“Do you intend spending the day at Mrs. Deborah’s?” enquired Mrs. Barton of Edith as they rose from the breakfast table.  Edith replied in the affirmative.  “Well, then, I will send the palkee for you; but do not be late, my dear, for dinner.”  She had no intention of being too late, as she knew that in all probability Arthur would make his appearance during the evening.  The distance from the Bartons to her friend’s Bungalow was not more than half a mile.  The road lay through a very picturesque but somewhat lonely part of the suburbs.  The Date and stately Palms, intermingled with the blossom of the gold Mohur trees, looked so very lovely by the light of the setting sun.  For some cause or other Edith’s palkee did not arrive at the time appointed, and not wishing to trouble her friend—­who usually sent her children at sunset in their palkee for an airing—­and attracted by the beauty of the scene, she started to walk home, thinking of the pleasure of meeting Arthur.  Her mind was engaged on this subject when she reached a Date grove, a short distance from the road side, and so busy was she with her thoughts, she had not noticed that for the past few minutes she had been followed by a tall, burly mussulman, and he came upon her before she was aware of his presence.  Without a word of warning, he threw his long arms around her waist, and endeavored to drag or carry her to the Date grove.  There could be no mistaking his intentions, and he would no doubt have succeeded in carrying out his villainous design—­for the terrified girl was in a half fainting condition, and unable from the suddenness of the attack, to offer much resistance—­when Arthur Carlton, who had been attracted to the spot by her shrieks and cries for help, came to the rescue.  He had called at the Bungalow, and learning where she might be found, had set out in search of her, and arrived just in time.  The ruffian managed to make good his escape, not, however, before he had received several marks of Arthur’s favor from the horsewhip he carried.  He then supported the still, trembling girl home, and she soon forgot, in his society, the danger which had menaced her.

Exasperated beyond measure at so rare an occurrence as the attack made on his beloved Edith, he at once sought the aid of the police, and from the description given they soon succeeded in tracing the offender, who proved to be a Subaltern of the native cavalry.  The affair was reported to head quarters, and a court of enquiry was summoned which resulted in the court martial and dismissal from service of the blackguard, who immediately left the station, vowing to have his revenge on Carlton, should ever an opportunity occur for so doing, and this, with a Mahammedan means mischief, for they never rest in their endeavors to effect a purpose.

The duties which brought Carlton to Calcutta were now at an end, and the Lieutenant had to return to head quarters.  Edith, being of an enquiring turn of mind, acquired a great deal of information respecting the natives’ character, their castes, customs and ceremonies, and by the aid of a Moonshee soon learned to speak with ease and fluency the Hindostan language.  This she turned to account in the management of the household servants.