But Mackay knew his men too well to have anything of the sort; and Desmond's eyes gleamed. "How about uniform for me, sir?" he asked. "I could manage it after a fashion." Colonel Buchanan smiled. "No doubt you could! But I'll overlook it to-night. The fellows want you. Won't do to keep them waiting!" Followed a babel of talk and laughter, in the midst of which Honor, who had moved a little apart, became aware that Desmond was at her side. "Never mind them, Honor," he said in a low voice. "They mean it very well, and they don't realise that it's a little overwhelming for us both. I won't pile it on by saying any more on my own account. _Wait_ till I get a chance to repay you in kind--that's all!" His words spurred her to a sudden resolve. "You have the chance now, if it doesn't seem like taking a mean advantage of--things." "Mean advantages are not in your line. You've only to say the word." "Then _stick to the Frontier_!" she answered, an imperative ring in her low voice. "Doesn't to-night convince you that you've no right to leave them all?" His face grew suddenly grave. "The only right is to stand by Ladybird--at all costs." "Yes, yes--I know. But remember what I said about her side of it. Give her the chance to find herself, Theo; and give _me_ your word now to think no more about leaving the Border. Will you?" He did not answer at once, nor did he remove his eyes from her face. "Do you care so much what I do with the rest of my life?" he said at last very quietly. "Yes--I do; for Ladybird's sake." "I see. Well, there's no denying your privilege--now to have some voice in the matter. I give you my word, and if it turns out a mistake, the blame be on my own head. The fellows are making a move now. I must go. Good-night." The men departed accordingly with much clatter of footsteps and jingling of spurs; and only Mrs Olliver remained behind. Evelyn Desmond had succeeded in slipping away unnoticed a few minutes earlier. She alone, among them all, had spoken no word of gratitude to her friend. CHAPTER IX. WE'LL JUST FORGET. "Les petites choses ont leur importance; c'est par elles toujours qu'on se perde."--DOSTOIEVSKY. "So the picnic was a success?" "Yes, quite. Mrs Rivers was so clever. She paired us off beautifully. My pair was Captain Winthrop of the Ghurkas; an awfully nice man. He talked to me the whole time. He knows Theo. Says he's the finest fellow in Asia! Rather nice to be married to the 'finest fellow in Asia,' isn't it?" "Decidedly. But I don't think we needed _him_ to tell us that sort of thing." A touch of the girl's incurable pride flashed in her eyes. "Well, I was pleased all the same. He said he was never so surprised in his life as when he heard Theo had married; but now he had seen me, he didn't feel surprised any more." "That was impertinence." "Not a bit! I thought it was rather nice."