straight off when we want them."

"You do want me?" insinuated Tessa, squeezing his neck very hard.

"Yes. I want you very much," he said.

"I love you," said Tessa with passionate warmth, "better--yes, better
now than even Uncle Everard. And I didn't think I ever could do that."

"God bless you, little one!" he said.

Later, when Major Ralston had seen her again, they had another
conference. The doctor's suspicions were fully justified. Tessa would
need the utmost care.

"She shall have it," Bernard said. "But--I can't leave Stella now. I
shall see my way clearer presently."

"Quite so," Ralston agreed. "My wife shall look after the child at
Bhulwana. It will keep her quiet." He gave Bernard a shrewd look.
"Perhaps you--and Mrs. Monck also--will be on your way Home before the
hot weather," he said. "In that case she could go with you."

Bernard was silent. It was impossible to look forward. One thing was
certain. He could not desert Stella.

Ralston passed on. Being reticent himself he respected a man who could
keep his own counsel.

"What about Mrs. Ermsted?" he said. "When will you see her?"

"To-night," said Bernard, setting his jaw.

Ralston smiled briefly. That look recalled his brother. "No time like
the present," he said.

But the time for consultation with Netta Ermsted upon the future of her
child was already past. When Bernard, very firm and purposeful, walked
down again after dinner that night, Ralston met him with a wry
expression and put a crumpled note into his hand.

"Mrs. Ermsted has apparently divined your benevolent intentions," he
said.

Bernard read in silence, with meeting brows.

DEAR MARY:

This is to wish you and all kind friends good-bye. So that there may be
no misunderstanding on the part of our charitable gossips, pray tell
them at once that I have finally chosen the broad road as it really
suits me best. As for Tessa--I bequeath her and her little morals to the
first busybody who cares to apply for them. Perhaps the worthy Father
Monck would like to acquire virtue in this fashion. I find the task only
breeds vice in me. Many thanks for your laborious and, I fear, wholly
futile attempts to keep me in the much too narrow way.

Yours,

NETTA.

Bernard looked up from the note with such fiery eyes that Ralston who
was on the verge of a scathing remark himself had to stop out of sheer
curiosity to see what he would say.

"A damnably cruel and heartless woman!" said Be