sted in the subject of corpses just now," Carew
said, with something approaching a gleam in his eye, "but I don't
encourage him, because, for two pins, I believe he would dig up the
entire temple, if the spirit took him."

"The scoundrel!..." with an affectionate laugh. "Tell him if he dares
to touch one stone of my temple he shall never, never have a cake
again."

"Oh, I only surmise it from the expression in his eyes when he told
me, rather wistfully, that some scientific visitor had described to
him how the corpses, if found, would certainly be decked with valuable
gold ornaments."

Then he mounted and saluted her gravely as he rode away.

III

TWO HEIRESSES

In a Piccadilly mansion, about the same time that Major Carew returned
from his long trek, two girls sat in a wide window-seat and looked
somewhat disconsolately across the fresh spring green of the park.
Both were the daughters of South African millionaires. Both were
motherless, and one an orphan. They were also cousins, and the same
roof usually was their home.

Two months previously the father of the one and guardian of the other
had brought them to England, that they might duly "come out" the
ensuing season in London society. Their presentation at Court had
taken place in April, followed by a splendid ball at the stately
mansion taken for their stay, and both girls had looked eagerly
forward to the festivities ahead.

And now, a few weeks later, they found themselves suddenly dressed in
black, with nearly all the expected gaieties cancelled, and this
overshadowing loss weighing upon their spirits. Added to this the
death of first one mother and then the other, followed by a period of
ill-health to the guardian and father, had postponed that "coming out"
long past the ordinary age for such functions; Diana, the orphan,
being now twenty-two, and Meryl two years older.

Meryl was the graver of the two; graver indeed than is at all usual at
twenty-four, but with a quiet fund of humour and a romantic
dreaminess, and withal a certain elusive quality that made her always
interesting, and pleasantly something of a mystery. Diana was a
sparkling, practical, outspoken young woman, much adored of young men
whom she treated with scant courtesy, and with a great deal of common
sense in her pretty head. The girls' influence upon each other, which
was cemented by a very deep affection, was wholly beneficial; for
whereas Diana awakened Meryl from too m