omely dovecot and
wheeling pigeons striking a friendly note amid the callousness of the
surrounding country.

An armed orderly, who had been taking his ease in the verandah, sprang
smartly to his feet and saluted; and behind him, on the threshold, a
red-bearded khansamah, who might have walked straight out of an Old
Testament picture-book, proffered obsequious welcome to the _Major
Sahib's Miss_. Honor bestowed a glance of approval upon her new
protector, whose natural endowments were enhanced by the picturesque
uniform of the Punjab Cavalry. A khaki tunic, reaching almost to his
knees, was relieved by heavy steel shoulder-chains and a broad
kummerband of red and blue. These colours were repeated in the peaked
cap and voluminous turban, while over the kummerband was buckled the
severe leathern sword-belt of the West.

The man held out a letter; and Honor, summarily dismissing the
khansamah,--who thrust himself upon her notice with the insistent
meekness of his kind,--passed on into the one sitting-room, with its
bare table and half-dozen dilapidated chairs. Balancing herself on the
former, she broke the seal with impatient fingers, for the sight of
her brother's handwriting gladdened her like a hand-clasp across
thirty miles of space.

Then she started, and all the light went out of her eyes.

"DEAREST GIRL" (she read),--
"Just a line to save you from a shock at sight of me.
The old trouble--Peshawar fever. Mackay has run me to
earth at last and insisted on a Board. I'm afraid it's a
case of a year's sick leave at home, bad luck to it. But
I see no reason to throw up our fine plan altogether. If
you would like to wait out here for me, the Desmonds
will gladly give you a home. He made the offer at once,
and I know I couldn't leave you in better hands. Full
details when we meet. It's a hard blow for us both; but
you have grit enough for two, and here's a chance to
prove it. Hurry up that tonga-driver.--Your loving,
JOHN."

Honor read the short letter through twice, then, with less of
elasticity in her step, sought refreshment of mind and body in the hot
water awaiting her in the next room.

An hour later the tonga was well on its way, speeding at a hand-gallop
over the dead level of road, with never an incident of shade, or a
spear-point of green, to soften the forbidding face of it; with never
a sound to shatte