t he had deliberately set himself to
attract he wielded his power with marvellous effect. His warmth, his
gaiety, his persistence, all combined to make of him a very gallant
knight; and Olga was beginning to find that it hurt her to resist the
magnetism by which he held her. And yet--and yet--deep in the soul of
her she knew how little she had to give. That haunting memory which yet
invariably eluded her made her vaguely conscious that far down in the
most secret corner of her heart was a locked door which would never open
to him. She herself scarcely knew what lay behind it, but none the less
was it sacred. Not even to Nick--trusted counsellor and confidant--would
that door ever open; perhaps to none....

The Christmas service roused her somewhat from the contemplation of her
perplexities, and after it there were friends to greet--Colonel Bradlaw
and his merry little wife, Will Musgrave, Daisy, and the radiant Peggy.

They made a cheery crowd as they assembled in the hot sunshine before
Nick's bungalow a little later and discussed their final arrangements
for the picnic at Khantali.

The Bradlaws had a waggonette, and Daisy and Peggy were to drive with
them. Noel had a dog-cart in which he boldly announced that Olga must
accompany him.

Olga wanted to ride, but Nick declared that this would overtire her,
adding with a grin that he would occupy the back seat in the dog-cart if
Noel had no objection.

Noel grinned also, and expressed his delight; but at the last moment a
couple of his brother-subalterns came up and took forcible possession of
Nick, protesting that such a celebrity could not be permitted to take a
back seat and insisting that he should travel in the place of honour in
their dog-cart. Nick, finding himself outnumbered, submitted with no
visible discomfiture, and the procession, being completed by about a
dozen equestrians, finally started with much laughter and _badinage_
upon the long, rough journey through the jungle to Khantali.

The _khitmutgar_ watched the start with grave, inscrutable eyes and
finally turned back into the bungalow with the aloofness of a dweller in
another sphere. The all-pervading Christmas cheer seemed to have gone to
the _sahibs_' heads already. Perhaps he wondered in what condition they
would return.

"I say, you don't mind?" said Noel coaxingly, as they drew ahead along
the dusty road.

And Olga answered lightly, "I'm not going to mind anything or think of
anything ser