way if I see anybody unhappy, I'm sorry, of course, and I weep with them, but it gives me a real cheery feeling underneath to think that I'm at least happier than somebody else.
'It's a great pity you missed the Durbar,' I remarked pleasantly as I handed him a scone.
He relieved me of the plate, and carefully selected the most appetising scone before replying.
'Yes, it is a pity,' he replied as one who really didn't care a bit, 'but still there are other things to see in India beside the Durbar.'
He bit the scone in half with his nice strong white teeth, and smiled across at me as he did it.
'But you must go to other parts of India for sight-seeing,' I said. 'I am afraid there is very little to see in Slumpanugger.'
I caught his eye as I looked up, and felt myself blushing. I thought of that wretched boy Tony, and determined not to get 'beetroot' this time.
'Oh, I thought there was quite a lot to see here,' he said smiling. I did so wish he wouldn't sit and smile at me like that. It made me feel so horribly like a fly sitting opposite a spider. 'Isn't there a fort?'
'Oh yes,' I said disparagingly, 'there's a fort.'
'And some caves?'
'And some caves,' I admitted.
'And a mosque?'
'Several,' I said, 'but you find them everywhere.'
'And a ruined palace of the Moghul Emperors?' he went on, quite regardless of my contemptuous attitude towards the sights of Slumpanugger.
