over her face at the idea. Joyce dining with
the doctor at his bungalow, _alone_! It was too preposterous, yet--was
it? She was "such a kid," and might be foolish enough to dare any folly
so long as she felt sure of herself and the purity of her own
intentions.

But the pain at Honor's heart was out of all proportion to her concern
at Joyce Meredith's indiscretion.

She tortured herself imagining the possible scene in Dalton's
dining-room--Joyce at dinner, _tete-a-tete_ with Captain Dalton!--on
familiar terms with the man who rarely condescended to be agreeable to
others! It was a picture inconceivably hurtful.

"You had better lose no time, Dad. If you find her--anywhere--tell her
that her servants are alarmed--the ayah particularly. I shall see her in
the morning," she said, resolutely shutting out the vision conjured up
by imagination.

If Joyce were not dining somewhere, there must have been an accident, in
which case they would have to send out search parties.

She watched her father leave in the dogcart and wondered what the upshot
would be, her mind restless with forebodings.

It was fully an hour later that Mr. Bright returned home to report that
Captain Dalton and Mrs. Meredith were nowhere to be found. Dalton's
servants were waiting to serve him with dinner, and were growing anxious
as his habits were usually automatic and punctual. He so far considered
them that they were always informed of his plans. If he intended to dine
out they were given liberty to spend the evening with their friends in
the bazaar. As it was clear that something unusual had happened, Mr.
Bright had called round on Tommy and a search was already in progress.
Jack had taken the Sombari road on his motor cycle and Tommy had taken
the main road in an opposite direction. It was more than possible that
the car had broken down somewhere, in which case the stranded ones would
probably find a bullock-cart to bring them ingloriously home.

Honor hung about on the verandah for news till midnight, and was almost
speechless with alarm when both boys appeared, one after the other to
report the failure of their quest. The car was nowhere to be seen.

To add to the difficulty, clouds which had gathered in the evening had
discharged smart showers of rain at intervals, as is familiar to Bengal
about Christmas time, and not a trace of wheel-marks could be discovered
on the road.

By morning the excitement had spread all over the Station. Inquir