'd much rather go and finish him off myself. 'But I do mean to go looking for him, Mr. Winton, sir. Go out and find him. Pasupati is going with me. He says he can easily find the boa... python." 'Kistulal's son? I suppose he can find it if he sets out to, if he's anything like as good as his father was. But it may take days... and miles and miles of trudging round in circles. Dangerous too."

I don't mind that, Mr. Winton; please, sir. I wanted to give a python skin bag to my girl; set of bag and shoes and belt to match." and Trevor grinned ingratiatingly.

All right. There's an old twelve-bore lying in the bungalow, left behind by Mr. Wallach. It's got cocking hammers. I can let you have that gun, and some buckshot. But don't go taking any foolish risks. It's a dangerous business.

Thanks, sir; I don't mind the danger, not at all,' said Trevor, looking very pleased. 'If I had a proper rifle, I'd even go for the Tista one-túsker. Pasupati says he will be able to track it down."

'All right, Trevor, but on the condition that if any of the coolies on the garden comes with the khabbar, I should be most upset if you tried to take him on. Because in that case, I shall do the shoot- ing myself. You can have a go only if you can find him yourself. Is that quite clear?

"Quite clear, Mr. Winton,' said Eddie Trevor.

Throughout the whole of Tuesday, the booming, vibrating Oooo ... Oooo went on intermittently, sounding maddeningly close at times and quite far away at others. It was a curiously unnerving experience even for Henry, who had shot at least half a dozen pythons, and poor Herman seemed to shiver every time it heard the call. But none of the coolies had come across the python's tracks.

The next morning, when Jean and Henry were sitting down to breakfast in the verandah, the python was still calling.

I hardly slept a wink,' complained Jean, 'with that going on most of the night.

They move around rather a lot when they get the sex urge, and one of the coolies is bound to run into its tracks.... Blast!

A single shot rang out deep in the valley below them and its report went crashing again and again to and fro between the two hills.

I hope the bloody fool has managed to kill it; that he's got it in the head,' said Henry.

"What will happen if he hasn't?' asked Jean.

I hardly like to think about it."

Will the python kill Mr. Trevor?"

'Pythons don't kill. They mostly swallow their prey alive-but rarely human-beings."

Then why did you say it was dangerous?"

'Did I? Well, if you happen to wound one, then it lashes out. and if it manages to get its teeth into some part of your body... well, that's the end. They can't let go, and they get their tails round some tree and then go into coils, getting smaller and smaller, squeez- ing whatever they have caught, crushing the bones so that what ever it is makes a soft, easy mouthful. The victim is usually alive as he enters the gullet. head first...." 'Don't Henry, please!"

'Perhaps he's managed to blow off the head with just one shot. But I warned him to fire at least two more, even if he had managed to get a head shor. On the other hand, he may have fired the shot at a pheasant... free use of a gun. Please pass the butter."

Twenty minutes later, just as they were finishing breakfast, they heard the sound of the motor-cycle.

'I wonder what that means. Has he shot it or has he created an emergency? He took a man out with him,' said Henry. 'Blast him! -he seems to be coming up the drive here!"

"Let's hope he's coming to tell you he has shot the thing." said Jean.

'Could be, Henry answered doubtfully. "Bit don't go asking him to join us at breakfast or anything."

The red motor-cycle came through the gate of the bungalow. Eddie Trevor was wearing Jodhpurs and his leather jacket, and a green beret at a rakish angle. Behind him sat Pasupati, Kistulal's son, carrying the old Manton with the cocking hammers slung across his chest. Trevor brought the motor-cycle to a smooth halt just beside the steps of the verandah. 'Good morning, sir! Good morning, Mrs. Winton! " said Trevor, taking off his beret with a sweeping gesture. 'I've shot him!"

'Good!' said Henry. "Jolly good show!"

Very big at least twenty feet. Don't you think so, l'asupati?" Trevor asked his guide.

But Pasupati was taking no part in the conversation. He stood in silence behind Trevor, clutching the twelve-bore under his right arm.

'Is it...er, quite dead?' asked Jean.

These things don't finish wriggling for several hours, Henry told her.

'Chum's still rolling about like mad,' said Trevor. He was still standing beside his motor cycle, and Henry and Jean had come to the edge of the verandah and were leaning against the wooden railing.

"Why un earth did you fire just one shot?" asked Henry. T told you it is just as well to give them a couple more to make things doubly sure."

No use spoiling the skin. I thought. Head blown clean off Ask Pasupati.

This time Pasupati agreed readily. "Sahib number one shot," he said. 'Kill fust shot. Agua moving like whip."

"Good," said Henry again. Now the coolies will have no further

excuse to shirk work. Thank you, Trevor Thanks for coming to tell me We can let Herman loose agat. I was wondering if you wouldn't like to come and see him, sir."

said Trevor. 'See him? Lord, No! I've seen dozens: No, thank you; it's not a pretty sight."

Perhaps Mrs. Winston?' suggested Trevor. Mis. Winton may

not have seen a python in its natural surroundings. Mrs. Winton does not like to see animals dying. Henry told him.

'Oh, but I would, Henry," said Jean. I would very much like to see the python. Can't we go!"

Is it very far from the road?' asked Henry.

"Oh, quite far. at least a clear mile, perhaps more. It's right by a mule-path, though. The old triumph can go within a couple of hundred yards. Why don't you take Mrs. Winton on my motor- cycle, sir? suggested Trevor. I could tell you where the exact spot s

'No, no; years since I've ridden one of those things. Bound to pile it up: after all that rain the day before yesterday. Mrs. Winton

will just have to wait ull we can kill a python somewhere close to the main road."

It's a pity,' said Trevor. "It really is enormous; and such wonder-

ful colouring... Unless Mrs. Winton would not mind conung

with me?"

Not at all," said Jean. I should love to. Can I go, Henry?"

"You won't like it, Jean. They thrash about for hours even after the head is severed. They can even be dangerous if you get too close. Besides, you don't like to see animals being killed. remember?"'

But I would like to see a python. It's not like seeing an animal killed right under your nose, and not being able to do anything

about it. This is something quite different. May I go. Henry?" 'I'll drive very carefully, Mr. Winton,' Trevor promised.

Well, if you really want to, Jean; but I assure you, you won't

like it, Henry said again. "Thank you, darling,' said Jean.

'I shall bring Mrs. Winton back in fifteen minutes, sir, twenty at the most,' said Trevor, as he kicked the starter.

Henry had waited for three quarters of an hour before going off to his office, and they had sull not returned by then. It was when he came back from the office for lunch that Jean told him more about the python.

"It was horrible, darling."

I knew it would be: I told you. Shall I ask the boy to make a gimlet for you?"

'Yes, please. I think I need one. Do you know, the Santhals were already gathering round with their horrible big knives."

"They adore python meat. Here's your gimlet. "They were going to start cutting up as soon as I left, even when the thing was still quite alive.

'It's not alive; it just happens to be wriggling. Is there no way of finishing them oft?"

Dynamite perhaps, I don't know of anything else."

All because of a mating call. Instead of finding a mate, they get their heads blown off-it's horrible.

'Well, if they would only keep away from tea-gardens, they wouldn't get their heads blown off. Was it very far?

What? Oh, yes; we had to walk at least half-a-mile after the mule-path ended.

"Big?"

'Enormous! And such a beautiful colour, Henry; shades of russet and brown and pale green- just like the trees and the earth, and so glossy. Eddie offered to give me the skin.

I thought he wanted the skin for Ruby... his girl friend. I hope you said "no","

Of course. I don't care much for snakeskin shoes... or hand- bags."

I'm glad you didn't take it. When he asked me for the gun, he told me he specially wanted to shoot the python so that he could present the skin to his...

Wait, Henry. Do you know what Eddie told me?"

'Eddie"

'He said that when he asked to borrow your gun, that dreadful boy whom he took as his guide.... You know what he told Eddie?"

'No.' Henry said. 'But please.... "Well, he told him that if Winton sahib offered to give the big elephant gun to kill the python, he would not go with Fddie be

cause the big gun is detective it does not go off." 'Oh, the damned lar" Henry said in sudden anger 'What absolute rot! The bloody little swine...

"So I told Eddie that it was all wrong, of course, and that I was sitting right next to you when the big elephant gun was fed at the target, and that you shot so beautifully and all the shots went off: and Eddie too said that of course he and everyone else in the garden had heard all the shots

'Of course, there's nothing the matter with the four-sixty-five I'll teach the little bastard to go about spreading sumous...

'I told Eddie that you were the best shot in the world, because I know you are, darling, and also that you were the most, most par ticular man about your guns and your cartridges, and that anyone who says anything else wants his face slapped. I said that it was because you were so good and so reliable that the Government had come begging to you to finish off the one-tusked rogue, and I said that if the one-tusked rogue ever showed up again it would be you who would kill it."

Thank you, darling. I'll have that little swine Pasupati sacked at once. As it was, I only took him on as a favour, because.. 'Oh, no, Henry; please, please,' Jean protested. I promised Eddie

you wouldn't. Only then would he tell me. He's only a boy, really.

and it seems he has taken his father's death terribly to heart.'

Was Trevor telling you about that?"

"Yes; but he only said how wonderful you had been, and how some man called Jugal Kishore had been telling the boy all sorts of things. It isn't the boy's fault, really."

'But I can't go on keeping Pasupati here. Well, perhaps I could have the twerp transferred. That's right. That's what I shall do. They want a gamekeeper at the Highlands Club. He should just suit that job. I'll get Sudden to take him on there; so that he stops spreading rumours about me, right in my own garden. In Chinnar, he will have no time for gossip because, in addition to being the

gamekeeper, he will have to look after the game cottage.... 'That's where I fell in love with you. Remember?"

'I fell in love with you before that, when I first saw you getting out of Sudden's car'

You are a har, darling,' she said, brushing his cheek with her hips. But you're a very sweet lai, and I love you."

Henry took her face in his hands and kissed her on the mouth.

Carried Unanimously

THE Chinnai Week of 1939 began with an afternoon conference As soon as they were all assembled in the conference 100m. Sudden told them he had just heard that Cockburn had died.

There was a pin-drop silence in the room, and as though to honour the dead Sudden had gone on sitting with bowed head not saying anything, for a whole minute. Then he had given them some more details.

It seemed that Cockburn had not been ill for more than a couple of days, and just as the company's chief medical officer, Dr. Lewis, was about to leave for Lamlung, word had been recessed that he had died.

The first thought that came to Henry's mind way that Cockburn had died as he would have wished to die his death had a kind of dramatic neatness about it. And then above the sense of personal sorrow, the curiously disloyal thought kept daiting through his mind that, with Cockburn dead, no one but himself knew the cir cumstances of Kistulal's death Was a sense of guilt always asso ciated with some kind of evidence, with someone who knew the facts? Henry asked himself.

But Henry chain of thought was broken abruptly

All the cooles at Lamlung have set aside two days' pay to build some kind of memorial to Cockburn, Sudden was saying, "I am offering them an equal sum from the company's funds

This must be the first time in Brindian history that the coolies on a garden had offered to set aside a part of their pay for a memorial to a manager, Henry reflex ted and once agam found himself won- dering what it was that had made Cockburn so popular with the Indians

'Dashed awkward, Sudden was saying. Twenty-five men to run twenty-seven gardens now, and I'm afraid more will have to be going away soon. The Government won't agree to classify planters as essential. Shocking ignorance, of course sheer muddleheaded- ness"

So the decision has come, sir?" asked someone at the back..

'The decision, as you say, has come, together with an exhortation from the directors to make all possible efforts to increase production. Double it in three years Who will double it? Where am I going to

get the managers? Sudden glowered at them. as though expecting an answer, but no one said anything

What I propose to do is to send Cope-Liston to Lamlung and

Marchbanks to Lower Tista."

Marchbank The estates officer asked Williamson.

That's night. The Club will have to find its own man to look atter it properties or its own woman.

Marchbanks was well past sixty. He had retired seven years ago. but since he had now here to go he had been found a job as the estates manager of the Highlands Club at five hundred rupees per month

The Club will damn well have to find someone to look after its properties, Snilden ruled It was rather an amusing situation since Sudden himself, in his capacity of President of the Highlands Club, would have to hnd a replacement for its estates officer

Neither the war nor Cockburn s death made much difference to the sprit of the Chinnar Week The committee was anxious to see that everything should go on as usual ind as a result this year there seemed to be more people than ever, enoying themselves with greater gusto There were more cocktail parties, more beer-and lunch sessions, more tea and tennis afternoons, and more picnics than ever before, and for the first time since its inception, the Week had to be extended to six days instead of the usual five. The war had brought on a new, somewhat reckless and defiant urge for escape and everything seemed to be a little more noisy and a little less in hibited. Indeed someone had even brought up a suggestion that the all-white rule might be relaxed to the extent of permitting the Club housekeeper to attend the annual rough shoot dance But of

course the committee had turned down the suggestion out of hand Because Henry had brought Herman with him and did not wish to keep the animal in the Club's kennels, he and Jean were staying in one of the tents Jean who had never lived in a tent before w full of praise for its comfort Your friend the housekeeper must be giving you special treat- ment,' she said to Henry, 'particularly now you're going to be a member of the Club committee.

Henry laughed. 'Depends whether I get elected,' he answered 1 modestly. But there was no question of his not being elected since it was Sudden himself who had put up his name.

However, within a couple of days, they had discovered that they were certainly not being singled out for preferential treatment: that it was merely indicative of the way things were running in the Club. Everyone who had come for the Week was full of praise for the new housekeeper, Miss Miranda. The food was better than ever, even though wartime shortages were already beginning to make themselves felt; there was more cleanliness all round, better service, and a general air of behind-the-scenes efficiency; all the furniture gleaming with polish, the cane chairs freshly painted, the brass shining, the drinks always cold. the tea and coffee always strong and hot, the linen crisp and snow-white. As a new member of the committee, Henry also came to know that despite the slight rise in prices due to the war, the cateing profits had gone up sub stantially.

At the first meeting of the Club committer Henry attended, he had put up Pasupati's name for the job of gamekeeper, and had the satisfaction of having his first proposal carried unanimously.

It was then that Sudden came out with what he intended to do about filling Marchbanks' place. 'I think we should call upon the housekeeper to take on the responsibility for all Club estates, not

just the clubhouse as at present." You mean the golf hut and the boat house and all that?" asked Bradley, the vice-president.

And the cricket pavilion, and the game cottage, the whole sub-

cheeze, declared Sudden. That would involve a round of inspection of about eight miles, sir.' Henry pointed out.

Well, we all have to be prepared to shoulder extra burdens in wartime, gentlemen. I think we should tell the housekeeper that she has been placed in charge of the Club estates. In addition to her present duties, of course."

You weren't thinking of giving her Marchbanks' pay, were you. Sudden?' inquired Bradley.

No. But we shall have to give her some kind of a conveyance. I was thinking that we could buy Cockburn's Citroën and place it at the service of the housekeeper, and also pay her an allowance of, say, fifty rupees a month for running expenses."

Fifty chips should be quite enough,' said Bradley, nodding approval. Yes, quite enough. How much will the car cost, do you think, Sudden?"

"We shall have to value it ourselves. About three hundred rupees, I should say. Cockburn hardly used the thing, except to come here now and then. Used to keep it garaged in Lower Tista."

Does she does the housekeeper know how to drive a car, Sir Jeffrey?' asked one of the members.

If she doesn't, she'll just have to learn,' snapped Sudden. "Agreed gentlemen?

And agreed it was.

It was on his thud afternoon at Chinnar, as he was going through one of his chores as a committee member, that Henry Winton congratulated Ruby Miranda on the improvements she had made in the Club's catering. He was checking a list of articles which the housekeeper had recommended should be written off, and she was standing in front of the table, leaning across it and trying to read out some of the hand-written entries which Henry had not been able to decipher.

She looked severe and business-like and a little over cager, in a trim, dove-grey coat-and-skirt, and with her hair done up in a near bun, and somehow she was wholly a part of her surroundings, the steel filing cabinets and the dark chairs and the musty smell of old records. Bending slightly forward, with a slightly anxious look on her face, she looked as though some clever artist had posed her for a portrait, knowing how she would look her best, getting the light just right, dressing her in the colours th.: flattered her figure and complexion. Henry wanted to pull her head down and kiss her on the full, pouting mouth, to crush her into his arms. As it was, all he said was, 'Everyone is talking about how well you are running the Club.

Thank you,' said Ruby tonelessly.

I'm sorry about the committee turning down the proposal to let you come to the rough shoot dance."

I don't think I would have come to the dance anyway," answered Ruby, 'unless it had been necessary in a purely professional capacity."

There was not the least trace of bitterness in her tone, she might have been explaining some figures in the Club accounts. Ruby spoke with a new dignity, and Henry was again struck by the improvement in her accent and her choice of words.

'Besides, Ruby said, 'my fiancé would not have liked the idea of my going to a dance with strangers.

'Your fiancé?"

'Fddie has got a job now." Ruby explained.

It was good to know that she was going to be named, and yet Henry was aware of a slight ripple of disappointment. He turned back to the Club registers. I really don't know how you are going to look after Marchbanks' work in addition to your own," he said. Your present work is a full time job, I'm sure. I say, I do hope you can drive a car?

'If I couldn't, I would just have to learn, wouldn't I said Ruby, still in a flat vone. That was what Sudden had remarked at the closed-door committee meeting, and Henry wondered how it could have reached Ruby's ears.

"But can you?"

I can ride a motor cycle very well, and I've had a few lessons in driving a car. I shall be able to manage. I'm really glad, f only for the Club's sake There bound to be an all-round improvement Marchbanks did damn all, just sat and drank gin all day.' I shall do my best."

" Any help I can give you... I'm on the committer now You only have to ask.

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind I might have to worry you some time about the game cottage I wouldn't know what improve ments were needed."

'Oh, I'll give you my own ideas I'm sure the game cottage could do with some renovating. We must... er, we must go and have a look at it some day. I say, you are looking lovely today. I mean lovelier than ever."

Thank you,' said Ruby, very formally.

Eddie Trevor is a lucky man, damned lucky."

'A good man too; very good and very true."

I do hope he gets his commission." 

'I don't care, so long as he doesn't get called up before exmas." She hadn't said "oh, my" once, thought Henry, or things like

'ta muchly' or 'great!", and now she had to go and call Christmas

'exmas': o, Pygmalion!-how difficult, how heartbreaking it was to unlearn a way of speech! So much more difficult than learning an altogether new language.

Were you thinking of going away for the Christmas holidays?" he asked.

I've always spent exmas at home.' she said. 'And so has Eddie. He will be there too."

Are you going to be married during the Christmas holidays?"

I don't know, answered Ruby. 'All I know is that I don't want to go on being the housekeeper at this Club all my life."

I say, Henry ventured, encouraged by her faint smile. 'I don't want to offend you: but I must congratulate you on the improve ment in the way you speak."

I'm so glad you noticed,' said Ruby, her smile widening a little. 'I try very hard; repeat every sentence after the BBC announcers. And I also try and memorize the phrases I come across in conversa- tion the way the women here say things.

"Oh, really?"

'Only, most of the women here don't speak like the BBC at all. Quite a few say things like "amaneggs" instead of "ham and eggs". and "wotcher think" and "rahnd abaht" and "rinin" for "raining": and Mrs. Atkins says "kum-bach" when she wants her little son to come back."

'Oh, well; not all the women you see here are... are out of the top drawer, y'know, Henry ex lained, wondering for a moment if she were being sarcastic; but he noticed that she was still smiling. He covered her hand with his, and asked:

*Am I forgiven for losing my temper tha: time?"

Ruby did not draw away her hand. There's nothing to forgive; it was all my fault,' she said

"No, no, mine entirely.... Anyway, are we-well, we're still friends?"

"Of course, Ruby assured him. 'Of course we are friends."

He gave her hand a squeeze and they looked into each other's eyes and smiled. Just friends?-no more" he whispered, still looking directly into her eyes.

Ruby blushed and looked away, but she did not draw away her hand. Then she said something which surprised him, 'It all depends on you, Mr. Winton.

This time the Brindian team did win the team shoot; but once again it was Peter Bliss who won the rough shoot championship. Henry was runner-up-just seven birds short of Bliss. Even Sudden must have felt that he would have fared better and almost certainly topped Bliss's score if he had been given the choice of butts. Sudden had invited the Brindian four to his house for a quick drink before the rough shoot dance. Just as they were about to leave his place to go and get dressed, he said, 'Hang on a minute, Henry. I want a word with you, and the others had taken the hint and hurried away. I feel that if you had been shooting on the forward butt on the hogsback instead of myself," said Sudden, 'you would have caught up with Peter.

I don't know, sir.' said Henry. I didn't do so badly on the hogs. back.

Well, sorry. Next year you can choose your butts."

'It really does not make any difference, Sir Jeffrey, Henry assured him.

It should make a difference. Sudden protested somewhat belli- gerently. You should want to win the rough shoot, dammit everyone should!" I shall certainly keep trying."

'Look, Henry, said Sudden with a slightly anxious look. I've been thinking about keeping people's jobs open. I mean, those who

join up even when they don't have to." I think it would be only fair, sir."

"Mind you, I'm not prepared to make a general rule of it; but I'm certainly willing to consider every case on its merits. Now. what you have told me about this chap of yours. Trevor. Rather touching, what?"

'It certainly is.

'I mean, there's this chap who need not join up at all, turning down a manager's job just because he wants to go and fight the Hun; just because the Empire is at war-extraordinary!"

He has certainly shown a lot of... lot of guts, sir,"

I should say so-lot of guts. And I do admire that more than anything else, Henry--guts. I have sent a personal letter to General Maclean asking him to see what he can do about getting Trevor a commission. Dammit! All sorts of people are being given the King's commission, these days. Trevor deserves to get in, if anyone does."

'He certainly does.'

'And I'm determined to keep his job open, with a recommenda- tion that he should be promoted to manager as soon as he is able to report back. What do you think?"

It is certainly generous of you, sir."

"Well, you can tell him so, Henry, when you get back-wait. I think I would like to tell him myself. Look, I'm thinking of coming round to inspect Silent Hill next week. I would like to tell Trevor myself; y'know, sort of timely put on the back means a hell of a lot, what?"

'It certainly does.

'I mean, no use treating these chaps as complete outsiders when they are showing so much so much spirit, what?' and Sudden had smuled a tight hipped smule

'Of course sir Tieven will appreciate it, I'm sure

I'm glad you agree. Let's we now I could come next Saturday, Just for the day Keturn here on Sunday That all right? Certainly sir

"Good! I'll turn up on Saturday, then, kes see, that will be the 25th, that's right I'll be there about cleven

Henry remembered to ask, 'Will Tady Dart bu acompanying you What's that?" Sudden snapped. Of course not, not for an in- spection. I never take Kitty with me when I go out on an inspection You should know that. Henry" I'm sorry, sir,' said Henry.