seen that he could not win; but he had also seen that Carlin
was _there_--there to stay! . . . Something in her--that no fever or
poison or death could take away--something for him! The thing was
vivid to him for moments afterward; it lingered in dimmer outlines for
hours; but as the days passed, he could only hold the vital essence of
what he had learned that hour.

Carlin was more to him every day--more dear and intimate in a hundred
ways; yet always she held the quest of her before him; a constant
suggestion of marvels of reserve; mysteries always unfolding, of no
will or design of hers. It seemed to the two that they were treading
the paths of a larger design than they could imagine; and Skag was sure
it was only the dullness of his faculty and the slowness of his taking,
not Carlin's resources of magic, that limited the joy.

Ian Deal took up his quarters across the river with the cavalry. He
did not come to the bungalow.

"He has always been strange," Carlin said. "In some ways he has been
closer to me than any of the others. Always strange--doing things one
time that showed the tenderest feeling for me and again the harshest
resentment. You could not know what he suffered--remaining away when
we were married. He has always hoped I would stay single. The idea
was like a passion in him. Some of the others have it, but not to the
same degree. . . . You know we have all felt the tragedy over us. We
are different. The English feel it and the natives, too; yet we hold
the respect of both, as no other half-caste line in India. It is
because of the austerity of our views on one subject--to keep the
lineage above reproach as it began. . . . No, Ian will not come here.
He has seen his sister. He will make that do--"

"Why don't you go to him?" Skag asked.

She turned her head softly.

"You Americans are amazing."

"Why?" he laughed.

"An Englishman or any of my brothers in your place, wouldn't think
India could contain Ian Deal and himself."

"It wouldn't do any good to fight that sort of feeling," Skag said.

"Only a man whose courage is proven would dare to say that."

"If I were on the right side, it would not be my part to leave India."

Carlin liked this so well that she decided Skag deserved to hear of a
certain matter.

". . . Ian has something on his side. You see I had almost decided not
to marry--almost promised him. He always said he would never marry if
I didn't; that our peo