that time making good progress, and Stella, who till then had snatched
her rest when and how she could, gave her charge into Peter's keeping
and went to bed for the first time since her arrival at Kurrumpore.

Till she actually lay down she did not realize how utterly worn out she
was, or how little the odd hours of sleep that she had been able to
secure had sufficed her. But as she laid her head upon the pillow,
slumber swept upon her on soundless wings. She slept almost before she
had time to appreciate the exquisite comfort of complete repose.

That slumber of hers lasted for many hours. She had given Peter express
injunctions to awake her in good time in the morning, and she rested
secure in the confidence that he would obey her orders. But it was the
light of advancing evening that filled the room when at last she opened
her eyes.

There had come a break in the rain, and a bar of misty sunshine had
penetrated a chink in the green blinds and lay golden across the Indian
matting on the floor. She lay and gazed at it with a bewildered sense of
uncertainty as to her whereabouts. She felt as if she had returned from
a long journey, and for a time her mind dwelt hazily upon the Himalayan
paradise from which she had been so summarily cast forth. Vague figures
flitted to and fro through her brain till finally one in particular
occupied the forefront of her thoughts. She found herself recalling
every unpleasant detail of the old Kashmiri beggar who had lured Ralph
Dacre from her side on that last fateful night. The old question arose
within her and would not be stifled. Had the man murdered and robbed him
ere flinging him down to the torrent that had swept his body away? The
wonder tormented her as of old, but with renewed intensity. She had
awaked with the conviction strong upon her that the man was not far