Look，youhavecastoutLove！WhatGodsaretheseYoubidmeplease？
　　TheThreeinOne，theOneinThree？Notso！
　　TomyownGodsIgo。
　　ItmaybetheyshallgivemegreatereaseThanyourcoldChristandtangledTrinities。
　　THECONVERT。
　　ShewasthedaughterofSonoo，aHill-man，andJadehhiswife。
　　Oneyeartheirmaizefailed，andtwobearsspentthenightintheironlypoppy-fieldjustabovetheSutlejValleyontheKotgarthside；
　　so，nextseason，theyturnedChristian，andbroughttheirbabytotheMissiontobebaptizedTheKotgarthChaplainchristenedherElizabeth，and“Lispeth“istheHillorpaharipronunciation。
　　Later，choleracameintotheKotgarthValleyandcarriedoffSonooandJadeh，andLispethbecamehalf-servant，half-companiontothewifeofthethenChaplainofKotgarthThiswasafterthereignoftheMoravianmissionaries，butbeforeKotgarthhadquiteforgottenhertitleof“MistressoftheNorthernHills。”
　　WhetherChristianityimprovedLispeth，orwhetherthegodsofherownpeoplewouldhavedoneasmuchforherunderanycircumstances，Idonotknow；butshegrewverylovelyWhenaHillgirlgrowslovely，sheisworthtravelingfiftymilesoverbadgroundtolookuponLispethhadaGreekface——oneofthosefacespeoplepaintsooften，andseesoseldomShewasofapale，ivorycolorand，forherrace，extremelytallAlso，shepossessedeyesthatwerewonderful；and，hadshenotbeendressedintheabominableprint-
　　clothsaffectedbyMissions，youwould，meetingheronthehill-
　　sideunexpectedly，havethoughthertheoriginalDianaoftheRomansgoingouttoslay。
　　LispethtooktoChristianityreadily，anddidnotabandonitwhenshereachedwomanhood，asdosomeHillgirlsHerownpeoplehatedherbecauseshehad，theysaid，becomeamemsahibandwashedherselfdaily；andtheChaplain’swifedidnotknowwhattodowithherSomehow，onecannotaskastatelygoddess，fivefootteninhershoes，tocleanplatesanddishesSosheplayedwiththeChaplain’schildrenandtookclassesintheSundaySchool，andreadallthebooksinthehouse，andgrewmoreandmorebeautiful，likethePrincessesinfairytalesTheChaplain’swifesaidthatthegirloughttotakeserviceinSimlaasanurseorsomething“genteel。”ButLispethdidnotwanttotakeserviceShewasveryhappywhereshewas。
　　Whentravellers——therewerenotmanyinthoseyears——cametoKotgarth，LispethusedtolockherselfintoherownroomforfeartheymighttakeherawaytoSimla，orsomewhereoutintotheunknownworld。
　　Oneday，afewmonthsaftershewasseventeenyearsold，LispethwentoutforawalkShedidnotwalkinthemannerofEnglishladies——amileandahalfout，andaridebackagainShecoveredbetweentwentyandthirtymilesinherlittleconstitutionals，allaboutandabout，betweenKotgarthandNarkundaThistimeshecamebackatfulldusk，steppingdownthebreakneckdescentintoKotgarthwithsomethingheavyinherarmsTheChaplain’swifewasdozinginthedrawing-roomwhenLispethcameinbreathinghardandveryexhaustedwithherburdenLispethputitdownonthesofa，andsaidsimply：
　　“ThisismyhusbandIfoundhimontheBagiRoadHehashurthimselfWewillnursehim，andwhenheiswell，yourhusbandshallmarryhimtome。”
　　ThiswasthefirstmentionLispethhadevermadeofhermatrimonialviews，andtheChaplain’swifeshriekedwithhorrorHowever，themanonthesofaneededattentionfirstHewasayoungEnglishman，andhisheadhadbeencuttothebonebysomethingjagged。
　　Lispethsaidshehadfoundhimdownthekhud，soshehadbroughthimin。
　　Hewasbreathingqueerlyandwasunconscious。
　　HewasputtobedandtendedbytheChaplain，whoknewsomethingofmedicine；andLispethwaitedoutsidethedoorincaseshecouldbeusefulSheexplainedtotheChaplainthatthiswasthemanshemeanttomarry；andtheChaplainandhiswifelecturedherseverelyontheimproprietyofherconductLispethlistenedquietly，andrepeatedherfirstpropositionIttakesagreatdealofChristianitytowipeoutuncivilizedEasterninstincts，suchasfallinginloveatfirstsightLispeth，havingfoundthemansheworshipped，didnotseewhysheshouldkeepsilentastoherchoiceShehadnointentionofbeingsentaway，eitherShewasgoingtonursethatEnglishmanuntilhewaswellenoughtomarryherThiswasherlittleprogramme。
　　Afterafortnightofslightfeverandinflammation，theEnglishmanrecoveredcoherenceandthankedtheChaplainandhiswife，andLispeth——especiallyLispeth——fortheirkindnessHewasatravellerintheEast，hesaid——theynevertalkedabout“globe-
　　trotters“inthosedays，whentheP&Ofleetwasyoungandsmall——andhadcomefromDehraDuntohuntforplantsandbutterfliesamongtheSimlahillsNooneatSimla，therefore，knewanythingabouthimHefanciedhemusthavefallenoverthecliffwhilestalkingafernonarottentree-trunk，andthathiscooliesmusthavestolenhisbaggageandfledHethoughthewouldgobacktoSimlawhenhewasalittlestrongerHedesirednomoremountaineering。
　　Hemadesmallhastetogoaway，andrecoveredhisstrengthslowly。
　　LispethobjectedtobeingadvisedeitherbytheChaplainorhiswife；sothelatterspoketotheEnglishman，andtoldhimhowmattersstoodinLispeth’sheartHelaughedagooddeal，andsaiditwasveryprettyandromantic，aperfectidyloftheHimalayas；
　　but，ashewasengagedtoagirlatHome，hefanciedthatnothingwouldhappenCertainlyhewouldbehavewithdiscretionHedidthatStillhefounditverypleasanttotalktoLispeth，andwalkwithLispeth，andsaynicethingstoher，andcallherpetnameswhilehewasgettingstrongenoughtogoawayItmeantnothingatalltohim，andeverythingintheworldtoLispethShewasveryhappywhilethefortnightlasted，becauseshehadfoundamantolove。
　　Beingasavagebybirth，shetooknotroubletohideherfeelings，andtheEnglishmanwasamusedWhenhewentaway，Lispethwalkedwithhim，uptheHillasfarasNarkunda，verytroubledandverymiserableTheChaplain’swife，beingagoodChristiananddislikinganythingintheshapeoffussorscandal——Lispethwasbeyondhermanagemententirely——hadtoldtheEnglishmantotellLispeththathewascomingbacktomarryher“Sheisbutachild，youknow，and，Ifear，atheartaheathen。”saidtheChaplain’swifeSoallthetwelvemilesupthehilltheEnglishman，withhisarmaroundLispeth’swaist，wasassuringthegirlthathewouldcomebackandmarryher；andLispethmadehimpromiseoverandoveragainSheweptontheNarkundaRidgetillhehadpassedoutofsightalongtheMuttianipath。
　　ThenshedriedhertearsandwentintoKotgarthagain，andsaidtotheChaplain’swife：“HewillcomebackandmarrymeHehasgonetohisownpeopletotellthemso。”AndtheChaplain’swifesoothedLispethandsaid：“Hewillcomeback。”Attheendoftwomonths，Lispethgrewimpatient，andwastoldthattheEnglishmanhadgoneovertheseastoEnglandSheknewwhereEnglandwas，becauseshehadreadlittlegeographyprimers；but，ofcourse，shehadnoconceptionofthenatureofthesea，beingaHillgirl。
　　Therewasanoldpuzzle-mapoftheWorldintheHouseLispethhadplayedwithitwhenshewasachildSheuneartheditagain，andputittogetherofevenings，andcriedtoherself，andtriedtoimaginewhereherEnglishmanwasAsshehadnoideasofdistanceorsteamboats，hernotionsweresomewhaterroneousItwouldnothavemadetheleastdifferencehadshebeenperfectlycorrect；fortheEnglishmanhadnointentionofcomingbacktomarryaHillgirlHeforgotallaboutherbythetimehewasbutterfly-huntinginAssamHewroteabookontheEastafterwardsLispeth’snamedidnotappear。
　　Attheendofthreemonths，LispethmadedailypilgrimagetoNarkundatoseeifherEnglishmanwascomingalongtheroadItgavehercomfort，andtheChaplain’swife，findingherhappier，thoughtthatshewasgettingoverher“barbarousandmostindelicatefolly。”AlittlelaterthewalksceasedtohelpLispethandhertempergrewverybadTheChaplain’swifethoughtthisaprofitabletimetoletherknowtherealstateofaffairs——thattheEnglishmanhadonlypromisedhislovetokeepherquiet——thathehadnevermeantanything，andthatitwas“wrongandimproper“ofLispethtothinkofmarriagewithanEnglishman，whowasofasuperiorclay，besidesbeingpromisedinmarriagetoagirlofhisownpeopleLispethsaidthatallthiswasclearlyimpossible，becausehehadsaidhelovedher，andtheChaplain’swifehad，withherownlips，assertedthattheEnglishmanwascomingback。
　　“Howcanwhatheandyousaidbeuntrue？”askedLispeth。
　　“Wesaiditasanexcusetokeepyouquiet，child。”saidtheChaplain’swife。
　　“Thenyouhaveliedtome。”saidLispeth，“youandhe？”
　　TheChaplain’swifebowedherhead，andsaidnothingLispethwassilent，tooforalittletime；thenshewentoutdownthevalley，andreturnedinthedressofaHillgirl——infamouslydirty，butwithoutthenoseandearringsShehadherhairbraidedintothelongpig-tail，helpedoutwithblackthread，thatHillwomenwear。
　　“Iamgoingbacktomyownpeople。”saidshe“YouhavekilledLispethThereisonlyleftoldJadeh’sdaughter——thedaughterofapahariandtheservantofTarkaDeviYouareallliars，youEnglish。”
　　BythetimethattheChaplain’swifehadrecoveredfromtheshockoftheannouncementthatLispethhad’vertedtohermother’sgods，thegirlhadgone；andshenevercameback。
　　Shetooktoherownuncleanpeoplesavagely，asiftomakeupthearrearsofthelifeshehadsteppedoutof；and，inalittletime，shemarriedawood-cutterwhobeather，afterthemannerofpaharis，andherbeautyfadedsoon。
　　“Thereisnolawwherebyyoucanaccountforthevagariesoftheheathen。”saidtheChaplain’swife，“andIbelievethatLispethwasalwaysatheartaninfidel。”SeeingshehadbeentakenintotheChurchofEnglandatthematureageoffiveweeks，thisstatementdoesnotdocredittotheChaplain’swife。
　　LispethwasaveryoldwomanwhenshediedShealwayshadaperfectcommandofEnglish，andwhenshewassufficientlydrunk，couldsometimesbeinducedtotellthestoryofherfirstlove-
　　affair。
　　Itwashardthentorealizethatthebleared，wrinkledcreature，solikeawispofcharredrag，couldeverhavebeen“LispethoftheKotgarthMission。”
　　THREEAND——ANEXTRA。
　　“Whenhalterandheelropesareslipped，donotgivechasewithsticksbutwithgram。”
　　PunjabiProverb。
　　Aftermarriagearrivesareaction，sometimesabig，sometimesalittleone；butitcomessoonerorlater，andmustbetidedoverbybothpartiesiftheydesiretherestoftheirlivestogowiththecurrent。
　　InthecaseoftheCusack-BremmilsthisreactiondidnotsetintillthethirdyearaftertheweddingBremmilwashardtoholdatthebestoftimes；buthewasabeautifulhusbanduntilthebabydiedandMrsBremmilworeblack，andgrewthin，andmournedasifthebottomoftheuniversehadfallenoutPerhapsBremmiloughttohavecomfortedherHetriedtodoso，Ithink；butthemorehecomfortedthemoreMrsBremmilgrieved，and，consequently，themoreuncomfortableBremmilgrewThefactwasthattheybothneededatonicAndtheygotitMrsBremmilcanaffordtolaughnow，butitwasnolaughingmattertoheratthetime。
　　Yousee，MrsHauksbeeappearedonthehorizon；andwheresheexistedwasfairchanceoftroubleAtSimlaherbye-namewasthe“StormyPetrel。”ShehadwonthattitlefivetimestomyowncertainknowledgeShewasalittle，brown，thin，almostskinny，woman，withbig，rolling，violet-blueeyes，andthesweetestmannersintheworldYouhadonlytomentionhernameatafternoonteasforeverywomanintheroomtoriseup，andcallher——well——NOTblessedShewasclever，witty，brilliant，andsparklingbeyondmostofherkind；butpossessedofmanydevilsofmaliceandmischievousnessShecouldbenice，though，eventoherownsexButthatisanotherstory。
　　Bremmilwentoffatscoreafterthebaby’sdeathandthegeneraldiscomfortthatfollowed，andMrsHauksbeeannexedhimShetooknopleasureinhidinghercaptivesSheannexedhimpublicly，andsawthatthepublicsawitHerodewithher，andwalkedwithher，andtalkedwithher，andpicnickedwithher，andtiffinedatPeliti’swithher，tillpeopleputuptheireyebrowsandsaid：
　　“Shocking！”MrsBremmilstayedathometurningoverthedeadbaby’sfrocksandcryingintotheemptycradleShedidnotcaretodoanythingelseButsomeeightdear，affectionatelady-
　　friendsexplainedthesituationatlengthtoherincasesheshouldmissthecreamofitMrsBremmillistenedquietly，andthankedthemfortheirgoodofficesShewasnotascleverasMrs。