would be gone the day after to-morrow. She was even more glad his nose
was bleeding and his eye bunged up and his important blazer all
bloodied. Girl though she was, there ran a fiercer strain in her than in
Roy.

As they moved off, she had an inspiration. She was given that way.

"Mummy darling," she said in her small clear voice, "mayn't I stay back
a little and play with Chris. She's _so_ unhappy. Alice could fetch
me--couldn't she? Please."

The innocent request was underlined by an unmistakable glance through
her lashes at Joe. She wanted him to hear; and she didn't care if he
understood--him and his beaky mother! Clearly her own Mummy understood.
She was nibbling her lips, trying not to smile.

"Very well, dear," she said. "I'll send Alice at half-past six. Run
along."

Tara gave her hand a grateful little squeeze--and ran.

She would have hated the "beaky mother" worse than ever could she have
heard her remark to Lady Despard, when they were alone.

"Really, a most obstinate, ungoverned child. His mother, of course--a
very pretty creature--but what can you expect? Natives always ruin
boys."

Lady Despard--Lilámani Sinclair's earliest champion and friend--could be
trusted to deal effectually with a remark of that quality.