would drift on till then and return in their company.

Stella did not see very much of her friend in those days. Netta,
exacting and peevish, monopolized much of the latter's time and kept her
effectually at a distance. The days were growing hotter moreover, and
her energies flagged, though all her strength was concentrated upon
concealing the fact from Everard. For already the annual exodus to
Bhulwana was being discussed, and only the possibility that the
battalion might be moved to a healthier spot for the summer had deferred
it for so long.

Stella clung to this possibility with a hope that was passionate in its
intensity. She had a morbid dread of separation, albeit the danger she
feared seemed to have sunk into obscurity during the weeks that had
intervened. If there yet remained unrest in the State, it was below the
surface. The Rajah came and went in his usual romantic way, played polo
with his British friends, danced and gracefully flattered their wives as
of yore.

On one occasion only did he ask Stella for a dance, but she excused
herself with a decision there was no mistaking. Something within her
revolted at the bare idea. He went away smiling, but he never asked her
again.

Definite orders for the move to Udalkhand arrived at length, and
Stella's heart rejoiced. The place was situated on the edge of a river,
a brown and turgid torrent in the rainy weather, but no more than a
torpid, muddy stream before the monsoon. A native town and temple stood
upon its banks, but a sandy road wound up to higher ground on which a
few bungalows stood, overlooking the grim, parched desert below.

The jungle of Khanmulla was not more than five miles distant, and
Kurrumpore itself barely ten. But yet Stella felt as if a load had been
lifted from her. Surely the danger here would be more remote! And she
would not need to leave her husband now. That thought set her very heart
a-singing.

Monck said but little upon the subject. He was more non-committal than
ever in those days. Everyone said that Udalkhand was healthier and
cooler than Kurrumpore and he did not contradict the statement. But yet
Stella came to perceive after a time something in his silence which she
found unsatisfactory. She believed he watched her narrowly though he
certainly had no appearance of doing so, and the suspicion made her
nervous.

There were a few--Lady Harriet among the number--who condemned Udalkhand
from the outset as impossible, and dep