A KINDLY HOST. 89 



The D'overnor's house was not much dif- 

 ferent to the houses round it, but a glimpse 

 of a cool duck uniform on a verandah inclmed 

 me to the belief that I had found the house I 

 souo'ht, and a second o-lance which descried 

 a couple of ladies sitting sipping their tea 

 confirmed my belief. AYithout more ado I 

 tied up my steed, and, climbmg the stairs, 

 saluted the ladies and presented my letter at 

 the duck uniform. Though surprised at first 

 at the extreme directness of my mode of pro- 

 cedure. Baron Geikin — for it was he — became 

 in a moment the most kindly of hosts, 

 putting his house and all that was in it at 

 our disposal at once. But in spite of the tea 

 and rest my voice would not come back for 

 nearly an hour except in dull, hollow tones, 

 which almost frightened their producer. This 

 was, however, the only effect of the long, hot 

 ride, and wore off before morning. 



At Oni we spent the night and part of the 



