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 more to say about her. It is always best to begin by being candid, even about one's own sister. 'You'll be a fool if you don't go,' said Bob in his downright way, taking his feet from the mantelshelf and pushing back his chair. Bob also believes in being candid. It's his chief characteristic next to his love for the mantelshelf. If ever my brother Bob sees a mantelshelf anywhere round about he just goes right there for it straight away, and manages to get his feet on to it somehow. All men love mantelshelves, but an Englishman leans his back against them, while an American uses them as a foot-rest. I suppose they both get equally warm in the same way with a difference.

'You go,' said Tony, in his most unflattering manner. He was lying full length on the floor and looking up at me with that rude disconcerting stare of his.

Since they were all so unanimous I began to think there must be something in it. Now I am not really at all an undecided sort of person, but I'm bound to confess here that I did just hesitate. You see, there was so much to be said on either side. Of course, there were disadvantages in leaving home for such a long time. It meant missing a whole host of engagements already booked for the winter, and it was an appallingly long journey, and I am not quite sure that I am a good sailor. And I am bound to confess that I had not had any great weakness for India so far. I'm the sort of person that likes things comfortable, and I rather guessed India was the sort of place where your hair wouldn't