in her ear, "I say, I can't
stand any more. And it's high time I was off."

"Poor dear! 'When duty calls...?'" Her cool tone was not unsympathetic.
"I'll let you off the rest."

She came out with him, and they stood together a moment in the darkness
under the portico.

"I shall dream to-night, Roy," she said gravely. "And we may not even
see the Pater. He's taken up his abode in the Telegraph Office. Mother
will want to bolt. I can see it in her eye!"

"Well, she's right. You ought all to be cleared out of this, instanter."

"Are you--so keen?"

"Of course not." His tone was more impatient than loverly. "I'm only
keen to feel--you're safe."

"Oh--safe!" she sighed. "_Is_ one--anywhere--ever?"

"No," he countered with unexpected vigour, "or life wouldn't be worth
living. There are degrees of unsafeness, that's all. It's natural--isn't
it, darling?--I should want to feel you're out of reach of that crowd.
If it had pushed on here, and to Government House, Amritsar doings would
have been thrown into the shade."

She shivered. "It's horrible--incredible! I suppose one has to be a
lifelong Anglo-Indian to realise quite _how_ incredible it feels--to
us."

He put his arms round her, as if to shield her from the memory of it
all.

"I'll see you to-morrow?" she asked.

"Of course. If I can square it. But we shall be snowed under with
emergency orders. I'll send a note in any case."

"Take care of yourself--on my account," she commanded softly; and they
kissed.

But--whether fancy or fact--Roy had an under sense of mutual constraint.
It was not the same thing at all as that last kiss at Shadara.

There they had come closer, in spirit, than ever yet. Now--not two hours
later--the thin end of an unseen wedge seemed to be stealthily pressing
them apart.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 29: House.]

[Footnote 30: Alas, alas!]

[Footnote 31: First a blow, then a word.]

[Footnote 32: True talk. Shameful talk.]

[Footnote 33: Caste.]

CHAPTER IX.

"It has long been a grave question whether any Government not too
strong for the liberties of the people, can be strong enough to
maintain its existence in great emergencies."--ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Back in Cantonments, Roy found strong detachments being rushed to all
vital points, and Brigade Headquarters moving into Lahore.

It was late before Lance returned, tired and monosyllabic. He admitted
they had mopped things up a bit--outside; and left a