ntre.

The girl drew a deep breath, and her face glowed with that pagan
exultation in bodily strength and prowess, which all the refining
fires of civilisation will never burn out of the human heart. But as
she turned with praise on her lips, Evelyn leaned eagerly towards her.

"Theo has seen us. He is coming up here. Look!"

And Honor looked accordingly.

A man on a superb bay "waler" had detached himself from the crowd, and
was coming towards them at a swinging trot, sitting the horse as
though he were part of the animal. Honor realised at a glance that
here was that stimulating thing, a positive personality alive to the
finger-tips, realised also with what success the photographer had
caught and rendered the living essence of the man. Desmond was dark as
his wife was fair, though a hint of chestnut in his moustache, and a
peculiar light in the hazel-grey eyes, suggested fire not far below
the surface. The whole face was stamped with that sovereign quality of
sympathy which, even in a world of failure, never fails of its reward.

His wife effected an introduction in her own ingenuous fashion.
"There, Theo, ... this is Honor, that you have heard so much about."

Desmond saluted.

"I'm uncommonly glad to meet you, Miss Meredith," he said; but before
Honor could reply Evelyn made haste to interpose.

"Theo, ... I can't have you calling her Miss Meredith! She's just
like my sister, and you must simply be Honor and Theo, ... d'you see?"

Desmond's eyes showed a flicker of amusement.

"Perhaps you'll allow us to shake hands first," he suggested, and the
friendliness of his grasp dispelled the sense of isolation that
weighed upon the girl at thought of her brother's departure.

"How did that last performance strike you? Pretty good, wasn't it?"

"Splendid. They went by like a wall. Such magnificent riding."

"They were your brother's men. Wish he could have seen them. He's so
tremendously keen. They've tied with my Sikhs, so there'll be an
exciting finish. Won't you come down and see it out?"

"I think not, thanks, if it doesn't seem unfriendly. I really only
came because John and Evelyn wished it, just to make your acquaintance
and see how things were going, and I would honestly like to go
straight back to him now, ... if I may. He said you would understand."

"He was right. I'll see you to the gate myself. Go on down to the
_shamianah_, Ladybird, the Boy is looking out for you. I'll not be
gone long."

A