30 APRIL 



acquaintance with Imp No. 1, two or three years 

 before, whose doings will ever remain fresh in my 

 memory, for he certainly " did " me ! He was my 

 little page boy, dressed up in green and yellow, 

 like a beetle, with a puggree as big as himself. 

 He had to escort visitors to the drawing-room, 

 carry notes about, and bring cheroots and matches 

 to the Burra Sahib and the Ancient, after dinner. 

 His father and uncle had both been with us for 

 twenty years, and extremely respectable men they 

 were. He was a dear little fellow, with large eyes, 

 and long curly lashes. I always had a weak spot 

 in my heart for boys, and this was such a sharp 

 intelligent child for ten. He always knew what 

 was going on, and could give me any information 

 as to what was happening about the compound, far 

 better than any of the grown-up servants ; who, if 

 ever asked any question, that did not refer to 

 money, or rice, would only say, "I don't know," 

 or, "I did not see," when the thing inquired about 

 was happening under their noses. Wherefore I 

 liked Billy Doo ; and he was always stationed in 

 attendance, when the others were away four hours 

 for dining purposes. Sometimes he brought me 



