ou would kill yourself first if I would let
you," he said. "But--do you think I am going to do that?"

"It would kill me to leave you," she said.

"And what if it kills you to stay?" He spoke with sudden force. "No,
listen a minute! I have something to tell you. I have been worried about
you--as I said--for some time. To-day I was working in the orderly-room,
and Ralston chanced to come in. He asked me how you were. I said, 'I am
afraid the climate is against her. What do you think of her?' He
replied, 'I'll tell you what I think of you, if you like. I think you're
a damned fool.' That opened my eyes." Monck ended on the old grim note.
"I thanked him for the information, and told him to come over here and
see you on the earliest opportunity. He has promised to come round in
the morning."

"Oh, but Everard!" Stella started up in swift protest. "I don't want
him! I won't see him!"

He kept her hand in his. "I am sorry," he said. "But I am going to
insist on that."

"You--insist!" She looked at him curiously, a quivering smile about her
lips.

His eyes met hers uncompromisingly. "If necessary," he said.

She made a movement to free herself, but he frustrated her, gently but
with indisputable mastery.

"Stella," he said, "things may be difficult. I know they are. But, my
dear, don't make them impossible! Let us pull together in this as in
everything else!"

She met his look steadily. "You know what will happen, don't you?" she
said. "He will order me to Bhulwana."

Monck's hand tightened upon hers. "Better that," he said, under his
breath, "than to lose you altogether!"

"And if it kills me to leave you?" she said. "What then?"

He made a gesture that was almost violent, but instantly restrained
himself. "I think you are braver than that," he said.

Her lips quivered again piteously. "I am not brave at all," she said.
"I left all my courage--all my faith--in the mountains one terrible
morning--when God cursed me for marrying a man I did not love--and
took--the man--- away."

"My darling!" Monck said. He drew her to him again, holding her
passionately close, kissing the trembling lips till they clung to his in
answer. "Can't you forget all that," he said, "put it right away from
you, think only of what lies before."

Her arms were round his neck. She poured out her very soul to him in
that close embrace. But she said no word in answer, and her silence was
the silence of despair. It seemed to her that the