‘^YOUR DEBTOR FOR EYER.” 
So his host lent him ten pounds, in return for 
which little accommodation most profuse professions 
of gratitude were tendered. “Altiioughhe would be 
sure to repay it out of the very first mouth’s salary, 
whenever he procured a situation, which could not 
be long now, still he would remain Lis debtor for 
ever.” His host replied he fully believed him, but so 
dull was he, that he did not take in the quiet s?orcasm 
contained in these few words, thinking in aii simplicity 
that a very high compliment had been paid him, and 
so on his departure on shaking bauds with his worthy 
host, he repealed the asseveration, “ Your debtor for 
ever.” 
In these times there was only one hotel in Kandy, 
the Royal, subsequently in later years occupied as a 
store by K. D. & Co. 
How the geurleman on the staff” got to Kandy 
is unknown : it may be he would remain all day at 
some of the country resthoiises and walk during the 
night, or he might even get into some bull mk bandy 
for a small consideration, and lie comfoinably con- 
cealed amongst the straw, jogging along at. the rate of 
two miles an hour, for if time is no object and one 
has patience to endure the monotony of the journey, 
moving along in a bullock bandy is a very pleasant and 
cool mode of travelling ; it is very cool : the covering of 
coconut-tree leaves most effectually keeps out the heat 
of the sun, amd being open before and behind a 
pleasant draft of air, even on the hottest day, gen-er 
ally passes through the cart. But whe her he wfdked 
or tipped a few coppers to a cart driver to give him 
a lift will never be a,scertained, because either course 
of proceeding would he considered rather undiiinihed 
for a gentleman of his position, even although he 
was only “on the staff,” and he was never heard ti:» 
speak on the subject. In carrying on the story it 
is sufficient to state that late in the . evening he en- 
tered the front verandah of the “ Royal ” ; there was 
no one in the verandah, so he sits down on one c'mvir, 
draws in another, on which he stretches out his legs, 
and thus remains for a considerable time absorbed in 
thought. He now feels hungry, gets up and pseps 
through the window, and if be was hungry the sighi that 
now presents itself makes him thirsty. Tiie room was 
filled with a whole lot of fellows sitting round the table, 
on which stood bottles of claret, bottles of cha npagiie, 
tumblers of brandy and water, glasses of sherry stand- 
ing beside small black pint bottles, pipes, tobacco, and 
cigars, all lying about and the conversation so general 
and very earnest, that he might almost have walked in 
and helped himself to a drink, and never be noticed, but 
he did n’t. He reasoned with himself that one in such 
V 
