But the other shook his head. "No, I can't. I promised Barnes to be back early. Good-bye, Tommy my lad! Keep your end up!" "I will," Tommy promised, and thrust out a hand. "And you'll hang on, won't you? Promise!" "All right; for the present. My love to Bernard." Everard spoke with his usual brevity, but his handclasp was remembered by Tommy for a very long time after. "And to Stella?" he said, pushing his horse a little nearer till it muzzled against its fellow. Everard's eyes, grave and dark, looked out to the low horizon. "I think not," he said. "She has--no further use for it." "She will have," said Tommy quickly. But Everard passed the matter by in silence. "You must be getting on," he said, and relaxed his grip. "Good-bye, old chap! You've done me good, if that is any consolation to you." "Oh, man!" said Tommy, and coloured like a girl. "Not--not really!" Everard uttered his curt laugh, and switched Tommy's mount across the withers. "Be off with you, you--cuckoo!" he said. And Tommy grinned and went. Half-an-hour later he was sounding an impatient tatto upon his sister's door. She came herself to admit him, but the look upon her face checked the greeting on his lips. "What on earth's the matter?" he said instead. She was shivering as if with cold, though the risen sun had filled the world with spring-like warmth. It occurred to him as he entered, that she was looking pinched and ill, and he put a comforting arm around her. "What is it, Stella girl? Tell me!" She relaxed against him with a sob. "I've been--horribly anxious about you," she said. "Oh, is that all?" said Tommy. "What a waste of time! I was only over at Khanmulla. I spent the night at Barnes's bungalow because they wouldn't trust me in the jungle after dark." "They?" she questioned. "Barnes and Everard," Tommy said, and faced her squarely. "I went to see Everard." "Ah!" She caught her breath. "Major Ralston has been here. He told me--he told me--" her voice failed; she laid her head down upon Tommy's shoulder. He tightened his arm about her. "It's a shame of Ralston to frighten you. He isn't ill." Then a sudden thought striking him, "What was he doing here so early? Isn't the kid up to the mark?" She shivered against him again. "He had a strange attack in the night, and Major Ralston said--said--oh, Tommy," she suddenly clung to him, "I am going to lose him. He--isn't--like other children." "Ralston said that?" demanded Tommy. "He didn't tell me. He told Bernard. I practically forced Bernard to tell me, but I think he thought I ought to know. He said--he said--it isn't to be desired that my baby should live." "What?" said Tommy in dismay. "Oh, my darling girl, I am sorry! What's wrong with the poor little chap?"