WhentheYoughalscameintothestation，Strickland——verygravely，ashedideverything——fellinlovewithMissYoughal；andshe，afterawhile，fellinlovewithhimbecauseshecouldnotunderstandhimThenStricklandtoldtheparents；butMrs。
YoughalsaidshewasnotgoingtothrowherdaughterintotheworstpaidDepartmentintheEmpire，andoldYoughalsaid，insomanywords，thathemistrustedStrickland’swaysandworks，andwouldthankhimnottospeakorwritetohisdaughteranymore“Verywell。”saidStrickland，forhedidnotwishtomakehislady-love’slifeaburdenAfteronelongtalkwithMissYoughalhedroppedthebusinessentirely。
TheYoughalswentuptoSimlainApril。
InJuly，Stricklandsecuredthreemonths’leaveon“urgentprivateaffairs。”Helockeduphishouse——thoughnotanativeintheProvidencewouldwittinglyhavetouched“EstreekinSahib’s“gearfortheworld——andwentdowntoseeafriendofhis，anolddyer，atTarnTaran。
Herealltraceofhimwaslost，untilasaismetmeontheSimlaMallwiththisextraordinarynote：