d ragged, not worthy of your august consideration."

She turned in her chair. "Was he--was he anything like--that--that holy
man--Peter, you know who I mean?" Her face was deathly as she uttered
the question.

"Let my _mem-sahib_ be comforted!" said Peter soothingly. "It was not
the holy man--the bearer of evil tidings."

"Ah!" The words sank down through her heart like a stone dropped into a
well. "But I think the tidings were evil all the same. Did he say what
it was? But--" as a sudden memory shot across her, "I ought not to ask.
I wish--I wish the captain--_sahib_ would come back."

"Let my _mem-sahib_ have patience!" said Peter gently. "He will soon
come now."

The blue jay laughed at the gate gleefully, uproariously, derisively.
Stella shivered.

"He is coming!" said Peter.

She started up. Monck was returning. He came up the compound like a man
who has been beaten in a race. His face was grey, his eyes terrible.

Stella went swiftly to the verandah-steps to meet him. "Everard! What
is it? Oh, what is it?" she said.

He took her arm, turning her back. "Have you had tea?" he said.

His voice was low, but absolutely steady. Its deadly quietness made her
tremble.

"I haven't finished," she said. "I have been waiting for you."

"You needn't have done that," he said. "I won't have any, Peter," he
turned on the waiting servant, "get me some brandy!"

He sat down, setting her free. But she remained beside him, and after a
moment laid her hand lightly upon his shoulder, without words.

He reached up instantly, caught and held it in a grip that almost made
her wince. "Stella," he said, "it's been a very short honeymoon, but I'm
afraid it's over. I've got to get back at once."

"I am coming with you," she said quickly.

He looked up at her with eyes that burned with a strange intensity but
he did not speak in answer.

An awful dread clutched her. She knelt swiftly down beside him.
"Everard, listen! I don't care what has happened or what is likely to
happen. My place is by your side--and nowhere else. I am coming with
you. Nothing on earth shall prevent me."

Her words were quick and vehement, her whole being pulsated. She
challenged his look with eyes of shining resolution.

His arms were round her in a moment; he held her fast. "My Stella! My
wife!" he said.

She clung closely to him. "By your side, I will face anything. You know
it, darling. I am not afraid."

"I know, I know," he said. "I won't