?--and the girls?

He had never associated them in his thoughts with Mrs. Fox, nor dreamed
of their meeting even as acquaintances. The contrast was too glaring.

His career?

Well!--the Government did not approve discreditable marriages; but, on
the other hand, it did not actively interfere with a Service man's
private affairs. A good officer might make his way in spite of an
unfortunate marriage. There were worse instances in the "Indian Civil"
than his. But he was certain, at any rate, he would be socially done
for!

Gradually he had come to realise that all the stories concerning Mrs.
Fox must have been true, and that she had been tolerated by society
purely on account of her husband--and he was now proved no better than
she!

Be that as it may, he saw no way out of his dilemma save by dishonouring
his written and spoken word. One was as good as the other and he felt
himself hopelessly snared. The lady would have to become his wife, and
he would spend the rest of his life dominated by her personality,
fettered by her jealous suspicions, and suffering in a thousand other
ways, as men suffer, who rashly marry women several years older than
themselves.

Mrs. Fox laughed merrily at the comic situation in the performance to
give Jack time to recover himself, but her eyes gleamed anxiously.

She was sufficiently woman of the world and quick-witted enough to
comprehend the shock to Jack and his consequent stupefaction. But he was
young enough for his nature to be played upon, and she was determined
not to lose her advantage. She banked all her hopes on his sense of
honour, and continued to thank her stars that her luck was "set fair."

CHAPTER XVII

BREAKING BOUNDS

Honor lived in dread of Captain Dalton's return to the Station.

Did he remember anything of what had passed between them in the hour
which she had spent at his bedside? Or had he completely forgotten the
episode and her confession? She would have been glad to think he had
forgotten, for she had brought herself to believe that he had been
labouring under the influence of delusions. If it were true that he
loved her, his manner would have been very different in the days
preceding his illness. True, she had been aloof; but men in love are not
usually balked by such trifles as had stood in his way.

No. He had been dreaming.

His fever-stricken brain had been wandering among unrealities, and her
face had filled the imagination of the moment