The Lamp in the Desert

a week of her arrival. Also, she desired to ascertain Stella's plans for the future, and when she heard that she intended to return to Kurrumpore

ht even ultimately be admitted to the fortunate circle whi

oyal favour. He prophesied that Mrs. Burton would be the next to come simpering round, and in this he was not mistaken; but Stella did no

by the ready means of the station's gaieties, played tennis with zest, inaugurated a gymkhana, and danced practically every night into the early morning. He was a delightful companion for little Tessa Erm

a, with his faithful attendant at his heels, to find his sister reclining there for the first tim

for a moment though he had visited her in bed

he ejaculated. "H

-faced companion pricked up attentive ears. "Do peopl

on tranquilly. "Come and speak to Mrs. Da

tare, till Stella put forth a friendly hand

s of intensest blue that gazed out of a somewhat

d Tommy been doin

said Tessa. "Same as

Tommy. "And tell us a

ke eyes of hers to Stella's. "You'd love him! I know you would. He talks-almost. Captain Monck gave him to me. I

him very well,

ue eyes whisked round to Mrs. Ralston and were met by a slightly reproving shake of the head. "No, but really," Tessa protested, "he is a

't want to hear about that. Tell us some m

ond she sent a dazzling smile to her hostess, accepting the rebuff. "All right, Aunt Mary, I'll bring him to see you to

Scooter is a most sagacious animal-almost as intelligent as Peter the Great who coils himself on Stella's threshold every night as

ike to have him there," she said. "I am no

Hullo! Here is his high mightiness with the mail! Look at the sparkle in Aunt

the salver that the Indian extended. It was for Mrs. R

ever observant. "It's only from the Major. Mothe

rs are not so interest

I know she would. She keeps his locked up, but she never bothers about Daddy's. I can't think

"I hate writing letters

se me while I read min

erhaps there will be some inter

faintest idea where he is or what he is doing, except that he went to his brother somewhere in Engl

ten to him either?

haven't been able to tell him anything of our affairs. It's quite possible though that he w

in the sun below them. "So far as I am concerned, he is quite welcome to remain at The Green Bungalow. I daresa

ou!" Tommy's face was flushed wi

and your friend. Now that I have been married-" a tinge of bitterness sounded in her voice-"I suppose no one will take e

y. "He's about the most dete

ce man," put in

on top sooner or later. Just you remember that, Tessa! He's a winner, and he's straight-straight a

do you look like that, Stella?

l spoke wearily, albeit she was fain

e had a hint of sharpness; he

h you knew of him, that

. "He's a man to be honoured. I'd stake my life on

spassionate interest. She had attracted him, but she much doubted if the attraction had survived her marriage. For herself, that chapter in her life was closed and could never, she now believed, be reopened. Monck had gone his way, she hers, and they had drifted apart. Only by the accident of circumstance would they meet again, and she was determined that when this meeting took place their relations should be of so impersonal a character that he should find it well-nigh impossible to recall the fact that any hint of romance had ever hovered even for a fleeting moment between them. He had his career before him. He follo