save you the long, tiresome journey to
Dariawarpur. It is also most convenient for going home. She
is installed in a most comfortable flat, and we brought our
own servants, so I hope you will feel that I have done my
best for her.

Fay will explain the whole miserable business to you, and
although appearances may be against me, I trust that you
will realise how misleading these may be. I cannot thank
you enough for responding so promptly to our ardently
expressed desire for your presence at this difficult time.
It will make all the difference in the world to Fay; and,
on her account, to me also.

Believe me, always yours affectionately,

HUGO TANCRED.

_Bombay, Friday._

Jan my dear, my dear, are you really on your way? And shall
I see your face and hear your kind voice, and be able to
cry against your shoulder?

I can't meet you, my precious, because I don't go out. I'm
afraid. Afraid lest I should see anyone who knew us at
Dariawarpur. India is so large and so small, and people
from everywhere are always in Bombay, and I couldn't bear
it.

Do you know, Jan, that when the very worst has happened,
you get kind of numbed. You can't suffer any more. You
can't be sorry or angry or shocked or indignant, or
anything but just broken, and that's what I am.

After all, I've one good friend here who knew us at
Dariawarpur. He's got a job at the secretariat, and he
tries to help me all he can. I don't mind him somehow. He
understands. He will meet you and bring you to the
bungalow, so look out for him when the boat gets in. He's
tall and thin and clean-shaven and yellow, with a grave,
stern face and beautiful kind eyes. Peter is an angel, so
be nice to him, Jan dear. It has been awful; it will go on
being awful; but it will be a little more bearable when you
come--for me, I mean--for you it will be horrid. All of us
on your hands, and no money, and me such a crock, and
presently a new baby. The children are well. It's so queer
to think you haven't seen "little Fay." Come soon, Jan,
come soon, to your miserable FAY.

Jan sat on her bunk under the open porthole. One after the other she
hel