Part 14 (1/2)

”I don't know him very well,” said Stella.

”Oh, don't you? That's because he's so quiet. I used to think he was surly. But he isn't really. He's only shy. Is he, Aunt Mary?” The blue eyes whisked round to Mrs. Ralston and were met by a slightly reproving shake of the head. ”No, but really,” Tessa protested, ”he is a nice man.

Tommy says so. Mother doesn't like him, but that's nothing to go by. The people she likes are hardly ever nice. Daddy says so.”

”Tessa,” said Mrs. Ralston gently, ”we don't want to hear about that.

Tell us some more about Captain Monck's mongoose instead!”

Tessa frowned momentarily. Such nursery discipline was something of an insult to her eight years' dignity, but in a second she sent a dazzling smile to her hostess, accepting the rebuff. ”All right, Aunt Mary, I'll bring him to see you to-morrow, shall I?” she said brightly. ”Mrs. Dacre will like that too. It'll be something to amuse us when Tommy's gone.”

Tommy looked across with a grin. ”Yes, keep your spirits up!” he said.

”It's dull work with the boys away, isn't it, Aunt Mary? And Scooter is a most sagacious animal--almost as intelligent as Peter the Great who coils himself on Stella's threshold every night as if he thought the bogeyman was coming to spirit her away. He's developing into a habit, isn't he Stella? You'd better be careful.”

Stella smiled her faint, tired smile. ”I like to have him there,” she said. ”I am not nervous, of course, but he is a friend.”

”You'll never shake him off,” predicted Tommy. ”He comes of a romantic stock. Hullo! Here is his high mightiness with the mail! Look at the sparkle in Aunt Mary's eyes! Did you ever see the like? She expects to draw a prize evidently.”

He stretched a leisurely arm and took the letter from the salver that the Indian extended. It was for Mrs. Ralston, and she received it blus.h.i.+ng like an eager girl.

”Why does Aunt Mary look like that?” piped Tessa, ever observant. ”It's only from the Major. Mother never looks like that when Daddy writes to her.”

”Perhaps Daddy's letters are not so interesting,” suggested Tommy.

Tessa chuckled. ”Shall I tell you what? She'd ever so much rather have a letter from the Rajah. I know she would. She keeps his locked up, but she never bothers about Daddy's. I can't think what the Rajah finds to write about when they are always meeting. I think it's silly, don't you?”

”Very silly,” said Tommy. ”I hate writing letters myself. Beastly dull work.”

”Perhaps you will excuse me while I read mine,” said Mrs. Ralston.

Stella smiled at her. ”Oh do! Perhaps there will be some interesting news of Kurrumpore in it.”

”News of Monck perhaps,” suggested Tommy. ”There's a fellow who never writes a letter. I haven't the faintest idea where he is or what he is doing, except that he went to his brother somewhere in England. He is due back in about a fortnight, but I probably shan't hear a word of him until he's there.”

”You have not written to him either?” questioned Stella.

”I couldn't. I didn't know where to write.” Tommy's eyes met hers with slight hesitation. ”I haven't been able to tell him anything of our affairs. It's quite possible though that he will have heard before he gets back to The Green Bungalow. He generally gets hold of things.”

”It need not make any difference.” Stella spoke slowly, her eyes fixed upon the green race-course that gleamed in the sun below them. ”So far as I am concerned, he is quite welcome to remain at The Green Bungalow.

I daresay we should not get in each other's way. That is,” she looked at her brother, ”if you prefer that arrangement.”

”I say, that's jolly decent of you!” Tommy's face was flushed with pleasure. ”Sure you mean it?”

”Quite sure.” Stella spoke rather wearily. ”It really doesn't matter to me--except that I don't want to come between you and your friend. Now that I have been married--” a tinge of bitterness sounded in her voice--”I suppose no one will take exception. But of course Captain Monck may see the matter in a different light. If so, pray let him do as he thinks fit!”

”You bet he will!” said Tommy. ”He's about the most determined cuss that ever lived.”

”He's a very nice man,” put in Tessa jealously.

Tommy laughed. ”He's one of the best,” he agreed heartily. ”And he's the sort that always comes out on top sooner or later. Just you remember that, Tessa! He's a winner, and he's straight--straight as a die.”