four
plates at a sitting. Nor was this the least of her troubles. Fatma
Bibi's valiant attempts at conversation filled her with a bewilderment
and discomfort, bordering on irritation. In an impulse of childish
wickedness, she caught herself wishing heartily that Theo had never
seen fit to distinguish himself by saving the Jemadar's life.

She looked enviously across the table at Honor, who, by a few
spontaneous questions, set both at their ease. She spoke of her
father, and the man's face glowed.

"How should men forget the Generailly Sahib, who have beheld him, as
did we of the _Rissalar_,[11] in war time, leading men and horses and
guns through the terrible mountain country beyond Peshawur? We that
serve the British Raj, Miss Sahib, are not men of ready tongue; but
our hearts are slow to forget."

[11] Regiment.

In proof thereof, the good Jemadar--his tongue effectually unloosed
for the moment--regaled his guests with tale upon tale of bygone raids
and murders and of swift retribution meted out by those watch-dogs of
the Border, the Punjab Frontier Force; tales set forth with the
Oriental touch of exaggeration which lent colour to a narrative
already sufficiently inspiring.

"These things have I seen, Miss Sahib," he concluded, with a sudden
deepening of his voice, "and these things have I done, through the
godlike courage of my Captain Sahib Bahadur"--the man saluted on the
words--"who, in the beginning of my service, when I lay wounded almost
to the death, amid bullets that fell like hail, bore me to safety on
his own shoulders, earning thereby the Victoria Cross that he weareth
even now. True talk, Hazur. Among all the officer Sahibs of Hind, and
I have seen more than a few, there be none like unto my Captain Sahib
for courage and greatness of heart."

At this point Evelyn's voice broke in on a note of querulous
weariness.

"Do come away, Honor. I've eaten queer things enough to give me
indigestion for a week; and I can't understand a word any one is
saying. What was he getting so excited about just now?"

"Something that must make you feel a very proud woman, Evelyn," the
girl answered; and with a thrill in her low voice she translated the
man's last words.

Mrs Desmond flushed softly; praise of her husband being only a few
degrees less acceptable than praise of herself.

"It sounds very magnificent," she agreed, without enthusiasm, "but I
daresay he doesn't really mean half of it. These natives ne