MissTAshighupontheshoulderaspossible。
　　MissDAmIquitetallenough？IknowitmakesMayOlderlooklopsided。
　　MissTYes，butMayhasn’tyourshouldersHersarelikeahock-bottle。
　　BEARERRappingatdoor。CaptainSahibaya。
　　MissDJumpingupwildly，andhuntingforbodice，whichshehasdiscardedowingtotheheatoftheday。CaptainSahib！WhatCaptainSahib？Oh，goodgracious，andI’monlyhalfdressed！
　　Well，Isha’n’tbother。
　　MissTCalmly。Youneedn’tItisn’tforusThat’sCaptainGadsbyHeisgoingforaridewithMammaHegenerallycomesfivedaysoutoftheseven。
　　AGONIZEDVOICEPromaninnerapartment。Minnie，runoutandgiveCaptainGadsbysometea，andtellhimIshallbereadyintenminutes；and，OMinnie，cometomeaninstant，there’sadeargirl！
　　MissTOh，bother！Aloud。Verywell，Mamma。
　　Exit，andreappears，afterfiveminutes，flushed，andrubbingherfingers。
　　MissDYoulookpinkWhathashappened？
　　MissTInastagewhisper。Atwenty-four-inchwaist，andshewon’tletitoutWherearemybangles？Rummageronthetoilet-table，anddabsatherhairwithabrushintheinterval。
　　MissDWhoisthisCaptainGadsby？Idon’tthinkI’vemethim。
　　MissTYoumusthaveHebelongstotheHarrarsetI’vedancedwithhim，butI’venevertalkedtohimHe’sabigyellowman，justlikeanewly-hatchedchicken，withanenormousmoustacheHewalkslikethisimitatesCavalryswagger，andhegoes“Ha-Hmmm！”deepdowninhisthroatwhenhecan’tthinkofanythingtosayMammalikeshimIdon’t。
　　MissDAbstractedly。Doeshewaxthatmoustache？
　　MissTBusywithPowder-puff。Yes，IthinksoWhy？
　　MissDBendingoverthebodiceandsewingfuriously。Oh，nothing-only-MissTSternly。Onlywhat？Outwithit，Emma。
　　MissDWell，MayOlger-she’sengagedtoMrCharteris，youknow-said-Promiseyouwon’trepeatthis？
　　MissTYes，IpromiseWhatdidshesay？
　　MissDThat-thatbeingkissedwitharushwithamanwhodidn’twaxhismoustachewas-likeeatinganeggwithoutsalt。
　　MissTAtherfullheight，withcrushingscorn。MayOlgerisahorrid，nastyThing，andyoucantellherIsaidsoI’mgladshedoesn’tbelongtomyset-Imustgoandfeedthisman！DoIlookpresentable？
　　MissDYes，perfectlyBequickandhandhimovertoyourMother，andthenwecantalkIshalllistenatthedoortohearwhatyousaytohim。
　　MissT’SureIdon’tcareI’mnotafraidofCaptainGadsby。
　　Inproofofthisswingsintothedrawing-roomwithamannishstridefollowedbytwoshortsteps，whichProducestheeffectofarestivehorseenteringMissesCAPTAINGADSBY，whoissittingintheshadowofthewindow-curtain，andgazesroundhelplessly。
　　CAPTAINGADSBYAside。Thefilly，byJove！’Mustha’
　　pickedupthatactionfromthesireAloud，rising。Goodevening，MissThreegan。
　　MissTConsciousthatsheisflushing。Goodevening，CaptainGadsbyMammatoldmetosaythatshewillbereadyinafewminutesWon’tyouhavesometea？Aside。IhopeMammawillbequickWhatamItosaytothecreature？Aloudandabruptly。
　　Milkandsugar？
　　CAPTGNosugar，tha-anks，andverylittlemilkHa-Hmmm。
　　MissTAside。Ifhe’sgoingtodothat，I’mlostIshalllaughI
　　knowIshall！
　　CAPTGPullingathismoustacheandwatchingitsidewaysdownhisnose。Ha-HammAside。’Wonderwhatthelittlebeastcantalkabout’Mustmakeashotatit。
　　MissTAside。Oh，thisisagonizingImustsaysomething。
　　BothTogetherHaveyouBeen-CAPTGIbegyourpardonYouweregoingtosay-MissTWhohasbeenwatchingthemoustachewithawedfascination。Won’tyouhavesomeeggs？
　　CAPTGLookingbewilderedlyatthetea-table。Eggs！Aside。
　　OHades！Shemusthaveanursery-teaatthishourS’posethey’vewipedhermouthandsenthertomewhiletheMotherisgettingonherdudsAloud。No，thanks。
　　MissTCrimsonwithconfusion。Oh！Ididn’tmeanthatI
　　wasn’tthinkingofmou-eggsforaninstantImeansaltWon’tyouhavesomesa-sweets？Aside。He’llthinkmearavinglunaticI
　　wishMammawouldcome。
　　CAPTGAside。Itwasanursery-teaandshe’sashamedofitByJove！Shedoesn’tlookhalfbadwhenshecolorsuplikethat。
　　Aloud，helpinghimselffromthedish。HaveyouseenthosenewchocolatesatPeliti’s？
　　MissTNo，ImadethesemyselfWhataretheylike？
　　CAPTGThese！De-liciousAside。Andthat’safact。
　　MissTAside。Oh，bother！he’llthinkI’mfishingforcomplimentsAloud。No，Peliti’sofcourse。
　　CAPTGEnthusiastically。NottocomparewiththeseHowd’youmakethem？Ican’tgetmykhansamahtounderstandthesimplestthingbeyondmuttonandfowl。
　　MissTYes？I’mnotakhansamah，youknowPerhapsyoufrightenhimYoushouldneverfrightenaservantHeloseshisheadIt’sverybadpolicy。
　　CAPTGHe’ssoawf’lystupid。
　　MissTFoldingherhandsinherZap。Youshouldcallhimquietlyandsay：“Okhansamahjee！”
　　CAPTGGettinginterested。Yes？Aside。Fancythatlittlefeatherweightsaying，“Okhansamahjee“tomybloodthirstyMirKhan！
　　MissTThenyoushouldexplainthedinner，dishbydish。
　　CAPTGButIcan’tspeakthevernacular。
　　MissTPatronizingly。YoushouldpasstheHigherStandardandtry。
　　CAPTGIhave，butIdon’tseemtobeanythewiserAreyou？
　　MissTIneverpassedtheHigherStandardButthekhansamahisverypatientwithmeHedoesn’tgetangrywhenItalkaboutsheep’stopees，orordermaundsofgrainwhenImeanseers。
　　CAPTGAsidewithintenseindignation。I’dliketoseeMirKhanbeingrudetothatgirl！Hullo！SteadytheBuffs！Aloud。Anddoyouunderstandabouthorses，too？
　　MissTAlittle-notverymuchIcan’tdoctorthem，butIknowwhattheyoughttoeat，andIaminchargeofourstable。
　　CAPTGIndeed！YoumighthelpmethenWhatoughtamantogivehissaisintheHills？Myruffiansayseightrupees，becauseeverythingissodear。
　　MissTSixrupeesamonth，andonerupeeSimlaallowance-
　　neithermorenorlessAndagrass-cutgetssixrupeesThat’sbetterthanbuyinggrassinthebazar。
　　CAPTGAdmiringly。Howdoyouknow？
　　MissTIhavetriedbothways。
　　CAPTGDoyouridemuch，then？I’veneverseenyouontheMall。
　　MissTAside。Ihaven’tpassedhimmorethanfiftytimes。
　　Aloud。Nearlyeveryday。
　　CAPTGByJove！Ididn’tknowthatHa-HammPullsathismousacheandissilentforfortyseconds。MissTDesperately，andwonderingwhatwillhappennext。ItlooksbeautifulI
　　shouldn’ttouchitifIwereyouAside。It’sallMamma’sfaultfornotcomingbeforeIwillberude！
　　CAPTGBronzingunderthetanandbringingdownhishandveryquickly。Eh！What-at！Oh，yes！Ha！Ha！Laughsuneasily。
　　Aside。Well，ofallthedashedcheek！IneverhadawomansaythattomeyetShemustbeacoolhandorelse-Ah！thatnursery-tea！
　　VOICEPROMTHEUNKNOWNTchk！Tchk！Tchk！
　　CAPTGGoodgracious！What’sthat？
　　MissTThedog，IthinkAside。Emmahasbeenlistening，andI’llneverforgiveher！
　　CAPTGAside。Theydon’tkeepdogshereAloud。’Didn’tsoundlikeadog，didit？
　　MissTThenitmusthavebeenthe~atLet’sgointotheveranda。
　　Whatalovelyeveningitis！
　　StepsintoverandaandlooksoutacrossthehillsintosunsetTheCAPTAINfollows。
　　CAPTGAside。Superbeyes！IwonderthatInevernoticedthembefore！Aloud。There’sgoingtoheadanceatViceregalLodgeonWednesdayCanyousparemeone？
　　MissTShortly。No！Idon’twantanyofyourcharity-dances。
　　YouonlyaskmebecauseMammatoldyoutoIhopandIbump。
　　YouknowIdo！
　　CAPTGAside。That’strue，butlittlegirlsshouldn’tunderstandthesethingsAloud。No，onmyword，Idon’tYoudancebeautifully。
　　MissTThenwhydoyoualwaysstandoutafterhalfadozenturns？IthoughtofficersintheArmydidn’ttellfibs。
　　CAPTGItwasn’tafib，believemeIreallydowantthepleasureofadancewithyou。
　　MissTWickedly。Why？Won’tMammadancewithyouanymore？
　　CAPTGMoreearnestlythanthenecessitydemands。Iwasn’tthinkingofyourMotherAside。Youlittlevixen！
　　MissTStilllookingoutofthewindow。Eh？Oh，IbegyourpardonIwasthinkingofsomethingelse。
　　CAPTGAside。Well！Iwonderwhatshe’llsaynextI’veneverknownawomantreatmelikethisbeforeImightb~Dashit，I
　　mightbeanInfantrysubaltern！Aloud。Oh，pleasedon’ttrouble。
　　I’mnotworththinkingaboutIsn’tyourMotherreadyyet？
　　MissTIshouldthinkso；butpromiseme，CaptainGamsby，youwon’ttakepoordearMammatwiceroundJakkoanymoreIttiresherso。
　　CAPTGShesaysthatnoexercisetiresher。
　　MissTYes，butshesuffersafterwardYoudon’tknowwhatrheumatismis，andyououghtn’ttokeepheroutsolate，whenitgetschillintheevenings。
　　CAPTGAside。RheumatismIthoughtshecameoffherhorseratherinabunchWhew！OnelivesandlearnsAloud。I’msorrytohearthatShehasn’tmentionedittome。
　　MissTFlurried。Ofcoursenot！PoordearMammaneverwould。
　　Andyoumustn’tsaythatItoldyoueitherPromisemethatyouwon’tOh，CAPTAINGamsby，promisemeyouwon’tI
　　CAPTGIamdumb，or-Ishallbeassoonasyou’vegivenmethatdance，andanother-ifyoucantroubleyourselftothinkaboutmeforaminute。
　　MissTButyouwon’tlikeitonelittlebitYou’llbeawfullysorryafterward。
　　CAPTGIshalllikeitaboveallthings，andIshallonlybesorrythatIdidn’tgetmoreAside。NowwhatintheworldamI
　　saying？
　　MissTVerywellYouwillhaveonlyyourselftothankifyourtoesaretroddenonShallwesaySeven？
　　CAPTGAndElevenAside。Shecan’tbemorethaneightstone，but，eventhen，it’sanabsurdlysmallfootLooksathisownridingboots。
　　MissTThey’rebeautifullyshinyIcanalmostseemyfaceinthem。
　　CAPTGIwasthinkingwhetherIshouldhavetogooncrutchesfortherestofmylifeifyoutrodonmytoes。
　　MissTVerylikelyWhynotchangeElevenforasquare？
　　CAPTGNo，please！IwantthembothwaltzesWon’tyouwritethemdown？
　　MissTJdon’tgetsomanydancesthatIshallconfusethemYouwillbetheoffender。
　　CAPTGWaitandsee！Aside。Shedoesn’tdanceperfectly，perhaps，butMissTYourteamusthavegotcoldbythistimeWon’tyouhaveanothercup？
　　CAPTGNo，thanksDon’tyouthinkit’spleasanteroutintheveranda？Aside。IneversawhairtakethatcolorinthesunshinebeforeAloud。It’slikeoneofDicksee’spictures。
　　MissTYesIIt’sawonderfulsunset，isn’tit？Bluntly。ButwhatdoyouknowaboutDicksee’spictures？
　　CAPTGIgoHomeoccasionallyAndIusedtoknowtheGalleriesNervously。Youmustn’tthinkmeonlyaPhilistinewith-amoustache。
　　MissTDon’t！Pleasedon’tI’msosorryforwhatIsaidthenIwashorriblyrudeItslippedoutbeforejthoughtDon’tyouknowthetemptationtosayfrightfulandshockingthingsjustforthemeresakeofsayingthem？I’mafraidIgavewaytoit。
　　CAPTGWatchingthegirlassheflushes。IthinkIknowthefeelingItwouldbeterribleifweallyieldedtoit，wouldn’tit？Forinstance，Imightsay-POORDEARMAMMAEntering，habited，hatted，andbooted。Ah，CaptainGamsby？’Sorrytokeepyouwaiting’Hopeyouhaven’tbeenbored’Mylittlegirlbeentalkingtoyou？
　　MissTAside。I’mnotsorryIspokeabouttherheumatismI’mnot！I’mNOT！IonlywishedI’dmentionedthecornstoo。
　　CAPTGAside。Whatashame！IwonderhowoldsheisItneveroccurredtomebeforeAloud。We’vebeendiscussing“Shakespeareandthemusicalglasses“intheveranda。