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Lace-edged bags with lavender-coloured ribbon run through insertion and tied in bows at the two corners. These bags she placed among the sheets, much to the wonder of Lalkhan, who, however, decided that it was kindly meant and therefore did not interfere. The odour was not one that commended itself to him. It was far too faint and elusive.
Lalkhan returned, bearing a salver, and laid on the salver was one of Jan's lavender bags. He presented it solemnly to his master, who with almost equal solemnity handed it to Mrs. Crosbie. "There!" she said. "Of course I knew I couldn't be mistaken. Now where did you get it?" "It was, I suppose, put among the things when poor Mrs. Tancred had the flat.
Though even in his dream world he was careful to keep his opinion to himself. Why on earth should he always dream of Jan during the first part of the night? Lalkhan could have thrown some light upon the subject. But naturally Peter did not confide his obsession to Lalkhan.
Even as it was he fully expected that his master would irritably demand the cause of the infernal smell that pervaded his bed; so keen are the noses of the sahibs. Whereupon Lalkhan, strong in rectitude, would relate exactly what had happened, produce one of the Jan-incriminating muslin bags, escape further censure, and doubtless be commanded to burn it and its fellows in the kitchen stove.
Lalkhan again bent over her with fatherly solicitude as he offered each course, and this time Jan, being really hungry, rather enjoyed his ministrations. A boy assisted at the sideboard, and another minion appeared to bring the dishes from the kitchen, for the butler and the boy never left the room for an instant.
Fay looked like a tired ghost, and Jan could see that it was a great effort to her to talk cheerfully and seem interested in the home news. After dinner they went back to the sitting-room. Lalkhan brought coffee and Fay lit a cigarette. Jan wandered round, looking at the photographs and engravings on the walls. "How is it," she asked, "that Mr. Ledgard seems to come in so many of these groups?
It was angelic of you, but you must be so dreadfully tired. I feel absolutely rested and, oh, so grateful but so ashamed...." "Then you must have some tea," said Peter, inconsequently. "I'll go and rouse up Lalkhan and the cook. We can't get any ourselves, for he locks up the whole show every blessed night." In the East burial follows death with the greatest possible speed.
"I know it's mean to shuffle out of it all, but I am so tired. Do you think it very horrid of me, Jan?" In silence Jan held her close; and in that moment she faced it. The days went on, strange, quiet days of brilliant sunshine. Their daily life shrouded from the outside world even as the verandah was shrouded from the sun when Lalkhan let down the chicks every day after tiffin.
Just before she left Jan asked Lalkhan where the sahib's linen was kept, and on being shown the cupboard which contained the rather untidy little piles of sheets, pillow-cases, and towels that formed Peter's modest store of house linen, she rearranged it and brought sundry flat, square muslin bags filled with dried lavender.
And then, very slowly and solemnly, but quite as loudly as before, came "When I am dying, lean over me tenderly " Jan got up and stamped. Then she went swiftly for her topee and gloves and parasol, and fled from the bungalow. Lalkhan rushed after her to ask if she wanted a "tikka-gharri." He strongly disapproved of her walking in the streets alone, but Jan shook her head.
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