Evening star., 1911-05-28
CHAPTER VII.-Continued.

You have been long time in India =?
he asked, after the first words of intro
duction. The question sounded as though
ne merely sought her affirmation to some
thing he already knew
Almost all my life. Raiah SaIib," she
answered. Possibly it was a natura, shy
ness which made her voice sound trou-
hled and nervous. She seemed to heave
sigh OF relief when he once more moved
on. Yet he had impressed her agreeabls.
is lie not haadsome?" she said il, an
nrdertone to her companion Stafford. II
think he is quite the handsomest man
have seen. and lie has the manners of an
Erglishman. wonder where he got them
from
II don't knor-e' Stafford returned.
These people ave a wonderful trick of
picking up thia ags AT any rate ne realizes
Miss carys curious Observation-Disclosures
full: though. with Mss Berry. do not
care for the word as applied II Il man.
lie seems nice sort of fellow. too. quiet
and unaffected. and that is more to me
than his good looks. It's rather pity.
What is Il PITY" she asked surprised.
''Oh, we'll, that he is what he is. Don't
look so panied. It's not only my mar
row-hearted prejudice, as you call 1t.
It's more than that. I'm sorry for the
opinion that 1t is rather bad luck
"Why?' she demanded, obstinately.
Don't YOU understand? If you had
seen Webb's face when he talked about
as a brother a brother you would have
understood well enough. He has been
made a fool Of and sooner or later he
will have his eyes roughly opened. AS l
say, 1t seems bad luck"
You mean he would have done better
to keep to his old seclusion?" she said,
thoughtfully
That's about IT. He smiled down at
her, and they suddenly forgot the rajah
in that curious happiness Of two beings
who need no words to tell them that each
is understood by the other, and that a
secret current of thought and feeling
flows beneath every word and touch.
Come" he went on. 'It seems that we
are to have the run of the place. Shall
we explorer
She nodded a quick agreement and they
started off, thus following the example Of
others Of the party who had already
made use of the rajahs suggestion that
they should visit the chief and most in
terestfhg portions of the palace. Nehal
Singh himself stood alone and thankful
for his loneliness. For the last ten min
utes Col. Carmichael and he had stood
side by side and found no word to say to
each other The past. which might have
been link, proved itself a barrier which
neither could scale, and presently, on
some excuse, the colonel had hurried off
to join his wife. AS though guided by a
sure instinct, Nehal Singh turned in the
direction where Beatrice was standing
with her mother and Travers. Without
hesitation he went up to her.
Il have waited to be your guide.'' he
said. His words sounded amusingly de-
cided and matter-of-course. and a smile
of not very sympathetic meaning passed
over the faces of those within earshot.
You can be sure. she went a lot fur
ther than she cared to say Mrs. Berry
whispered to her daughter. You can
see how everything was made up before
hand. / wonder what she expects to get
out of him?''
Though the remark did not reach her,
Beatrice's instinct and bitter experience
supplied her with a sure key to the look
that was exchanged between the two
women. She smiled gayly.
Il shall be only too pleased" she said
What / have seen has made me thirst
for more
Indeed. your highness.' Mrs. Cary
broke in. eagerly. Il must not forget to
thank you for the really very kind as
sistance you lent my reckless daughter
the other day. / do not know what would
have happened to her if it had not been
for you!'
Nehal Singh looked at her with grave
wonder.
"You are her mother he said, and
then stopped short. The wonder was re-
f1ected so clearly In his tone that an
angry flush mounted to Mrs. Cary's fat
cheeks
Il have that honor. your highness." she
said, acidly.
Mrs. Cary!"S Travers called from the
flower bed over which he was leaning.
III the Rajah Sahib can spare you. do
come and look at these flowers. They are
extraordinary.
With her head in the air. her plumes
waving. picture of ruffied dignity. Mrs.
Cary swayed her way in the direction in
dicated. and Nehal Singh and Beatrice
found themselves alone.
will you come with me now?" he
asked. Il have still SO much to show
YOU"
She saw the look of self-satisfied "I-
told-you-so' horror written on the faces
of Mrs. Berry and her friends. who stood
little farther off whispering and nod
ding. and If she had felt the slightest
hesitation. she hesitated no longer.
Lead the way, Rajah Sahib," she said,
coolly. Il follow"