W. A. Fraser

“ Don't spoil sport," he said to Elma, as she began to remonstrate. "You'll see some fine fun between them. It's the tailor's man from Calcutta, and Harry can have it out with him to his heart's content—deuced queer fad that of his, anyway, this clothes business. ”

“ As soon as I commenced to talk about clothes to him, and offered to get him a new outfit, he clambered into the gharry and with the use of much bad language drove off."
And then the Colonel begged Harry, as he valued the life of one of her Majesty's soldiers, which was always worth £100, at least, laid down in India, to desist, for he was killing him; and it did seem as if apoplexy would be the end of it, for Trendenis was purple in the face with the laughter which could not get away fast enough.
"Everybody is quite mad," thought Harry, as he sat there very solemn ”

“ You don't mind if I finish the game with the Captain here—oh, excuse me, Captain Melton, Harry Dayton, son of my old friend Harry Dayton, of whom you have often heard me speak."
"He's a warm old party," thought Harry to himself. "I expect he wants to give me a heavy order without paying anything on his bill." ”

“ I want you to go and see Colonel Trendenis, at Mugawani. Your uncle Tony was butler in their family at home. He used to be a good customer, but I am afraid that he has been working the native darzi racket lately, for we haven't written his name in our books for some time; so you ought to sell him a tidy bit of goods. With his recommendation you ought to get an order from every officer in the regiment. You can work a few of the other places on the way up, and I'll write him a letter asking him to favour you with his patronage. ”

“ Harry strolled out and Trendenis had his interview with the visitor.
Shortly after Featherstone left him, the Colonel heard rather loud voices out on the verandah. He heard the Captain say, "What in thunder has it to do with you?"
"Everything," he heard an answering voice that was Harry's. "Everything. The governor told me to collect this bill of you, and I spoke to you now civilly enough about it." ”

“ When Harry arrived at Mugawani a crazy old gharry took him and his traps to Bynkles Family Hotel. A good appearance is everything, the old man used to tell Harry, so he spent some time over the good appearance, and then started out to look up Colonel Trendenis.
The Colonel was at the mess, and Harry sent in his card when he arrived there. ”

“ He sang it with so much vim that the Colonel rapidly regained his good humour again.
"He's a fine, manly-looking chap," thought the Colonel. "Looks just like the old man."
"I must try and do a little business with Miss Elma," mused Harry. "I can't afford to lose all my time here. I'll have to go slow, though, I see, if I expect to stand well with the regiment through the Colonel. Perhaps I'd better get her to speak to the old man about his clothes. I've been speaking to your father about his mess jackets," he remarked to Miss Elma a little later. "They're a little off, you know. ”

“ His father, with his superior commercial development, had loaded him up with a few thousand cards bearing the prosaic statement that Harry Dayton, Junr., was representing Harry Dayton, Senr., Gents' Outfitter, etc.
"They're all right for the old man," muttered Harry to himself, as he shovelled them into his box, "but I'm hanged if I'm going to travel around with my pocket full of advertisements like that." So he substituted his own small bits of pasteboard, carrying the plain inscription, "Harry Dayton," and it was because of this that the thing happened as it did. ”

“ He's going to look me up at my quarters to-morrow, to show me some samples of light tweed some tailor fellow in Calcutta gave him. Fancy him putting himself to all that trouble, and only just acquainted. Have a split, and then I'll drop you at the mess."
Harry had another shy at the Colonel that night. They were out on the verandah for the customary cheroot.
"It's getting pretty cool in the evenings now," remarked the Colonel.
"Yes, it's quite cold; you'll need an ulster if you haven't got one, and one could wear a fairly heavy tweed suit now, with the lining out of the back, say. ”

“ I'm going to send you up country to look up business; and with the advantage you have had in the way of education, and with the good name the house has got, you ought to come back with a tidy bundle of orders. ”