ome day veree
soon instead."

But Evelyn was too self-absorbed to detect the obvious hint.

"Yes--I hope so," she agreed, without enthusiasm; then, seeing puzzled
dissatisfaction in Linda Kresney's eyes, made haste to add: "Perhaps
you'll stay a little now, as you are not coming to-night. It's quite
early still, and I'm all alone."

Miss Kresney sat down with unconcealed alacrity, and Evelyn followed
her example, laying her hand on the tell-tale papers. The trouble of
her mind showed so clearly in her eyes and lips, that the girl, who
had begun to grow really fond of her, was emboldened to risk a vague
proffer of sympathy. She had never as yet found the opportunity her
brother so desired of making herself useful; and she was quick-witted
enough to perceive that Fate might be favouring her at last.

"I am afraid you have been worried about something, Mrs Desmond," she
began warily. "Perhaps after all I had better not stay here, bothering
you to make talk. Unless perhaps--I can help you in any way. I should
be very glad to, if you will not think me officious to say so. I
cannot bear to see you look so unhappee. It is not bad news from
Kohat, I hope?"

Evelyn's smile was a very misty affair.

"Oh, no--it's not that," she said, and broke off short.

Miss Kresney waited for more--her face and figure one fervent note of
interrogation. She had tact enough to realise that she could not press
verbal inquiry further.

But her air of interested expectation was not lost on Evelyn Desmond.
A pressing need was urging her to unburden her mind through the
comforting channels of speech. Cut off, by her own act, from the two
strong natures on whom she leaned for sympathy and help, there
remained only this girl, who would certainly give her the one, and
might possibly give her the other, in the form of practical
information. It was this last thought that turned the scale in Miss
Kresney's favour; and Evelyn spoke.

"I think it's very nice of you to mind that I am unhappy, and to want
to help me. But I don't know whether you can; because it's--it's about
money."

The merest shadow of astonishment flittered across Miss Kresney's
face. But she said no word, and Evelyn went on--her nervousness giving
way rapidly before the relief of speech.

"I have a whole heap of bills here, for dresses and things, that I
simply can't pay for out of my allowance. It's not because my husband
doesn't give me enough," she added, with a pathetic