She seemed a little comforted, and murmured broken, humble thanks as she got up and dried her eyes on a corner of the white garment which served her as shawl and head-dress. Then George went through the next room, Nouna still watching him in the same attitude as before, and unlocking the bedroom door, let the woman out. As soon as he had seen her get to the bottom of the stairs he re-locked the bedroom door and put the key in his pocket to prevent her hiding herself there again, and went back to his bride in a very chastened mood. This first experience of matrimony was certainly disillusionising. He must get to the bottom of the whole business at once, that was certain; but how was he to begin? It was too cruel to have to ply this little creature whom he loved with questions instead of kisses. He sat down by the table, keeping his eyes resolutely fixed upon the china elephant. “When did you send for Sundran, Nouna?” he asked huskily. “To-da--ay.” There was a mournful little break of her voice upon the last syllable, which was almost too much for him. He took a strawberry from the dish, which now held only three or four, to keep his hands from twitching, and swallowed it ferociously, as his mouth was dry and parched. “Who brought her here?” No answer. “Well, dear?” She began to sob. George swallowed more strawberries, stalks and all, but found small relief in them. “It was Rahas who brought her,” said George, trying to be as gentle as possible. More sobs, so that the unfortunate inquisitor had to get up, walk with a martial tread to the window, and say his next words with his back to her. “When did he come? What did he come for, Nouna?” The tears were in George’s eyes too by this time. “Answer me, answer me, child,” cried he in a frenzy as she began to moan miserably. Her quick ears caught the breaking sound in his voice, and suddenly ceasing in her signs of grief she called aloud: “Come and ask me _here_, and I’ll tell you anything!” He turned round. She was holding out her arms. George gave a great cry. “Nouna, my wife, my wife!” The next moment she was crushed up against his breast. When out of the intoxication of that first embrace George drifted slowly back to a dim consciousness of earthly things, it came upon him with a sudden sobering shock that there was something new and unaccounted for in the appearance of his bride. For on the little slender arm that encircled his neck with the clinging, vibrating pressure of an absorbing passion, shone and glittered close under his eyes a sparkling mass of precious stones. He drew away from her suddenly, and seizing both her arms almost roughly, pushed up the half transparent sleeves and looked from the one to the other in stupefaction, while Nouna laughed aloud in exuberant, luxurious happiness. “Where did you get these?” he asked in bewilderment even stronger than his anxiety.