ing you."

Millicent looked at her with steely eyes. Meg's words were not too
cryptic for her comprehension. "Good-night," she said. "When I hear
from Mike, I'll let you know."

When Margaret reached her room, she flung off her self-restraint.
Catching up a sofa-cushion, she flung it at an imaginary Millicent; two
more went flying in the same direction.

"Oh, you beast, you hateful little beast!" she cried. "I believe you
have won, after all! I wanted to find out if Michael was to blame, I
wanted to make you confess that you trapped and followed him into the
desert! And all I succeeded in doing was to hear from your own lips
what all the hateful tongues in Egypt have been screaming and shouting
in my ears for weeks past!" She sank down on the low sofa. "My pride
spoilt everything. I wouldn't let you know that I cared, that I didn't
know a word about anything, that I have never heard a line from
Michael." Her mind stood at attention; a new thought held it. The
holy man! Millicent had spoken of the holy man. Was he the "child of
God" who was to lead Mike to the hidden treasure? She groaned. Oh,
why had she not questioned her, why had she not controlled her own
anger and her pride, and learnt from Millicent a thousand things she
longed to know? She had not even asked her at what definite place in
the desert she had left Michael! She had asked her absolutely nothing
which would help her to find him. She had only gleaned from her the
one fact, the fact which made it absolutely imperative for her to
return at once to England. Her pride was so cruelly injured that she
accepted that fact as absolute. Even if Michael was entirely innocent
of any dishonour to herself, it was impossible not to feel wounded and
hurt to the quick by his silence. She had sworn to trust him, but was
he not asking too much of human nature? Might he not have given a
thought to the fact that Freddy and all the world would condemn him?

Of Michael's health Millicent had told her nothing. She had spoken in
a manner which suggested that she had left him in the enjoyment of
perfect health. Her excuses for him to Freddy had melted into thin
air. How was she to tell Hadassah Ireton? Hadassah, whose complete
trust had made her ashamed of Freddy.

* * * * * *

She had gone to her room early, but it was far into the night before
she began to undress and get ready for bed. She was tired and unhappy
a