im. But
he has never been able to evoke the finer parts of my nature, and when
this is the case marriage is a mere miserable fleshly failure. You
may say, "Why try it a third time?"--but my union with Val will be
different. I have never been fond of the opposite sex--so far as that
goes I should have made a very good nun--but for a long time Valentine
Drake has been the only man I cared to have come within a mile of me,
and lately we have discovered that we are absolutely necessary to each
other's existence on the higher plane. I don't care much what
Simla thinks, but if you happen to be talking about it to dear Lady
Bloomfield, you might just mention this. Val has eight hundred a year of
his own, so it is perfectly practicable. Of course, he will send in his
papers. WHATEVER HAPPENS, Val and I will never bind ourselves in any
way. We both think it wrong and enslaving. I have nothing more to add,
except that I am depending on you to explain to Simla that I never was
Mrs. Innes.

'Yours sincerely,

'Violet Prendergast.

'P.S.--I have written to Horace, telling him everything about
everything, and sent my letter off to him in the wilds by a runner. If
you see him you might try and smooth him down. I don't want him coming
after Val with a revolver.'

Madeline read this communication through twice. Then quietly and
deliberately she lay down upon the bed, and drew herself out of the
control of her heart by the hard labour of thought. When she rose, she
had decided that there were only two things for her to do, and she
began at once to do them, continuing her refuge in action. She threw her
little rooms open again, and walked methodically round the outer one,
collecting the odds and ends of Indian fabrics with which she had
garnished it.

As the maid came in, she looked up from folding them.

'I have news, Brookes,' she said, 'that necessitates my going home at
once. No, it is not bad news, but--important. I will go now and see
about the tonga. We must start tomorrow morning.'

Brookes called Surnoo, and the rickshaw came round.

Madeline looked at her watch.

'The telegraph office,' she said; 'and as quickly as may be.'

As the runners panted over the Mall, up and down and on, Madeline said
to herself, 'She shall have her chance. She shall choose.'

The four reeking Paharis pulled up at the telegraph office, and Madeline
sped up the steps. There was a table, with forms printed 'Indian
Telegraphs,' and the usua