"I do not despise our--friendship, even though it must end here," he said. "What you have given me I shall always keep--always. I shall not turn back because I must go on alone. Your image shall still guide me in my life. It is not less pure and noble because I can not ever call it my own." She heard his voice break, but he went on quietly and gently: "I pray you may be happy with the man you love." She had conquered. She had kept her place in his life at the same time that she was thrusting him out of her own. He would continue undeterred along the road on to which she had tempted him--perhaps to his destruction--believing in her, trusting in her as no other being had ever done or would do. This much she had snatched from the wreckage. They did not speak again until they reached her bungalow. Then he dismounted and, quietly motioning the syce to one side, helped her to the ground. "It is for the last time," he said. "Good-by, Lakshmi!" "Good-by!" She could not lift her eyes to his face, but from the top of the steps she was tempted to look back. He stood where she had left him, his hand resting on her saddle, his head bent, and there was something in his attitude which sent her hurrying into the house without a second glance. She found her mother waiting for her in her room, whither she fled to be alone and undisturbed to fight and stamp out the pain that was aching in her heart. Mrs. Cary, wonderfully curled and powdered, received her daughter with unusual rapture. "My dear!" she exclaimed, kissing Beatrice on both cheeks, "I am so glad you have come back early! Captain Stafford is here, and has something for you--I shouldn't be surprised if it was a ring, you lucky child! Did I not tell you he was the very husband for you? He has been telling me all about Lois and Travers. Everybody is quite pleased about it. Now hurry up and make yourself pretty. Why, what's the matter? You look so--so queer!" Beatrice pushed past her mother and, going to the table, flung herself down as though exhausted. "It's nothing," she muttered. "Tell--John I can't see him. I'm tired--ill--anything you like." "Beaty, I won't do anything of the sort. What has happened? Is it that horrid Rajah? Did you tell him?" "Yes." "And he made a scene, my poor Beaty?" "No." "Can't you answer me properly? Tell me what happened." "He asked me to marry him." Mrs. Cary first gasped, and then burst into a loud, cackling laugh. "He asked you to marry him! That colored man! I hope you laughed in his face?" Beatrice turned, one clenched hand resting on the table. "No," she said, "I did not laugh--there was nothing to laugh at. I have kept my promise to you." Then, unexpectedly she buried her face in her arms and burst into tears.