his vengeance. A placard was hung above the hutch, bearing these

words in something of the following disposition:

JAMES DURIE,

FORMERLY MASTER OF BALLANTRAE.

CLOTHES NEATLY CLOUTED.

* * * * *

SECUNDRA DASS,

DECAYED GENTLEMAN OF INDIA.

FINE GOLDSMITH WORK.

Underneath this, when he had a job, my gentleman sat withinside

tailor-wise and busily stitching. I say, when he had a job; but

such customers as came were rather for Secundra, and the Master's

sewing would be more in the manner of Penelope's. He could never

have designed to gain even butter to his bread by such a means of

livelihood: enough for him that there was the name of Durie

dragged in the dirt on the placard, and the sometime heir of that

proud family set up cross-legged in public for a reproach upon his

brother's meanness. And in so far his device succeeded that there

was murmuring in the town and a party formed highly inimical to my

lord. My lord's favour with the Governor laid him more open on the

other side; my lady (who was never so well received in the colony)

met with painful innuendoes; in a party of women, where it would be

the topic most natural to introduce, she was almost debarred from

the naming of needle-work; and I have seen her return with a

flushed countenance and vow that she would go abroad no more.

In the meanwhile my lord dwelled in his decent mansion, immersed in

farming; a popular man with his intimates, and careless or

unconscious of the rest. He laid on flesh; had a bright, busy

face; even the heat seemed to prosper with him; and my lady - in

despite of her own annoyances - daily blessed Heaven her father

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