e right eye. They seem afraid
that he may possibly--lose his sight."

"It is not true--oh, it is _not_ true!" Evelyn's hands went up to her
head with a desperate cry. Then she swayed, tottered backward, and
fell prone among the sofa cushions.

"Honor--come to me--I'm frightened!" she moaned, without lifting her
head; and in an instant Honor was bending over her, murmuring brave
words of encouragement, removing her hat, and mechanically smoothing
her hair.

"Is--he still here?" Evelyn asked under her breath.

"Yes, dear. Do you want him?"

"No--no; send him away. I want you--only you!"

Wyndham was already nearing the door and Honor followed him out into
the hall.

"You see she's a little off her balance, poor child."

"Yes, I see," he answered wearily. "And I thank God with all my heart
that _you_ are here. Will you tell Mrs Desmond that an escort is
returning to-day with Theo and--the Boy. They will reach Kohat
to-morrow evening."

Honor straightened herself suddenly.

"I will tell her. To-morrow evening. Does Frank know too?"

"Yes; she was in when I came. It upset her very much. Not a soul in
the regiment--officers or men--will have a minute's peace of mind till
the result of this wound is known for certain. In all the misery of
it, one is proud to realise that."

Something of his own grief showed in his voice for the first time, and
Honor's heart contracted with too keen a sympathy.

"Ah, Paul! you speak of it so calmly--as if you were just one with the
rest. But I, at least, can guess what the pain and suspense must be
for you."

His face softened at the tender inflection of her voice.

"No," he said, "even you cannot guess that. Now go back to his wife.
If I can be of any use at all send for me. I shall not come round
otherwise till I bring him here to-morrow evening. I mean to ride out
with a small escort and meet them on the way."

Honor found Evelyn rigid and tearless among her cushions. The strange
mingling of coldness and terror in her eyes startled the girl. She
hurried to the sofa and knelt down at her side.

"Don't look like that, Evelyn," she said. "It's horrible! Only think,
Theo will be here to-morrow evening. Paul told me so just now."

"To-morrow--to-morrow? He will be here, in this house--to-morrow?" She
repeated the word with stunned iteration, and there was no feeling in
her tone, only an uncanny fear, that chilled the blood in Honor's
veins.

"I never thought--it would be