ur as to doubt you. There! That's what I came to say.
Now it's your turn."

The tears were in his eyes, but he made no further attempt to hide them.
All that was great in his nature had come to the surface, and there was
no room left for self-consciousness.

Monck realized it, and it affected him deeply, depriving him of the
power to respond. He had not expected this from Tommy, had not believed
him capable of it. But there was no doubting the boy's sincerity.
Through those tears which Tommy had forgotten to hide, he saw the old
loving trust shine out at him, the old whole-hearted admiration and
honour offered again without reservation and without stint.

He opened his lips to speak, but something rose in his throat,
preventing him. He held out his hand in silence, and in that wordless
grip the love which is greater than death made itself felt between
them--a bond imperishable which no earthly circumstance could ever again
violate--the Power Omnipotent which conquers all things.

CHAPTER II

THE LAMP

The orange light of the morning was breaking over the jungle when two
horsemen rode out upon the Kurrumpore road and halted between the rice
fields.

"I say, come on a bit further!" Tommy urged. "There's plenty of time."

But the other shook his head. "No, I can't. I promised Barnes to be back
early. Good-bye, Tommy my lad! Keep your end up!"

"I will," Tommy promised, and thrust out a hand. "And you'll hang on,
won't you? Promise!"

"All right; for the present. My love to Bernard." Everard spoke with his
usual brevity, but his handclasp was remembered by Tommy for a very long
time after.

"And to Stella?" he said, pushing his horse a little nearer till it
muzzled against its fellow.

Everard's eyes, grave and dark, looked out to the low horizon. "I think
not," he said. "She has--no further use for it."

"She will have," said Tommy quickly.

But Everard passed the matter by in silence. "You must be getting on,"
he said, and relaxed his grip. "Good-bye, old chap! You've done me good,
if that is any consolation to you."

"Oh, man!" said Tommy, and coloured like a girl. "Not--not really!"

Everard uttered his curt laugh, and switched Tommy's mount across the
withers. "Be off with you, you--cuckoo!" he said.

And Tommy grinned and went.

Half-an-hour later he was sounding an impatient tatto upon his sister's
door.

She came herself to admit him, but the look upon her face checked the
greeting