nclosure in Stella's letter from Tessa, who called him her
darling Uncle Everard and begged him to come soon and see how good she
was getting. He smiled a little over this also, but with a touch of
wonder. The child's worship seemed extraordinary to him. His conquest of
Tessa had been quite complete, but it was odd that in consequence of it
she should love him as she loved no one else on earth. Yet that she did
so was an indubitable fact. Her devotion exceeded even that of Tommy,
which was saying much. She seemed to regard him as a sacred being, and
her greatest pleasure in life was to do him service.

He put her letter away also, reflecting that he must manage somehow to
make time to answer it. As he did so, he heard Tommy's voice hail him
from the compound, and in a moment the boy raced into sight, taking the
verandah steps at a hop, skip, and jump.

"Hullo, old chap! Admiring the view eh? What? Got some letters? Have you
heard from your brother yet?"

"Not a word for weeks." Monck turned to meet him. "I can't think what
has happened to him."

"Can't you though? I can!" Tommy seized him impetuously by the shouders;
he was rocking with laughter. "Oh, Everard, old boy, this beats
everything! That brother of yours is coming along the road now. And he's
travelled all the way from Khanmulla in a--in a bullock-cart!"

"What?" Monck stared in amazement. "Are you mad?" he inquired.

"No--no. It's true! Go and see for yourself, man! They're just getting
here, slow and sure. He must be well stocked with patience. Come on!
They're stopping at the gate now."

He dragged his brother-in-law to the steps. Monck went, half-suspicious
of a hoax. But he had barely reached the path below when through the
rain there came the sound of wheels and heavy jingling.

"Come on!" yelled Tommy. "It's too good to miss!"

But ere they arrived at the gate it was blocked by a massive figure in a
streaming black mackintosh, carrying a huge umbrella. "I say," said a
soft voice, "what a damn' jolly part of the world to live in!"

"Bernard!" Monck's voice sounded incredulous, yet he passed Tommy at a
bound.

"Hullo, my boy, hullo!" Cheerily the newcomer made answer. "How do you
open this beastly gate? Oh, I see! Swelled a bit from the rain. I must
see to that for you presently. Hullo, Everard! I chanced to find myself
in this direction so thought I would look up you and your wife. How are
you, my boy?"

An immense hand came forth and graspe