wondered, would
it be a relief to him when she had gone? Ah, that terrible barrier
of silence! If she could but have passed it then! But she lacked
the strength.

"Very well," she said, and turned away. "I will be ready."

His voice arrested her at the door of her room. "May I have the
key of the strong-box?"

She turned back. Her face was burning. He had taken her unawares.

"I have it here," she said, and gave it to him with a hand that
shook uncontrollably.

"Thank you," he said, and put it in his pocket. "I should take it
easy to-day if I were you. You need a rest."

And that was all. He went out again into the blazing sunshine, and
a little later she heard him talking to Schafen as they crossed the
yard to the sheep-pens.

She saw him again at the midday meal, but he ate in haste and
seemed preoccupied, departing again at the earliest moment
possible. Though he did not discuss the matter with her, she knew
that the cruel drought would become a catastrophe if it lasted much
longer. She prepared for departure with a heavy heart.

He came in again to tea, but went to his room to change and only
emerged to swallow a hasty cup before they started. Then, indeed,
just at the last, as she rose to dress for the journey, she
attempted shyly to penetrate the armour in which he had clad
himself.

"Are you sure you want me to go?" she said.

He turned towards her, and for a moment her heart stood still.
"Don't you want to go?" he said.

She did not answer the question. Somehow she could not. Neither
could she meet the direct gaze of the keen grey eyes upturned to
hers.

"I feel almost as if I am deserting my post," she told him, with a
rather piteous smile.

"Oh, you needn't feel that," he said quietly. "In any case you can
come back whenever you want to. You won't be far away."

Not far away! Were they not poles asunder already--their
partnership dissolved as if it had never been,--their
good-fellowship--their friendship--crumbled to ashes? Her heart
was beating again quickly, unevenly. She knew that the way was
barred.

"Well, send for me if you want me at any time!" she said, and
passed on to her room.

There was no need and small opportunity for talk during the drive,
for Burke had his hands full with a pair of young horses who tried
to bolt upon every conceivable occasion that offered, and he had to
keep an iron control upon them throughout the journey.

So at length they came