flaming sword she
dreaded had flashed again across her path, closing the way to
happiness.

CHAPTER V

TESSA

The blue jay was still laughing on the pine-clad slopes of Bhulwana when
Stella returned thither. It was glorious summer weather. There was life
in the air--such life as never reached the Plains.

The bungalow up the hill, called "The Nest," which once Ralph Dacre had
taken for his bride, was to be Stella's home for the period of her
sojourn at Bhulwana. It was a pretty little place twined in roses,
standing in a shady compound that Tessa called "the jungle." Tessa
became at once her most constant visitor. She and Scooter were running
wild as usual, but Netta was living in strict retirement. People said
she looked very ill, but she seemed to resent all sympathy. There was an
air of defiance about her which kept most people at a distance.

Stories were rife concerning her continued intimacy with the Rajah who
was now in residence at his summer palace on the hill. They went for
gallops together in the early morning, and in the evenings they
sometimes flashed along the road in his car. But he was seldom observed
to enter the bungalow she occupied, and even Tessa had no private
information to add to the general gossip. Netta seldom went to race
course or polo-ground, where the Rajah was most frequently to be found.

Stella, who had never liked Netta Ermsted, took but slight interest in
her affairs. She always welcomed Tessa, however, and presently, since
her leisure was ample and her health considerably improved, she began to
give the child a few lessons which soon became the joy of Tessa's heart.
She found her quick and full of enthusiasm. Her devotion to Stella made
her tractable, and they became fast friends.

It was in June just before the rains, that Monck came up on a week's
leave. He found Tessa practically established as Stella's companion. Her
mother took no interest in her doings. The _ayah_ was responsible for
her safety, and even if Tessa elected to spend the night with her
friend, Netta raised no objection. It had always been her way to leave
the child to any who cared to look after her, since she frankly
acknowledged that she was quite incapable of managing her herself. If
Mrs. Monck liked to be bothered with her, it was obviously her affair,
not Netta's.

And so Stella kept the little girl more and more in her own care, since
Mrs. Ralston was still at Udalkhand, and no one else cared