The clatter of hoofs, followed by Desmond's voice in the verandah, snapped the thread of her thought, and roused Evelyn from the contemplation of her roses. "Theo _is_ back early!" she exclaimed: and on the words he entered the room, elation in every line of him, an unusual light in his eyes. "What _has_ happened to make you look like that?" she asked. "Somebody left you a fortune?" Desmond laughed, with a peculiar ring of enjoyment. "No fear! Fortunes don't grow hereabouts! But we've had stirring news this morning. A big party of Afridis has crossed the Border and fired a village, murdering and looting cattle and women on a very daring scale. The whole garrison is under orders for a punitive expedition. We shall be off in ten days, if not sooner." Evelyn's colour ebbed while he was speaking, and she made a quick movement towards him. But Desmond taking her shoulders between his hands, held her at arm's length, and confronted her with steadfastly smiling eyes. "No, no, Ladybird--you're going to be plucky and stand up to this like a soldier's wife, for my sake. The Frontier's been abnormally quiet these many months. It will do us all good to have a taste of real work for a change." "Do you mean ... will there be much ... fighting?" "Well--the Afridis don't take a blow sitting down. We have to burn their crops, you see; blow up their towers; enforce heavy fines, and generally knock it into their heads that they can't defy the Indian Government with impunity. Yes; it means fighting--severe or otherwise, according to their pleasure." "Pleasure!--It sounds simply horrible; and you--I believe you're _glad_ to go!" "Well, my dear, what else would you have? Not because I'm murderously inclined," he added smiling. "Every soldier worth his salt is glad of a chance to do the work he's paid for. But that's one of the things I shall never teach you to understand!" Evelyn turned hurriedly back to her roses. Her throat felt uncomfortably dry, and two tears had escaped in spite of herself. "How long will you be gone?" she asked, addressing her question to the flowers. "A month or six weeks. Not longer." "But won't any one be left to guard the station? In this horrible place we women don't seem to count a bit. You all rush off after a lot of stupid Afridis." "Not quite all. An infantry regiment will come up from Pindi: and we leave Paul's squadron behind. Just like his luck to be out of it, poor old man. But six weeks will be gone in no time. This sort of thing is part and parcel of our life up here. You're not going to fret about it, Ladybird--are you?" He turned her face gently towards him. To his astonishment eager entreaty shone through her tears, and she caught his hand between her own. "No, Theo, I needn't fret, because--if somebody has to stay--it can just as easily be you. You're married and Major Wyndham isn't."