a refused to permit, though her heart smote her somewhat
when she saw her finally take her departure with many wistful backward
glances.

Monck was hard-hearted enough to smile. "Let the imp go! She has had
more than her share already," he said. "I'm not going to divide you with
any one under the sun."

Stella was lying on the sofa. She reached out and held his hand, leaning
her cheek against his sleeve. "Except--" she murmured.

He bent to her, his lips upon her shining hair. "Ah, I have begun to do
that already," he said, with a touch of sadness. "I wonder if you are as
lonely up here as I am at Udalkhand."

She kissed his sleeve. "I miss you--unspeakably," she said.

His fingers closed upon hers. "Stella, can you keep a secret?"

She looked up swiftly. "Of course--of course. What is it? Have they made
you Governor-General of the province?"

He smiled grimly. "Not yet. But Sir Reginald Bassett--you know old Sir
Reggie?--came and inspected us the other day, and we had a talk. He is
one of the keenest empire-builders that I ever met." An odd thrill
sounded in Monck's voice. "He asked me if presently--when the vacancy
occurred--I would be his secretary, his political adviser, as he put it.
Stella, it would be a mighty big step up. It would lead--it might
lead--to great things."

"Oh, my darling!" She was quivering all over. "Would it--would it mean
that we should be together? No," she caught herself up sharply, "that is
sheer selfishness. I shouldn't have asked that first."

His lips pressed hers. "Don't you know it is the one thing that comes
first of all with me too?" he said. "Yes, it would mean far less of
separation. It would probably mean Simla in the hot weather, and only
short absences for me. It would mean an end of this beastly regimental
life that you hate so badly. What? Did you think I didn't know that?
But it would also mean leaving poor Tommy at the grindstone, which is
hard."

"Dear Tommy! But he has lots of friends. You don't think he would get up
to mischief?"

"No, I don't think so. He is more of a man than he was. And I could keep
an eye on him--even from a distance. Still, it won't come yet,--not
probably till the end of the year. You are fairly comfortable here--you
and Peter?"

She smiled and sighed. "Oh yes, he keeps away the bogies, and Tessa
chases off the blues. So I am well taken care of!"

"I hope you don't let that child wear you out," Monck said. "She is
rather a handful. W