AN EPISODE IN BALLANTYNE'S LIFE The Reptons lived upon the Khamballa Hill and the bow-window of their drawing-room looked down upon the Arabian Sea and southwards along the coast towards Malabar Point.

In this embrasure Mrs.Repton sat through a morning, denying herself to her friends.

A book lay open on her lap but her eyes were upon the sea.

A few minutes after the clock upon her mantelpiece had struck twelve she saw that for which she watched: the bowsprit and the black bows of a big ship pushing out from under the hill and the water boiling under its stem.

The whole ship came into view with its awnings and its saffron funnels and headed to the north-west for Aden.
Jane Repton rose up from her chair and watched it go.