.

"What happened? Were you hurt? Your face is all bleeding!"

"It's nothing!" he said jerkily. "It's nothing!"

She took his handkerchief in her trembling hand and wiped the blood
away. She said no more of any sort. Only when she gave it back to him
her eyes were full of tears.

And Hone caught the little hand in passionate, dumb devotion, and
pressed it to his lips.

VII

"I am so sorry, Major Hone, but she is seeing no one. I would ask you to
dine if it would be of any use. But you wouldn't see her if I did."

So spoke the colonel's wife three days later in a sympathetic undertone;
while Hone paced beside her _rickshaw_ with a gloomy face.

"She isn't ill?" he asked. "You are sure she isn't ill?"

"No, not really ill. Her nerves are upset, of course. That was almost
inevitable. But she has determined to start for Bombay on Monday, and
nothing I can say will make her change her purpose."

"But she can't mean to go without saying good-bye!" he protested.

Mrs. Chester shook her head.

"She says she doesn't like good-byes. I had the greatest difficulty in
persuading her to come here at all. I am afraid that is exactly what she
does mean to do."

Hone stood still. His face was suddenly stubborn.

"I must see her," he said, "with her consent or without it. Will you, of
your goodness, ask me to dine tonight? I will manage the rest for
myself."

Mrs. Chester looked somewhat dubious. Long as she had known Hone, she
was not familiar with this mood.

He saw her hesitation, and smiled upon her persuasively.

"You are not going to refuse my petition? It isn't yourself that would
have the heart!"

She laughed, in spite of herself.

"Oh, go away, you wheedling Irishman! Yes, you may dine if you like. The
Gerrards are coming for bridge, and you'll be odd man out. There will be
no one to entertain you."

"Sure, I can entertain myself," grinned Hone. "And it's truly grateful
that I am to your worshipful ladyship."

He bowed, with his hand upon his heart, and, turning, went his way.

Mrs. Chester went hers, still vaguely doubtful as to the wisdom of her
action. In common with the rest of mankind, she found Hone well-nigh
impossible to resist.

When he made his appearance that evening, he presented an absolutely
serene aspect to the world at large. He was the gayest of the party, and
Mrs. Chester's uneasiness speedily evaporated. Nina Perceval was not
present, but this fact apparently did not depress him