suddenly, remembering that there might be some one
else to consult as to the ordering of his life.

There were steps in the courtyard, a foot on the verandah. Gerrard lay
still and pretended to be asleep. He could not face Bob at this
moment, when the realisation of all he had lost had returned upon him
with such overwhelming force. But Charteris strode across to him and
shook him savagely.

"You everlasting fool, it's you!"

He pulled him off the cot, and Gerrard sat on the edge and stared at
him stupidly. Charteris was standing with his back to him, very busy
about a buckle.

"Well?" he barked out. "You ain't going to do anything--eh? Think it
was a pleasant thing for a girl to have to tell the wrong man? Going
to leave her to think about it?"

"Of course not. I am going to her," said Gerrard wonderingly.
Something astonishing had happened, but he could not for the moment
realise what it was. He had got as far as the verandah step when he
felt Charteris's hands on his shoulders, and was forcibly dragged back.

"Of all the fools!" said an exasperated voice. "Off you go, with no
cap, and a head like a haystack. Do you remember that they have a
_burra khana_[1] on? Do you want to be turned back for a lunatic?
Dress first and get there early, and then speak to her. Call your boy,
can't you? Why I should have to dry-nurse you----!"

Gerrard obeyed meekly, grateful to Charteris for giving the bearer his
orders and presiding over his execution of them. The bearer, on the
contrary, was much insulted. His master was like a lay-figure in his
hands, but Chatar Sahib must needs take it upon himself to direct and
correct operations in an unpleasant parade voice, causing many
unnecessary starts and much perturbation of mind to a highly efficient
servant who had most definite ideas on the subject of what his Sahib
should wear to a burra khana. Gerrard's horse and groom came round,
and Charteris's self-imposed task was not over until he had seen him
safely mounted. Before starting, Gerrard turned and held out his hand.

"Bob, old boy?"

"Hang it, Hal! go in and win."

Some sense of reality began to return to Gerrard's mind as he rode
forth under the archway, but it made little impression upon his brain
when Mrs James Antony ran out upon the verandah he was passing.

"James, how late you are, love! Oh, Mr Gerrard, if you meet my
husband, pray beg him to make haste. We are dining at the General's,
and