pretty good, and it would bring the man who took it under the
notice of people who arrange the better Government appointments. I
should have to stay out at least two years."

Sylvia was startled, and annoyed. Now that the man owned her sway, she
did not mean to accede to his wishes too readily. Some obscure reason
made her shrink from definitely binding herself to him, but his
intimation had forced on something of the nature of a crisis.

"Do you wish to go?" she asked.

"No," he said hotly; "you know that."

"Then," said Sylvia softly, "I think you had better stay at home."

He stopped again and faced her.

"You must tell me what you mean!"

"It ought to be clear," she murmured, "Don't you think I should miss
you?"

With restrained quietness he laid his hand on her shoulder.

"You must listen for a minute, Sylvia. Up to the present, I've been
passed over by the authorities; but now I've been given my chance. If
I can hammer the raw native levies into shape and keep order along a
disturbed frontier, it will lead to something better. Now, I'm neither
a military genius nor altogether a careless idler--I believe I can do
this work; but, coming rather late, it has less attraction for me.
Well, I would let the chance slip, for one reason only; but if I'm to
go on continually repressing myself and only allowed to see you at long
intervals, I might as well go away. You must clearly understand on
what terms I remain."

She made a little appealing gesture.

"Yes," she said; "but you must wait and not press me too hard. I am so
fenced in by conventions; so many people's susceptibilities have to be
considered. I haven't a girl's liberty."

Bland supposed this was as far as she ventured in allusion to her
widowed state; but, stirred as he was by her implied submission, it
struck him as significant that she should so clearly recognize the
restrictions conventionality imposed on her.

"I think," he returned, "the two people who deserve most consideration
are you and myself."

"Ah!" said Sylvia, "you deserve it most. You have been very
forbearing; you have done all I asked. That is why I know you will
bear with a little delay, when it's needful."

He made a sign of reluctant assent; and then, to his annoyance, two
figures emerged from the shadow of the trees not far away. There was
nothing to do except to move on, but he thrilled at the slight,
grateful pressure of Sylvia's hand upon his arm.

"My dea