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And the death of Captain Dacre always seemed to me highly mysterious." "The death of Captain Ermsted was no less so," put in the Colonel abruptly. "Have you any theories on that subject also?" Burton smiled, showing his teeth. "I always have theories," he said. Sir Reginald made a slight movement of impatience. "I think this is beside the point," he said.
He gave Bernard a shrewd look. "Perhaps you and Mrs. Monck also will be on your way Home before the hot weather," he said. "In that case she could go with you." Bernard was silent. It was impossible to look forward. One thing was certain. He could not desert Stella. Ralston passed on. Being reticent himself he respected a man who could keep his own counsel. "What about Mrs. Ermsted?" he said.
"You're a lucky, lucky girl," she said, "though you don't realize it, and probably never will. When are you going to bring the little monkey to see me again?" "She will probably come herself when the mood takes her," carelessly Mrs. Ermsted made reply. "I assure you, you stand very high on her visiting list. But I hardly ever take her anywhere. She is always so naughty with me."
Her position assured as his wife, even Lady Harriet herself would have to lower her flag. And how little Netta Ermsted would grit her teeth! He laughed to himself whenever he thought of that. Netta had become too uppish of late. It would be amusing to see how she took her lesson.
"But I have been given long sight, that's all." She rose to her feet with a sigh. "And I," she said very sadly, "am blind." Down by the gate the blue jay laughed again, laughed and flew away. In a darkened room Netta Ermsted lay, trembling and unnerved. As usual in cases of adversity, Mrs. Ralston had taken charge of her; but there was very little that she could do.
It was more a matter for her husband's skill than for hers, and he could only prescribe absolute quiet. For Netta was utterly broken. Since the fatal moment when she had returned from a call in her 'rickshaw to find Major Burton awaiting her with the news that Ermsted had been shot on the jungle-road while riding home from Khanmulla, she had been as one distraught.
Ermsted, regarding whom the report had gone forth that she was very seriously ill. Lady Harriet sought to probe Stella upon the subject and was plainly offended when she pleaded ignorance. She also tried to extract Monck's opinion of poor Captain Ermsted's murder. Had it been committed by a mere budmash for the sake of robbery, or did he consider that any political significance was attached to it?
It's silly of him to stay in love with the same person always, isn't it? I couldn't be so monotonous if I tried." "In fact if he cared less about you, you would think more of him," remarked Mrs. Ralston, with a quite unusual touch of severity. Netta Ermsted laughed again, her light, heartless laugh. "How crushingly absolute! But it is the literal truth. I certainly should.
But a time will come when we shall have to separate. We've got to face that." "Wait till it comes!" she whispered. "It isn't yet." He kissed her on the lips. "No, not yet, thank heaven. You want to know what has happened. I will tell you. Ermsted you know Ermsted was shot in the jungle near Khanmulla this afternoon, about half an hour ago." "Oh, Everard!"
But she knew very well that the longing was vain, and it was with relief that she saw Captain Dacre himself saunter up to claim Mrs. Ermsted for a partner. Smiling, debonair, complacent, the morrow's bridegroom had a careless quip for all and sundry on that last night. It was evident that his fiancée's defection was a matter of no moment to him.
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