and considered a good match.

Honor, however, paid little attention to gossip and chaff, her mind
being filled with anxiety and growing alarm for her lover's safety. She
had quickly divined the increasing antagonism of the Panipara villagers
towards him; and knowing his recklessness lived in continual dread.

"I shall not know a moment's peace while this sort of thing goes on,"
she fretted. "Can't you get a transfer till we are married?"

"And leave my little love?" It was unthinkable.

"It would make no difference in our feelings for each other."

"I couldn't do it, apart from the fact that it would look like running
away. You little know what it means to me to see you every day."

Latterly he had spent most of his evenings at the Blights', who took
compassion on his loneliness and were complaisant of his obvious
attachment to Honor. Mrs. Bright, in her tactful way, gave him many
opportunities of having Honor to himself in the drawing-room while she
betook herself to her husband's own particular sanctum to indulge in
confidential chat. "It is plain to see that he worships our Honey, and
it is best they should meet here, since meet they must, in her own
home," she would explain. "I dare say we shall be hearing something one
of these days."

"He improves on acquaintance, and certainly has a devilish fine voice. I
could listen to him all night," said her husband, nevertheless, obeying
the hint and remaining a voluntary exile in his study.

Considering that his opportunities for snatching whatever of happiness
he could out of his life in the present lay in Muktiarbad, it was not
likely that Dalton was inclined to seek a transfer and thus run away
from bodily danger;--not even when a parcel containing a bomb was placed
on his writing-table, which, owing to some technical defect, failed to
go off when it was opened. The incident gave Tommy and his subordinates
some work to do, trying to trace the culprit who had placed it there,
but the matter was treated with unconcern by the doctor himself.

CHAPTER XIX

THE DELUGE

One day, at the close of April, when the thermometer was unusually high,
Ray Meredith fell a victim to a stroke of the sun, and had to be carried
in from camp like a dead man. His friends were thrown into
consternation, telegrams were flashed to headquarters, and even the
bazaar discussed his danger with bated breath. Captain Dalton, always at
his best in critical moments, rose all at once