Page:Letters from India Vol 1.djvu/122

 fifteen years old. One of the little girls presented me with a bunch of flowers she had worked herself, with my name at the back of it.

We dined alone to-day, which means that we were twelve at dinner; but, somehow, that is not the trouble that it would seem to be. It is only for strangers that you are bound to speak and dress.

Wednesday, March 23. Forgot to mention yesterday that I got up at 5.30 for our first early ride. George,, Captain Magregor, and I were on our horses at six. One of the horses has not yet arrived, so Fanny and I can only ride alternate days, which is as well to begin with. My horse seems to be a very nice one. Fanny went out this morning. It is dreadful work getting up so early, but the air is really cool then, so we mean to keep it up.

A quiet day. At 4 George and I set off to the Botanical Garden; it is the other side of the river, and four miles off. Our own boat met us at Sir E. Ryan’s, and Lady Ryan went with us. We went to see the Amherstia, a new plant, and quite magnificent. It has flowered