?"

Her hand trembled a little in his. "I--am not sure he would wish me to
tell you that."

Sir Reginald's grey moustache twitched whimsically. "If his desire for
privacy is so great, it shall be respected. Will you take him a message
from me?"

"Of course," she said.

Sir Reginald patted her hand and released it. "Then please tell him,"
he said, "that the Indian Empire cannot afford to lose the services of
so valuable a servant as he has proved himself to be, and if he will
accept a secretaryship with me I think there is small doubt that it will
eventually lead to much greater things."

Stella gave a great start. "Oh, do you mean that?" she said.

Sir Reginald smiled openly. "I really do, Mrs. Monck, and I shall think
myself very fortunate to secure him. You will use your influence, I
hope, to induce him to accept?"

"But of course," she said.

"Poor Stella!" said Bernard. "And she hates India!"

She turned upon him almost in anger. "How dare you pity me? I love
anywhere that I can be with him."

"So like a woman!" commented Bernard. "Or is it something in the air?
I'll never bring Tessa out here when she's grown up, or she'll marry and
be stuck here for the rest of her life."

"You can do as you like with Tessa," said Stella, and turned again to
Sir Reginald. "Is that all you want of me now?"

"One thing more," he answered gently. "I hope I may say it without
giving offence."

With a gesture all-unconsciously regal she gave him both her hands. "You
may say--anything," she said impulsively.

He bent again courteously. "Mrs. Monck, will you invite me to witness
the ratification of the bond already existing between my friend Everard
Monck, and the lady who is honouring him by becoming his lawful wife?"

She flushed deeply but not painfully. "I will," she said. "Bernard, you
will see to that, I know."

"Yes; leave it to me, dear!" said Bernard.

"Thank you," she said; and to Sir Reginald: "Good-bye! I am going to my
husband now."

"Good-bye, Mrs. Monck!" he said. "And many thanks for your graciousness
to a stranger."

"Oh no!" she answered quickly. "You are a friend--of us both."

"I am proud to be called so," he said.

As she passed back into the bungalow her heart fluttered within her like
the wings of a bird mounting upwards in the dawning. The sun had risen
upon the desert.

CHAPTER XII

THE BLUE JAY

"Tommy says his name is Sprinter; but Uncle St. Bernard calls him
Whisky. I