mpanions back to the railing, just
as the Penlop spoke to one of his officials who shouted across to them
an angry command to leave the white woman alone. The scared maskers
tumbled over each other in their hurry to quit the balcony.

Thrilled with delight the girl watched them go and then, when the entry
of a fresh body of mummers into the courtyard distracted the attention
of the spectators from her, she withdrew quietly to her room. She was
alone, the nun having gone long ago to witness the Devil Dance from
among the crowd. Muriel opened the door leading to a broad stone
staircase and peered cautiously out. There was no one to be seen. All
the inhabitants of the monastery were gathered in the courtyard. She
stole carefully down to a side door of the lamasery chapel.

This temple was a large and lofty building richly ornamented with fine
wood carvings, rich brocades and elaborately embroidered banners and
hangings. The pillars supporting the roof were covered with copper
plates beaten into beautiful patterns and the altars were of silver, the
chief one, as in all Bhutanese chapels, being adorned by a splendid pair
of elephant's tusks. Idols abounded. There was a central seated figure
of Buddha thirty feet high, heavily gilt and studded with turquoises and
precious stones, with a canopy and background of golden lotus leaves. On
either side were attendant female figures; and images of Buddhist gods,
larger than life size, stood in double rows.

Muriel concealed herself behind the colossal statue of Buddha and had
not long to wait before from her hiding-place she saw two maskers, the
Snake and the Dragon, enter the Temple cautiously. The latter remained
on guard at the door while his companion, who carried a bundle, advanced
furtively towards the great idol. As he drew near he opened the jaws of
the mask and said in a low tone:

"Muriel! Muriel! Are you here?"

At the sound of the well-remembered voice the girl trembled violently.
Her heart beat quickly as she came out from behind the statue. When he
beheld her the masker lifted the snake's head off; and Muriel saw that
the face revealed, disguised and stained a dull yellow, was that of her
lover. At the sight of it she forgot the painful past, forgot her
grievance against him, forgot the other woman, the sorrow that he had
caused her. As he sprang towards her with outstretched arms she cried:

"Oh, thank God you've come, dear!"

Frank caught her in his eager embr