gave me hardly _any_ dresses. She said I wouldn't need them on
the Frontier. But I _must_ have decent clothes, even in the
wilderness."

"Yes, I suppose so. Still you will find continual dresses from Simla a
terrible drain on a limited allowance."

A delicate flush crept into Evelyn's cheeks, and her eyes had an odd
glitter that came to them when she felt herself hard-pressed, yet did
not intend to give in.

"What do _you_ know about my allowance?"

"I happen to know the amount of it," Honor answered quietly. "I also
know the cost of clothes such as you have been getting in Simla,
and--I am puzzled to see how the two can be made to fit. You do _pay_
for your things, I suppose?" she added, with a flash of apprehension.
She herself had never been allowed to indulge in bills.

Evelyn's colour ebbed at the direct question; and she took instant
refuge in anger and matrimonial dignity, as being safer than truth.

"Really, Honor, you're getting rather a nuisance just lately. Scolding
and preaching never does me a scrap of good--and you know it. What I
do with my allowance isn't anybody's business but my own, and I won't
be treated as if I were a child. After all"--with a fine mingling of
dignity and scorn--"_I'm_ the married woman. You're only a
girl--staying with me; and I think I might be allowed to manage my own
affairs, without _you_ always criticising and interfering."

By this time Honor had risen also; a line of sternness hardening her
beautiful mouth. Beneath her sustained cheerfulness lay a passionate
temper; and Evelyn's unexpected attack stung it fiercely into life.
Several seconds passed before she could trust herself to speak.

"Very well, Evelyn," she said, at length, "from to-day there shall be
an end of my criticism and interference. You seem to forget that you
asked for my help. But as you don't need it any longer I will hand
over the account books to you to-morrow morning; and you had better
give Nazar Khan some orders about dinner. There isn't very much in the
house."

Only once before had Evelyn seen her friend roused to real
indignation; and she was fairly frightened at the effect of her own
hasty words.

"Oh, Honor, don't be so angry as that!" she pleaded brokenly. "You
know I simply can't----"

But with a decisive gesture Honor set her aside, and walking straight
past her, mounted the steep staircase to her own room.

Arrived there, she stood still as one dazed, her hands pressed against