Thisparticularengagementlastedsevenweeks——wecalledittheSevenWeeks’War——andwasfoughtoutinchbyinchonbothsides。
　　A
　　detailedaccountwouldfillabook，andwouldbeincompletethen。
　　AnyonewhoknowsaboutthesethingscanfitinthedetailsforhimselfItwasasuperbfight——therewillneverbeanotherlikeitaslongasJakkostands——andPluffleswastheprizeofvictory。
　　PeoplesaidshamefulthingsaboutMrsHauksbeeTheydidnotknowwhatshewasplayingforMrsReiverfought，partlybecausePluffleswasusefultoher，butmainlybecauseshehatedMrs。
　　Hauksbee，andthematterwasatrialofstrengthbetweenthemNooneknowswhatPlufflesthoughtHehadnotmanyideasatthebestoftimes，andthefewhepossessedmadehimconceitedMrs。
　　Hauksbeesaid：——“Theboymustbecaught；andtheonlywayofcatchinghimisbytreatinghimwell。”
　　SoshetreatedhimasamanoftheworldandofexperiencesolongastheissuewasdoubtfulLittlebylittle，Plufflesfellawayfromhisoldallegianceandcameovertotheenemy，bywhomhewasmademuchofHewasneversentonout-postdutyafter’rickshawsanymore，norwashegivendanceswhichnevercameoff，norwerethedrainsonhispursecontinuedMrsHauksbeeheldhimonthesnaffle；andafterhistreatmentatMrsReiver’shands，heappreciatedthechange。
　　MrsReiverhadbrokenhimoftalkingabouthimself，andmadehimtalkaboutherownmeritsMrsHauksbeeactedotherwise，andwonhisconfidence，tillhementionedhisengagementtothegirlatHome，speakingofitinahighandmightywayasa“pieceofboyishfolly。”Thiswaswhenhewastakingteawithheroneafternoon，anddiscoursinginwhatheconsideredagayandfascinatingstyle。
　　MrsHauksbeehadseenanearliergenerationofhisstampbudandblossom，anddecayintofatCaptainsandtubbyMajors。
　　Atamoderateestimatetherewereaboutthreeandtwentysidestothatlady’scharacterSomemensaymoreShebegantotalktoPlufflesafterthemannerofamother，andasiftherehadbeenthreehundredyears，insteadoffifteen，betweenthemShespokewithasortofthroatyquaverinhervoicewhichhadasoothingeffect，thoughwhatshesaidwasanythingbutsoothingShepointedouttheexceedingfolly，nottosaymeanness，ofPluffles’
　　conduct，andthesmallnessofhisviewsThenhestammeredsomethingabout“trustingtohisownjudgmentasamanoftheworld；“andthispavedthewayforwhatshewantedtosaynextItwouldhavewitheredupPluffleshaditcomefromanyotherwoman；
　　butinthesoftcooingstyleinwhichMrsHauksbeeputit，itonlymadehimfeellimpandrepentant——asifhehadbeeninsomesuperiorkindofchurchLittlebylittle，verysoftlyandpleasantly，shebegantakingtheconceitoutofPluffles，asyoutaketheribsoutofanumbrellabeforere-coveringitShetoldhimwhatshethoughtofhimandhisjudgmentandhisknowledgeoftheworld；andhowhisperformanceshadmadehimridiculoustootherpeople；andhowitwashisintentionmakelovetoherselfifshegavehimthechanceThenshesaidthatmarriagewouldbethemakingofhim；anddrewaprettylittlepicture——allroseandopal——
　　oftheMrsPlufflesofthefuturegoingthroughliferelyingonthe“judgment“and“knowledgeoftheworld“ofahusbandwhohadnothingtoreproachhimselfwithHowshereconciledthesetwostatementsshealoneknewButtheydidnotstrikePlufflesasconflicting。
　　Herswasaperfectlittlehomily——muchbetterthananyclergymancouldhavegiven——anditendedwithtouchingallusionstoPluffles’
　　MammaandPapa，andthewisdomoftakinghisbrideHome。
　　ThenshesentPlufflesoutforawalk，tothinkoverwhatshehadsaidPlufflesleft，blowinghisnoseveryhardandholdinghimselfverystraightMrsHauksbeelaughed。
　　WhatPluffleshadintendedtodointhematteroftheengagementonlyMrsReiverknew，andshekeptherowncounseltoherdeath。
　　Shewouldhavelikeditspoiledasacompliment，Ifancy。
　　PlufflesenjoyedmanytalkswithMrsHauksbeeduringthenextfewdaysTheywerealltothesameend，andtheyhelpedPlufflesinthepathofVirtue。
　　MrsHauksbeewantedtokeephimunderherwingtothelast。
　　ThereforeshediscountenancedhisgoingdowntoBombaytogetmarried“Goodnessonlyknowswhatmighthappenbytheway！”
　　shesaid“PlufflesiscursedwiththecurseofReuben，andIndiaisnofitplaceforhim！”
　　Intheend，thefianceearrivedwithheraunt；andPluffles，havingreducedhisaffairstosomesortoforder——hereagainMrs。
　　Hauksbeehelpedhim——wasmarried。
　　MrsHauksbeegaveasighofreliefwhenboththe“Iwills“hadbeensaid，andwentherway。
　　PluffiestookheradviceaboutgoingHomeHelefttheService，andisnowraisingspeckledcattleinsidegreenpaintedfencessomewhereatHomeIbelievehedoesthisveryjudiciouslyHewouldhavecometoextremegriefouthere。
　　ForthesereasonsifanyonesaysanythingmorethanusuallynastyaboutMrsHauksbee，tellhimthestoryoftheRescueofPluffles。
　　CUPID’SARROWS。
　　Pitwherethebuffalocooledhishide，Bythehotsunemptied，andblisteredanddried；
　　Loginthereh-grass，hiddenandalone；
　　Bundwheretheearth-rat’smoundsarestrown：
　　Caveinthebankwheretheslystreamsteals；
　　Aloethatstabsatthebellyandheels，Jumpifyoudareonasteeduntried——
　　Saferitistogowide——gowide！
　　Hark，frominfrontwherethebestmenride：——
　　“Pulltotheoff，boys！Wide！Gowide！”
　　ThePeoraHunt。
　　OnceuponatimetherelivedatSimlaaveryprettygirl，thedaughterofapoorbuthonestDistrictandSessionsJudgeShewasagoodgirl，butcouldnothelpknowingherpowerandusingit。
　　HerMammawasveryanxiousaboutherdaughter’sfuture，asallgoodMammasshouldbe。
　　WhenamanisaCommissionerandabachelorandhastherightofwearingopen-workjam-tartjewelsingoldandenamelonhisclothes，andofgoingthroughadoorbeforeeveryoneexceptaMemberofCouncil，aLieutenant-Governor，oraViceroy，heisworthmarryingAtleast，thatiswhatladiessayTherewasaCommissionerinSimla，inthosedays，whowas，andwore，anddid，allIhavesaidHewasaplainman——anuglyman——theugliestmaninAsia，withtwoexceptionsHiswasafacetodreamaboutandtrytocarveonapipe-headafterwardsHisnamewasSaggott——
　　Barr-Saggott——AnthonyBarr-Saggottandsixletterstofollow。
　　Departmentally，hewasoneofthebestmentheGovernmentofIndiaownedSocially，hewaslikeablandishinggorilla。
　　WhenheturnedhisattentionstoMissBeighton，IbelievethatMrs。
　　BeightonweptwithdelightattherewardProvidencehadsentherinheroldage。
　　MrBeightonheldhistongueHewasaneasy-goingman。
　　NowaCommissionerisveryrichHispayisbeyondthedreamsofavarice——issoenormousthathecanaffordtosaveandscrapeinawaythatwouldalmostdiscreditaMemberofCouncilMostCommissionersaremean；butBarr-SaggottwasanexceptionHeentertainedroyally；hehorsedhimselfwell；hegavedances；hewasapowerintheland；andhebehavedassuch。
　　ConsiderthateverythingIamwritingoftookplaceinanalmostpre-historicerainthehistoryofBritishIndiaSomefolkmayremembertheyearsbeforelawn-tenniswasbornwhenweallplayedcroquetTherewereseasonsbeforethat，ifyouwillbelieveme，whenevencroquethadnotbeeninvented，andarchery——whichwasrevivedinEnglandin1844——wasasgreatapestaslawn-tennisisnowPeopletalkedlearnedlyabout“holding“and“loosing。”
　　“steles。”“reflexedbows。”“56-poundbows。”“backed“or“self-yewbows。”aswetalkabout“rallies。”“volleys。”“smashes。”“returns。”
　　and“16-ouncerackets。”
　　MissBeightonshotdivinelyoverladies’distance——60yards，thatis——andwasacknowledgedthebestladyarcherinSimlaMencalledher“DianaofTara-Devi。”
　　Barr-Saggottpaidhergreatattention；and，asIhavesaid，theheartofhermotherwasupliftedinconsequenceKittyBeightontookmattersmorecalmlyItwaspleasanttobesingledoutbyaCommissionerwithlettersafterhisname，andtofilltheheartsofothergirlswithbadfeelingsButtherewasnodenyingthefactthatBarr-Saggottwasphenomenallyugly；andallhisattemptstoadornhimselfonlymadehimmoregrotesqueHewasnotchristened“TheLangur“——whichmeansgrayape——fornothingItwaspleasant，Kittythought，tohavehimatherfeet，butitwasbettertoescapefromhimandridewiththegracelessCubbon——themaninaDragoonRegimentatUmballa——theboywithahandsomeface，andnoprospectsKittylikedCubbonmorethanalittleHeneverpretendedforamomentthehewasanythinglessthanheadoverheelsinlovewithher；forhewasanhonestboySoKittyfled，nowandagain，fromthestatelywooingsofBarr-SaggotttothecompanyofyoungCubbon，andwasscoldedbyherMammainconsequence“But，Mother。”shesaid，“MrSaggotissuch——sucha——
　　issoFEARFULLYugly，youknow！”
　　“Mydear。”saidMrsBeighton，piously，“wecannotbeotherthananall-rulingProvidencehasmadeusBesides，youwilltakeprecedenceofyourownMother，youknow！Thinkofthatandbereasonable。”
　　ThenKittyputupherlittlechinandsaidirreverentthingsaboutprecedence，andCommissioners，andmatrimonyMrBeightonrubbedthetopofhishead；forhewasaneasy-goingman。
　　Lateintheseason，whenhejudgedthatthetimewasripe，Barr-
　　SaggottdevelopedaplanwhichdidgreatcredittohisadministrativepowersHearrangedanarcherytournamentforladies，withamostsumptuousdiamond-studdedbraceletasprize。
　　Hedrewuphistermsskilfully，andeveryonesawthatthebraceletwasagifttoMissBeighton；theacceptancecarryingwithitthehandandtheheartofCommissionerBarr-SaggottThetermswereaStLeonard’sRound——thirty-sixshotsatsixtyyards——undertherulesoftheSimlaToxophiliteSociety。
　　AllSimlawasinvitedTherewerebeautifullyarrangedtea-tablesunderthedeodarsatAnnandale，wheretheGrandStandisnow；
　　and，aloneinitsglory，winkinginthesun，satthediamondbraceletinabluevelvetcaseMissBeightonwasanxious——almosttooanxioustocompeteOntheappointedafternoon，allSimlarodedowntoAnnandaletowitnesstheJudgmentofParisturnedupsidedown。
　　KittyrodewithyoungCubbon，anditwaseasytoseethattheboywastroubledinhismindHemustbeheldinnocentofeverythingthatfollowedKittywaspaleandnervous，andlookedlongatthebraceletBarr-Saggottwasgorgeouslydressed，evenmorenervousthanKitty，andmorehideousthanever。
　　MrsBeightonsmiledcondescendingly，asbefittedthemotherofapotentialCommissioneress，andtheshootingbegan；alltheworldstandinginasemicircleastheladiescameoutoneaftertheother。
　　NothingissotediousasanarcherycompetitionTheyshot，andtheyshot，andtheykeptonshooting，tillthesunleftthevalley，andlittlebreezesgotupinthedeodars，andpeoplewaitedforMissBeightontoshootandwinCubbonwasatonehornofthesemicircleroundtheshooters，andBarr-SaggottattheotherMissBeightonwaslastonthelistThescoringhadbeenweak，andthebracelet，PLUSCommissionerBarr-Saggott，washerstoacertainty。
　　TheCommissionerstrungherbowwithhisownsacredhandsShesteppedforward，lookedatthebracelet，andherfirstarrowwenttruetoahair——fullintotheheartofthe“gold“——countingninepoints。
　　YoungCubbonontheleftturnedwhite，andhisDevilpromptedBarr-
　　SaggotttosmileNowhorsesusedtoshywhenBarr-Saggottsmiled。
　　KittysawthatsmileShelookedtoherleft-front，gaveanalmostimperceptiblenodtoCubbon，andwentonshooting。