Part 34 (1/2)

”But I haven't given in,” she said.

His hand closed upon hers. ”You would kill yourself first if I would let you,” he said. ”But--do you think I am going to do that?”

”It would kill me to leave you,” she said.

”And what if it kills you to stay?” He spoke with sudden force. ”No, listen a minute! I have something to tell you. I have been worried about you--as I said--for some time. To-day I was working in the orderly-room, and Ralston chanced to come in. He asked me how you were. I said, 'I am afraid the climate is against her. What do you think of her?' He replied, 'I'll tell you what I think of you, if you like. I think you're a d.a.m.ned fool.' That opened my eyes.” Monck ended on the old grim note.

”I thanked him for the information, and told him to come over here and see you on the earliest opportunity. He has promised to come round in the morning.”

”Oh, but Everard!” Stella started up in swift protest. ”I don't want him! I won't see him!”

He kept her hand in his. ”I am sorry,” he said. ”But I am going to insist on that.”

”You--insist!” She looked at him curiously, a quivering smile about her lips.

His eyes met hers uncompromisingly. ”If necessary,” he said.

She made a movement to free herself, but he frustrated her, gently but with indisputable mastery.

”Stella,” he said, ”things may be difficult. I know they are. But, my dear, don't make them impossible! Let us pull together in this as in everything else!”

She met his look steadily. ”You know what will happen, don't you?” she said. ”He will order me to Bhulwana.”

Monck's hand tightened upon hers. ”Better that,” he said, under his breath, ”than to lose you altogether!”

”And if it kills me to leave you?” she said. ”What then?”

He made a gesture that was almost violent, but instantly restrained himself. ”I think you are braver than that,” he said.

Her lips quivered again piteously. ”I am not brave at all,” she said.

”I left all my courage--all my faith--in the mountains one terrible morning--when G.o.d cursed me for marrying a man I did not love--and took--the man--- away.”

”My darling!” Monck said. He drew her to him again, holding her pa.s.sionately close, kissing the trembling lips till they clung to his in answer. ”Can't you forget all that,” he said, ”put it right away from you, think only of what lies before.”

Her arms were round his neck. She poured out her very soul to him in that close embrace. But she said no word in answer, and her silence was the silence of despair. It seemed to her that the flaming sword she dreaded had flashed again across her path, closing the way to happiness.

CHAPTER V

TESSA

The blue jay was still laughing on the pine-clad slopes of Bhulwana when Stella returned thither. It was glorious summer weather. There was life in the air--such life as never reached the Plains.

The bungalow up the hill, called ”The Nest,” which once Ralph Dacre had taken for his bride, was to be Stella's home for the period of her sojourn at Bhulwana. It was a pretty little place twined in roses, standing in a shady compound that Tessa called ”the jungle.” Tessa became at once her most constant visitor. She and Scooter were running wild as usual, but Netta was living in strict retirement. People said she looked very ill, but she seemed to resent all sympathy. There was an air of defiance about her which kept most people at a distance.

Stories were rife concerning her continued intimacy with the Rajah who was now in residence at his summer palace on the hill. They went for gallops together in the early morning, and in the evenings they sometimes flashed along the road in his car. But he was seldom observed to enter the bungalow she occupied, and even Tessa had no private information to add to the general gossip. Netta seldom went to race course or polo-ground, where the Rajah was most frequently to be found.

Stella, who had never liked Netta Ermsted, took but slight interest in her affairs. She always welcomed Tessa, however, and presently, since her leisure was ample and her health considerably improved, she began to give the child a few lessons which soon became the joy of Tessa's heart.

She found her quick and full of enthusiasm. Her devotion to Stella made her tractable, and they became fast friends.