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In the small hours； which so many wish were smaller； the Colonel
had awakened； with the affair of the handkerchief swelling visibly。
His niece's husband was not a man that he had much liking fora
taciturn fellow； with possibly a bit of the brute in him； a man who
rather rode people down； but； since Dolly and he were in charge of
Olive； the notion that young Lennan was falling in love with her
under their very noses was alarming to one naturally punctilious。
It was not until he fell asleep again； and woke in full morning
light； that the remedy occurred to him。 She must be taken out of
herself！ Dolly and he had been slack； too interested in this queer
place； this queer lot of people！ They had neglected her； left her
to。 。 。 Boys and girls！One ought always to remember。 But it was
not too late。 She was old Lindsay's daughter； would not forget
herself。 Poor old Lindsayfine fellow； bit too much； perhaps； of
theHuguenot in him！ Queer； those throw…backs！ Had noticed in
horses； time and againwhite hairs about the tail； carriage of the
headskip generations and then pop out。 And Olive had something
of his lookthe same ivory skin； same colour of eyes and hair！
Only she was not severe； like her father； not exactly！ And once
more there shot through the Colonel a vague dread； as of a
trusteeship neglected。 It disappeared； however； in his bath。
He was out before eight o'clock； a thin upright figure in hard
straw hat and grey flannel clothes； walking with the indescribable
loose poise of the soldier Englishman； with that air； different
from the French； German； what not； because of shoulders ever
asserting； through their drill； the right to put on mufti； with
that perfectly quiet and modest air of knowing that； whatever might
be said； there was only one way of wearing clothes and moving legs。
And； as he walked； he smoothed his drooping grey moustache；
considering how best to take his niece out of herself。 He passed
along by the Terrace； and stood for a moment looking down at the
sea beyond the pigeon…shooting ground。 Then he moved on round
under the Casino into the gardens at the back。 A beautiful spot！
Wonderful care they had taken with the plants！ It made him think a
little of Tushawore； where his old friend the Rajahprecious old
rascal！had gardens to his palace rather like these。 He paced
again to the front。 It was nice and quiet in the early mornings；
with the sea down there； and nobody trying to get the better of
anybody else。 There were fellows never happy unless they were
doing someone in the eye。 He had known men who would ride at the
devil himself； make it a point of honour to swindle a friend out of
a few pounds！ Odd place this 'Monte'sort of a Garden of Eden
gone wrong。 And all the real； but quite inarticulate love of
Nature； which had supported the Colonel through deserts and
jungles； on transports at sea； and in mountain camps； awoke in the
sweetness of these gardens。 His dear mother！ He had never
forgotten the words with which she had shown him the sunset through
the coppice down at old Withes Norton； when he was nine years old：
〃That is beauty； Jack！ Do you feel it； darling？〃 He had not felt
it at the timenot he； a thick…headed； scampering youngster。 Even
when he first went to India he had had no eye for a sunset。 The
rising generation were different。 That young couple； for instance；
under the pepper…tree； sitting there without a word； just looking
at the trees。 How long； he wondered； had they been sitting like
that？ And suddenly something in the Colonel leaped； his steel…
coloured eyes took on their look of out…facing death。 Choking down
a cough； he faced about； back to where he had stood above the
pigeon…shooting ground。 。 。 。 Olive and that young fellow！ An
assignation！ At this time in the morning！ The earth reeled。 His
brother's childhis favourite niece！ The woman whom he most
admiredthe woman for whom his heart was softest。 Leaning over
the stone parapet； no longer seeing either the smooth green of the
pigeon…shooting ground； or the smooth blue of the sea beyond； he
was moved； distressed； bewildered beyond words。 Before breakfast！
That was the devil of it！ Confession； as it were； of everything。
Moreover； he had seen their hands touching on the seat。 The blood
rushed up to his face； he had seen； spied out； what was not
intended for his eyes。 Nice positionthat！ Dolly； too； last
night； had seen。 But that was different。 Women might see things
it was expected of them。 But for a manaa gentleman！ The
fullness of his embarrassment gradually disclosed itself。 His
hands were tied。 Could he even consult Dolly？ He had a feeling of
isolation； of utter solitude。 Nobodynot anybody in the world
could understand his secret and intense discomfort。 To take up a
positionthe position he was bound to take up； as Olive's nearest
relative and protector； andwhat was itchaperon； by the aid of
knowledge come at in such a way； however unintentionally！ Never in
all his days in the regimentand many delicate matters affecting
honour had come his wayhad he had a thing like this to deal with。
Poor child！ But he had no business to think of her like that。 No；
indeed！ She had not behavedas And there he paused； curiously
unable to condemn her。 Suppose they got up and came that way！
He took his hands off the stone parapet； and made for his hotel。
His palms were white from the force of his grip。 He said to
himself as he went along： 〃I must consider the whole question
calmly； I must think it out。〃 This gave him relief。 With young
Lennan； at all events； he could be angry。 But even there he found；
to his dismay； no finality of judgment。 And this absence of
finality； so unwonted； distressed him horribly。 There was
something in the way the young man had been sitting there beside
herso quiet； so almost timidthat had touched him。 This was
bad； by Jovevery bad！ The two of them； they made； somehow； a
nice couple！ Confound it！ This would not do！ The chaplain of the
little English church； passing at this moment； called out； 〃Fine
morning； Colonel Ercott。〃 The Colonel saluted； and did not answer。
The greeting at the moment seemed to him paltry。 No morning could
be fine that contained such a discovery。 He entered the hotel；
passed into the dining…room； and sat down。 Nobody was there。 They
all had their breakfast upstairs； even Dolly。 Olive alone was in
the habit of supporting him while he ate an English breakfast。 And
suddenly he perceived that he was face to face already with this
dreadful situation。 To have breakfast without； as usual； waiting
for her； seemed too pointed。 She might be coming in at any minute
now。 To wait for her； and have it； without showing anythinghow
could he do that？
He was conscious of a faint rustling behind him。 There she was；
and nothing decided。 In this moment of hopeless confusion the
Colonel acted by pure instinct； rose； patted her cheek； and placed
a chair。
〃Well； my dear；〃 he said； 〃hungry？〃
She was looking very dainty； very soft。 That creamy dress showed
off her dark hair and eyes； which seemed somehow to beflying off
somewhere； yesit was queer