was burning by her side. Her face upon the pillow
was in deep shadow. Her hair spread all around her, wrapping her as it
were in mystery.

As Mrs. Ralston drew near, she stretched out a welcoming hand. "I hope
my watch-dog didn't startle you," she said. "The dear fellow is so
upset that I don't want an _ayah_, he is doing his best to turn himself
into one. I couldn't bear to send him away. You don't mind?"

"My dear, I mind nothing." Mrs. Ralston stooped in her warm way and
kissed the pale, still face. "Are you comfortable? Have you everything
you want?"

"Everything, thank you," Stella answered, drawing her hostess gently
down to sit on the side of the bed. "I feel rested already. Somehow your
presence is restful."

"Oh, my dear!" Mrs. Ralston flushed with pleasure. Not many were the
compliments that came her way. "And you feel as if you will be able to
sleep?"

Stella's eyes looked unutterably weary; yet she shook her head. "No. I
never sleep much before morning. I think I slept too much when I was in
Kashmir. The days and nights all seemed part of one long dream." A
slight shudder assailed her; she repressed it with a shadowy smile.
"Life here will be very different," she said. "Perhaps I shall be able
to wake up now. I am not in the least a dreamy person as a rule."

The quick tears sprang to Mrs. Ralston's eyes; she stroked Stella's hand
without speaking.

"I wanted to go back to Kurrumpore with Tommy," Stella went on, "but he
won't hear of it, though he tells me that you stayed there through last
summer. If you could stand it, so could I. I feel sure that physically I
am much stronger."

"Oh no, dear, no. You couldn't do it." Mrs. Ralston looked down upon the
beautiful face very tenderly. "I am tough, you know, dried up and wiry.
And I had a very strong motive. But you are different. You would never
stand a hot season at Kurrumpore. I can't tell you what it is like
there. At its worst it is unspeakable. I am very glad that Tommy
realizes the impossibility of it. No, no! Stay here with me till I go
down! I am always the first. And it will give me so much pleasure to
take care of you."

Stella relinquished the discussion with a short sigh. "It doesn't seem
to matter much what I do," she said. "Tommy certainly doesn't need me.
No one does. And I expect you will soon get very tired of me."

"Never, dear, never." Mrs. Ralston's hand clasped hers reassuringly.
"Never think that for a moment! From the very f