led to the photograph of
Desmond on the piano, and lingered there with a softened
thoughtfulness of gaze. What deep roots she had struck down into the
lives of these two since her first sight of that picture! A year ago
the man had been a mere name to her; and now----

The clatter of hoofs, followed by Desmond's voice in the verandah,
snapped the thread of her thought, and roused Evelyn from the
contemplation of her roses.

"Theo _is_ back early!" she exclaimed: and on the words he entered the
room, elation in every line of him, an unusual light in his eyes.

"What _has_ happened to make you look like that?" she asked. "Somebody
left you a fortune?"

Desmond laughed, with a peculiar ring of enjoyment.

"No fear! Fortunes don't grow hereabouts! But we've had stirring news
this morning. A big party of Afridis has crossed the Border and fired
a village, murdering and looting cattle and women on a very daring
scale. The whole garrison is under orders for a punitive expedition.
We shall be off in ten days, if not sooner."

Evelyn's colour ebbed while he was speaking, and she made a quick
movement towards him. But Desmond taking her shoulders between his
hands, held her at arm's length, and confronted her with steadfastly
smiling eyes.

"No, no, Ladybird--you're going to be plucky and stand up to this like
a soldier's wife, for my sake. The Frontier's been abnormally quiet
these many months. It will do us all good to have a taste of real work
for a change."

"Do you mean ... will there be much ... fighting?"

"Well--the Afridis don't take a blow sitting down. We have to burn
their crops, you see; blow up their towers; enforce heavy fines, and
generally knock it into their heads that they can't defy the Indian
Government with impunity. Yes; it means fighting--severe or otherwise,
according to their pleasure."

"Pleasure!--It sounds simply horrible; and you--I believe you're
_glad_ to go!"

"Well, my dear, what else would you have? Not because I'm murderously
inclined," he added smiling. "Every soldier worth his salt is glad of
a chance to do the work he's paid for. But that's one of the things I
shall never teach you to understand!"

Evelyn turned hurriedly back to her roses. Her throat felt
uncomfortably dry, and two tears had escaped in spite of herself.

"How long will you be gone?" she asked, addressing her question to the
flowers.

"A month or six weeks. Not longer."

"But won't any one be left to gua