Quita, remember where we are," he said
sharply; and she dropped her hand.

"But all the same, promise me . . what I asked; or I shall never have
an easy moment."

"It might come to seem the kindest thing one could do for you," he
persisted, still without looking at her. But fear gave her courage to
strike deep while the chance of speech was hers.

"It would never be anything less than an act of cruelty and cowardice.
Remember that. I am ready to put up with everything . . . everything
rather than lose you, now."

"If that's the truth, lass," he said with sudden gentleness, "you may
set your mind at rest. I promise."

"Thank you, _mon cher_."

Then they fell silent till the parade-ground came in sight.

This, their first appearance together in public, was something of an
ordeal to both; and at the last minute Quita's courage evaporated.

"Eldred . . . stop, please," she said suddenly. "I'm shy of them all;
and I don't want to talk to them just now."

"Thank the Lord for that!" he answered so fervently, that they both
laughed aloud; and there is nothing like laughter for clearing the air.

"Take me for a drive," she suggested. "Show me your bungalow . . . our
bungalow, will you?"

He hesitated. It seemed he was only to exchange one ordeal for
another. "It's a ramshackle, comfortless place, Quita," he objected.
"Wouldn't it be better to wait till . . till I can have it decently
fitted up for you? Or you might like to pick another one."

"But no. I want that one; and I want to see it first just as you lived
in it, please."

"Very well. If you wish it."

An officious chowkidar opened doors for them with a great clatter of
bolts, and an elaborate air of being very much on the spot; and they
stepped straight from the verandah into the one room Lenox had
furnished besides the bedroom. It looked desolate, and smelt
uninhabited; but Quita inspected the horns, the rugs, the sketches,
even the handful of books left on the writing-table, with eager
interest; and Eldred, stationed on the hearth-rug, answered her running
fire of questions a little vaguely, because he was listening more
intently to her voice than to what it said!

Suddenly his thoughts were checked by a vivid sense of having lived
through this identical scene before; of standing near a fireplace
watching her light-hearted explorations. But where? When? Then, like
a dash of cold water, came enlightenment. It was at the Kiffel Alp
Hotel