e only wants knowing.
There's some history attached to his being out here that no one quite
knows; but he is a Fountenay-Carew and used to be in the Blues."

"But how nice!" quoth Diana. "This is much more interesting than the
old ruins. Is he rich and haughty, with lovely estates left to
dishonest stewards, and all that?..."

"No very poor, I should imagine; nothing but his pay, anyhow. I
believe when he was in the Blues an old uncle gave him a big
allowance, but something happened, and he threw the money in the old
chap's face, and the old chap chucked him out."

"And what happened to cause the quarrel?" asked Diana, all ears. "Why,
he is more romantic than my prince!"

"That is what I fancy no one knows. Anyhow, in a country like this, no
one asks. It isn't quite the game, you see; and, anyhow, no one is
interested now. He has done a tremendous lot for Rhodesia in one way
and another, especially for the police force and natives; and we're
quite proud of him in our way for that, independent of his history."

"How nice!" and Meryl's eyes grew very soft. "It is a much finer
reward than he would probably ever have gained in the Blues. I hope he
thinks so?"

"I don't suppose he cares either way. Certainly, he doesn't appear to.
He just loves the country, and seems only to want to stay here; but he
never speaks even of that. Since he came here a few months ago he has
done a lot of investigation work among the ruins privately. He is most
awfully attached to them."

Suddenly Diana asked, "I suppose he is pretty sick about two modern
young women presuming to journey here to gaze at his treasure?"

Stanley coloured up, and Diana laughed. "O, don't bother to deny it. I
could feel it in my very bones when we met this afternoon."

They finished their meal, and the boys moved the table away, so that
they could sit round the glowing embers of a small fire, not so much
for warmth as for the idea, and they lazed low in their chairs,
talking idly and enjoying the cool, fragrant night.

And presently, not a propos of anything in particular, Diana said,
quite aloud, "I guess The Bear is growling and scowling away nicely
to-night down there in his den. I expect the first time we meet I
shall forget and call him Bear Carew instead of Major Carew, and then
he'll shrivel me up with a glance."

A sound beside them in the shadow made all look up suddenly, and the
lamplight fell full upon Carew's face as he stood near Diana's chai