So, like the lifting of a thunder cloud, Tommy’s very unwonted fit of temper merged into a mood of great benignity and Ralston complained no more.

Monck took up his abode at the Club before the brief winter season brought the angels flitting back from Bhulwana to combine pleasure with duty at Kurrumpore.

Stella accepted his departure without comment, missing him when gone after a fashion which she would have admitted to none.  She did not wholly understand his attitude, but Tommy’s serenity of demeanour made her somewhat suspicious; for Tommy was transparent as the day.

Mrs. Ralston’s return made her life considerably easier.  They took up their friendship exactly where they had left it and found it wholly satisfactory.  When Lady Harriet Mansfield made her stately appearance, Stella’s position was assured.  No one looked askance at her any longer.  Even Mrs. Burton’s criticism was limited to a strictly secret smile.

Netta Ermsted was the last to leave Bhulwana.  She returned nervous and fretful, accompanied by Tessa whose joy over rejoining her friends was as patent as her mother’s discontent.  Tessa had a great deal to say in disparagement of the Rajah of Markestan, and said it so often and with such emphasis that at last Captain Ermsted’s patience gave way and he forbade all mention of the man under penalty of a severe slapping.  When Tessa had ignored the threat for the third time he carried it out with such thoroughness that even Netta was startled into remonstrance.

“You are quite right to keep the child in order,” she said.  “But you needn’t treat her like that.  I call it brutal.”

“You can call it what you like,” said Ermsted.  “I did it quite as much for your benefit as for hers.”

Netta tossed her head.  “I’m not a sentimental mother,” she observed.  “You won’t punish me in that way.  I object to a commotion, that’s all.”

He took her by the shoulder.  “Do you?” he said.  “Then I advise you to be mighty careful, for, I warn you, my blood is up.”

She made a face at him, albeit there was a quality of menace in his hold.  “Are you going to treat me as you have just treated Tessa?”

His teeth were clenched upon his lower lip.  “Don’t be a little devil, Netta!” he said.

She snapped her fingers.  “Then don’t you be a big fool, most noble Richard!  It doesn’t pay to bully a woman.  She can always get her own back one way or another.  Remember that!”

He gripped her suddenly by both arms.  “By Heaven!” he said passionately.  “I’ll do worse than beat you if you dare to trifle with me!”

She tried to laugh, but his look frightened her.  She turned as white as the muslin wrap she wore.  “Richard—­Dick—­don’t,” she gasped helplessly.

He held her locked to him.  “You’ve gone too far,” he said.

“I haven’t, Dick!  I haven’t!” she protested.  “Dick, I swear to you—­I have never—­I have never—­”