Afterwards, when we were all gathered upstairs, the many pretty gowns and uniforms made a gay sight.  I saw the dearest little Maharanee blazing in magnificent jewels and looking so scared, and shy, and sweet.  There was a supper-room, and lots to eat if one could have got at it, or had had room to eat it after it had been got.  I don’t like champagne—­“simpkin” they call it here—­much to drink, but I like it less when it is shot down my back by a careless man.

There is a fancy-dress ball to-night at Government House, and that is the last of my dissipations for some time to come.

I go on writing, writing all the time about my own affairs and never even mention your letters, and nothing makes me so cross as to have people do that to me.  I like my friends to make interested comments on everything I tell them.

I am glad you are so happy in your work and enjoy life.  Is the book nearly finished yet?  It is nice that you have found such charming friends.  Is the Fraeulein person you talk about pretty?  I can imagine how you enjoy hearing her play and singing to her accompaniment.  I always think of you when I hear good music, and of your face when I told you that the only music I really liked was Scots songs played on the pianola!  But you know that is really true.  I simply hate good music.

Once, in Paris, I went with some people to hear Samson et Delilah, and while everyone sat rapt, enchanted by the sweet sounds, I waited with what patience I could till the stage temple fell, in the vain hope that some part would hit the tenor.  What would your Fraeulein say to such blasphemy?

Forgive me maligning the gods of your idolatry.  I think I had better finish this letter before I go on from bad to worse, because I am in an unaccountably perverse and impertinent frame of mind to-day, and there is no saying what I shall say next.

Calcutta, Jan. 8.

Such a scene of confusion!  Everything I possess is lying on the floor.  All the things I have accumulated on my way out and since I came to Calcutta lie in one heap waiting to be packed; shoes, dresses, hats, books, photographs are scattered madly about, and in the middle, almost reduced to idiocy, and making no effort to reduce chaos to order, sits Bella.  I can’t help her, for I must get my home letters written and posted before we leave Calcutta, for before I reach my first halting-place the mail will be gone.

Boggley has been in the Mofussil for three days, and I have been staying with the Townleys.  I came back last night.  It was nice being with G. again, and her sister is extraordinarily kind.  We had rather an interesting day on Friday.  I have always been asking where are the Missionaries, but I suppose I must have asked the wrong people, for they didn’t seem to know.  However, the other day I met a lady,—­Mrs. Gardner,—­the wife of a missionary, who asked us to go to lunch with her, and promised she would show us something of the work among the women.  So on Friday we set off in a tikka-gharry.