50 The Hunting Grounds 



to their c bringings up.' But what do you 

 say to my proposal of politely insinuating to the 

 begum, that time hangs heavily on our hands in 

 the evenings, and that a nautch (dance) now and 

 then would be much appreciated, for I am quite 

 sure some of her dancing girls would prefer en- 

 livening our spare hours to wasting their sweet- 

 ness on the desert air. Do you not think a gentle 

 hint, or a polite intimation of the general wish, 

 with our united salaam, would have the desired 

 effect with the khanum saliiba (lady) ?" 



" Hout awa mon," put in the doctor; "if that's 

 your game, I should just guess you'd be better 

 leaving the leetle delicate affair to me, as I'm 

 invited to visit her ladyship this morning. " 



"What? Eh? What's that, saw-bones?" ex- 

 claimed W . " You going to visit the begum ? 



Why ! you old reprobate, you have got the start of 

 us all." 



" Yees; and this child intends to keep it, too," 

 replied the doctor, with a knowing grin, and a 

 succession of very audible grunts, which, with him, 

 always denoted intense satisfaction. 



" Whatever can be up? Is she ill?" asked Mac. 



" No not vary that is, I could na just say 

 that she's doun -right ill," answered the doctor; 

 but she sent for me last night, after dinner, 

 and made me to understand that she was uneasy 



