Isobel, however, generally went in for a chat, the first
thing after early breakfast, with Mrs. Doolan, whose children were
fractious with prickly heat.
"I only wish we had some big, high mountain, my dear, somewhere
within reach, where we could establish the children through the
summer and run away ourselves occasionally to look after them. We
are very badly off here in Oude for that. You are looking very pale
yourself the last few days."
"I suppose I feel it a little," Isobel said, "and of course this
anxiety everyone has been feeling worries one. Everyone seems to
agree that there is no fear of trouble with the Sepoys here; still,
as nothing else is talked about, one cannot help feeling nervous
about it. However, as things seem settling down now, I hope we
shall soon get something else to talk about."
"I have not seen Mr. Bathurst lately," Mrs. Doolan said presently.
"Nor have we," Isobel said quietly; "it is quite ten days since we
saw him last."
"I suppose he is falling back into his hermit ways," Mrs. Doolan
said carelessly, shooting a keen glance at Isobel, who was leaning
over one of the children.
"He quite emerged from his shell for a bit. Mrs. Hunter was saying
she never saw such a change in a man, but I suppose he has got
tired of it. Captain Forster arrived just in time to fill up the
gap. How do you like him, Isobel?"
"He is amusing," the girl said quietly; "I have never seen anyone
quite like him before; he talks in an easy, pleasant sort of way,
and tells most amusing stories.
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