WhentheYoughalscameintothestation，Strickland——verygravely，ashedideverything——fellinlovewithMissYoughal；andshe，afterawhile，fellinlovewithhimbecauseshecouldnotunderstandhimThenStricklandtoldtheparents；butMrs。
　　YoughalsaidshewasnotgoingtothrowherdaughterintotheworstpaidDepartmentintheEmpire，andoldYoughalsaid，insomanywords，thathemistrustedStrickland’swaysandworks，andwouldthankhimnottospeakorwritetohisdaughteranymore“Verywell。”saidStrickland，forhedidnotwishtomakehislady-love’slifeaburdenAfteronelongtalkwithMissYoughalhedroppedthebusinessentirely。
　　TheYoughalswentuptoSimlainApril。
　　InJuly，Stricklandsecuredthreemonths’leaveon“urgentprivateaffairs。”Helockeduphishouse——thoughnotanativeintheProvidencewouldwittinglyhavetouched“EstreekinSahib’s“gearfortheworld——andwentdowntoseeafriendofhis，anolddyer，atTarnTaran。
　　Herealltraceofhimwaslost，untilasaismetmeontheSimlaMallwiththisextraordinarynote：
　　“Dearoldman，Pleasegivebeareraboxofcheroots——Supers，NoI，forpreferenceTheyarefreshestattheClubI’llrepaywhenI
　　reappear；butatpresentI’moutofSociety。
　　Yours，ESTRICKLAND。”
　　Iorderedtwoboxes，andhandedthemovertothesaiswithmylove。
　　ThatsaiswasStrickland，andhewasinoldYoughal’semploy，attachedtoMissYoughal’sArabThepoorfellowwassufferingforanEnglishsmoke，andknewthatwhateverhappenedIshouldholdmytonguetillthebusinesswasover。
　　Lateron，MrsYoughal，whowaswrappedupinherservants，begantalkingathouseswhereshecalledofherparagonamongsaises——themanwhowasnevertoobusytogetupinthemorningandpickflowersforthebreakfast-table，andwhoblacked——actuallyBLACKED——
　　thehoofsofhishorselikeaLondoncoachman！TheturnoutofMissYoughal’sArabwasawonderandadelightStrickland——
　　Dulloo，Imean——foundhisrewardintheprettythingsthatMissYoughalsaidtohimwhenshewentoutridingHerparentswerepleasedtofindshehadforgottenallherfoolishnessforyoungStricklandandsaidshewasagoodgirl。
　　StricklandvowsthatthetwomonthsofhisservicewerethemostrigidmentaldisciplinehehasevergonethroughQuiteapartfromthelittlefactthatthewifeofoneofhisfellow-saisesfellinlovewithhimandthentriedtopoisonhimwitharsenicbecausehewouldhavenothingtodowithher，hehadtoschoolhimselfintokeepingquietwhenMissYoughalwentoutridingwithsomemanwhotriedtoflirtwithher，andhewasforcedtotrotbehindcarryingtheblanketandhearingeveryword！Also，hehadtokeephistemperwhenhewasslangedin“Benmore“porchbyapoliceman——
　　especiallyoncewhenhewasabusedbyaNaikhehadhimselfrecruitedfromIsserJangvillage——or，worsestill，whenayoungsubalterncalledhimapigfornotmakingwayquicklyenough。
　　ButthelifehaditscompensationsHeobtainedgreatinsightintothewaysandtheftsofsaises——enough，hesays，tohavesummarilyconvictedhalfthechamarpopulationofthePunjabifhehadbeenonbusinessHebecameoneoftheleadingplayersatknuckle-
　　bones，whichalljhampanisandmanysaisesplaywhiletheyarewaitingoutsidetheGovernmentHouseortheGaietyTheatreofnights；helearnedtosmoketobaccothatwasthree-fourthscowdung；
　　andheheardthewisdomofthegrizzledJemadaroftheGovernmentHousesaises，whosewordsarevaluableHesawmanythingswhichamusedhim；andhestates，onhonor，thatnomancanappreciateSimlaproperly，tillhehasseenitfromthesais’spointofview。
　　Healsosaysthat，ifhechosetowriteallhesaw，hisheadwouldbebrokeninseveralplaces。
　　Strickland’saccountoftheagonyheenduredonwetnights，hearingthemusicandseeingthelightsin“Benmore。”withhistoestinglingforawaltzandhisheadinahorse-blanket，isratheramusingOneofthesedays，StricklandisgoingtowritealittlebookonhisexperiencesThatbookwillbeworthbuying；andevenmore，worthsuppressing。
　　Thus，heservedfaithfullyasJacobservedforRachel；andhisleavewasnearlyatanendwhentheexplosioncameHehadreallydonehisbesttokeephistemperinthehearingoftheflirtationsIhavementioned；buthebrokedownatlastAnoldandverydistinguishedGeneraltookMissYoughalforaride，andbeganthatspeciallyoffensive“you’re-only-a-little-girl“sortofflirtation——
　　mostdifficultforawomantoturnasidedeftly，andmostmaddeningtolistentoMissYoughalwasshakingwithfearatthethingshesaidinthehearingofhersaisDulloo——Strickland——
　　stooditaslongashecouldThenhecaughtholdoftheGeneral’sbridle，and，inmostfluentEnglish，invitedhimtostepoffandbeheavedoverthecliffNextminuteMissYoughalbegancrying；
　　andStricklandsawthathehadhopelesslygivenhimselfaway，andeverythingwasover。
　　TheGeneralnearlyhadafit，whileMissYoughalwassobbingoutthestoryofthedisguiseandtheengagementthatwasn’trecognizedbytheparentsStricklandwasfuriouslyangrywithhimselfandmoreangrywiththeGeneralforforcinghishand；sohesaidnothing，butheldthehorse’sheadandpreparedtothrashtheGeneralassomesortofsatisfaction，butwhentheGeneralhadthoroughlygraspedthestory，andknewwhoStricklandwas，hebegantopuffandblowinthesaddle，andnearlyrolledoffwithlaughingHesaidStricklanddeservedaVC。，ifitwereonlyforputtingonasais’sblanketThenhecalledhimselfnames，andvowedthathedeservedathrashing，buthewastoooldtotakeitfromStricklandThenhecomplimentedMissYoughalonherlover。
　　Thescandalofthebusinessneverstruckhim；forhewasaniceoldman，withaweaknessforflirtationsThenhelaughedagain，andsaidthatoldYoughalwasafoolStricklandletgoofthecob’shead，andsuggestedthattheGeneralhadbetterhelpthem，ifthatwashisopinionStricklandknewYoughal’sweaknessformenwithtitlesandlettersaftertheirnamesandhighofficialposition。
　　“It’sratherlikeaforty-minutefarce。”saidtheGeneral，“butbegad，IWILLhelp，ifit’sonlytoescapethattremendousthrashingIdeservedGoalongtoyourhome，mysais-Policeman，andchangeintodecentkit，andI’llattackMrYoughalMissYoughal，mayIaskyoutocanterhomeandwait？。
　　Aboutsevenminuteslater，therewasawildhurrooshattheClub。
　　Asais，withablanketandhead-rope，wasaskingallthemenheknew：“ForHeaven’ssakelendmedecentclothes！”Asthemendidnotrecognizehim，thereweresomepeculiarscenesbeforeStricklandcouldgetahotbath，withsodainit，inoneroom，ashirthere，acollarthere，apairoftrouserselsewhere，andsoonHegallopedoff，withhalftheClubwardrobeonhisback，andanutterstranger’sponyunderhim，tothehouseofoldYoughal。
　　TheGeneral，arrayedinpurpleandfinelinen，wasbeforehim。
　　WhattheGeneralhadsaidStricklandneverknew，butYoughalreceivedStricklandwithmoderatecivility；andMrsYoughal，touchedbythedevotionofthetransformedDulloo，wasalmostkind。
　　TheGeneralbeamed，andchuckled，andMissYoughalcamein，andalmostbeforeoldYoughalknewwherehewas，theparentalconsenthadbeenwrenchedoutandStricklandhaddepartedwithMissYoughaltotheTelegraphOfficetowireforhiskitThefinalembarrassmentwaswhenanutterstrangerattackedhimontheMallandaskedforthestolenpony。
　　So，intheend，StricklandandMissYoughalweremarried，onthestrictunderstandingthatStricklandshoulddrophisoldways，andsticktoDepartmentalroutine，whichpaysbestandleadstoSimla。
　　Stricklandwasfartoofondofhiswife，justthen，tobreakhisword，butitwasasoretrialtohim；forthestreetsandthebazars，andthesoundsinthem，werefullofmeaningtoStrickland，andthesecalledtohimtocomebackandtakeuphiswanderingsandhisdiscoveriesSomeday，IwilltellyouhowhebrokehispromisetohelpafriendThatwaslongsince，andhehas，bythistime，beennearlyspoiltforwhathewouldcallshikarHeisforgettingtheslang，andthebeggar’scant，andthemarks，andthesigns，andthedriftoftheundercurrents，which，ifamanwouldmaster，hemustalwayscontinuetolearn。
　　ButhefillsinhisDepartmentalreturnsbeautifully。
　　YOKEDWITHANUNBELIEVER。
　　Iamdyingforyou，andyouaredyingforanother。
　　PunjabiProverb。
　　WhentheGravesendtenderlefttheP&0steamerforBombayandwentbacktocatchthetraintoTown，thereweremanypeopleinitcryingButtheonewhoweptmost，andmostopenlywasMissAgnesLaiterShehadreasontocry，becausetheonlymansheeverloved——orevercouldlove，soshesaid——wasgoingouttoIndia；andIndia，aseveryoneknows，isdividedequallybetweenjungle，tigers，cobras，cholera，andsepoys。
　　PhilGarron，leaningoverthesideofthesteamerintherain，feltveryunhappytoo；buthedidnotcryHewassentoutto“tea。”
　　What“tea“meanthehadnotthevaguestidea，butfanciedthathewouldhavetorideonaprancinghorseoverhillscoveredwithtea-
　　vines，anddrawasumptuoussalaryfordoingso；andhewasverygratefultohisuncleforgettinghimtheberthHewasreallygoingtoreformallhisslack，shiftlessways，savealargeproportionofhismagnificentsalaryyearly，and，inaveryshorttime，returntomarryAgnesLaiterPhilGarronhadbeenlyinglooseonhisfriends’handsforthreeyears，and，ashehadnothingtodo，henaturallyfellinloveHewasverynice；buthewasnotstronginhisviewsandopinionsandprinciples，andthoughhenevercametoactualgriefhisfriendswerethankfulwhenhesaidgood-bye，andwentouttothismysterious“tea“businessnearDarjilingTheysaid：——“Godblessyou，dearboy！Letusneverseeyourfaceagain。”——oratleastthatwaswhatPhilwasgiventounderstand。
　　Whenhesailed，hewasveryfullofagreatplantoprovehimselfseveralhundredtimesbetterthananyonehadgivenhimcreditfor——
　　toworklikeahorse，andtriumphantlymarryAgnesLaiterHehadmanygoodpointsbesideshisgoodlooks；hisonlyfaultbeingthathewasweak，theleastlittlebitintheworldweakHehadasmuchnotionofeconomyastheMorningSun；andyetyoucouldnotlayyourhandonanyoneitem，andsay：“HereinPhilGarronisextravagantorreckless。”Norcouldyoupointoutanyparticularviceinhischaracter；buthewas“unsatisfactory“andasworkableasputty。
　　AgnesLaiterwentaboutherdutiesathome——herfamilyobjectedtotheengagement——withredeyes，whilePhilwassailingtoDarjiling——
　　“aportontheBengalOcean。”ashismotherusedtotellherfriendsHewaspopularenoughonboardship，mademanyacquaintancesandamoderatelylargeliquorbill，andsentoffhugeletterstoAgnesLaiterateachportThenhefelltoworkonthisplantation，somewherebetweenDarjilingandKangra，and，thoughthesalaryandthehorseandtheworkwerenotquiteallhehadfancied，hesucceededfairlywell，andgavehimselfmuchunnecessarycreditforhisperseverance。
　　Inthecourseoftime，ashesettledmoreintocollar，andhisworkgrewfixedbeforehim，thefaceofAgnesLaiterwentoutofhismindandonlycamewhenhewasatleisure，whichwasnotoften。
　　Hewouldforgetallaboutherforafortnight，andrememberherwithastart，likeaschool-boywhohasforgottentolearnhislesson。
　　ShedidnotforgetPhil，becauseshewasofthekindthatneverforgetsOnly，anotherman——areallydesirableyoungman——
　　presentedhimselfbeforeMrsLaiter；andthechanceofamarriagewithPhilwasasfaroffasever；andhislettersweresounsatisfactory；andtherewasacertainamountofdomesticpressurebroughttobearonthegirl；andtheyoungmanreallywasaneligiblepersonasincomesgo；andtheendofallthingswasthatAgnesmarriedhim，andwroteatempestuouswhirlwindofalettertoPhilinthewildsofDarjiling，andsaidsheshouldneverknowahappymomentalltherestofherlifeWhichwasatrueprophecy。
　　Philgotthatletter，andheldhimselfill-treatedThiswastwoyearsafterhehadcomeout；butbydintofthinkingfixedlyofAgnesLaiter，andlookingatherphotograph，andpattinghimselfonthebackforbeingoneofthemostconstantloversinhistory，andwarmingtotheworkashewenton，hereallyfanciedthathehadbeenveryhardlyusedHesatdownandwroteonefinalletter——areallypathetic“worldwithoutend，amen。”epistle；explaininghowhewouldbetruetoEternity，andthatallwomenwereverymuchalike，andhewouldhidehisbrokenheart，etc。，etc。；butif，atanyfuturetime，etc。，etc。，hecouldaffordtowait，etc。，etc。，unchangedaffections，etc。，etc。，returntoheroldlove，etc。，etc。，foreightclosely-writtenpagesFromanartisticpointofview，itwasveryneatwork，butanordinaryPhilistine，whoknewthestateofPhil’srealfeelings——nottheonesherosetoashewentonwriting——wouldhavecalleditthethoroughlymeanandselfishworkofathoroughlymeanandselfish，weakmanButthisverdictwouldhavebeenincorrectPhilpaidforthepostage，andfelteverywordhehadwrittenforatleasttwodaysandahalf。
　　Itwasthelastflickerbeforethelightwentout。