"He was a right-minded man about everything, loyal to his God and his King; and he was the father of my only child." CHAPTER XI Eola sat at the tea-table in the verandah. Her brother, punctual to the stroke of four, came in without haste, crossing the compound from the college buildings to the private house. Punctuality, he declared, was his salvation. He could not have stood the rush of work had he not rigidly adhered to the hours of his meals. Afternoon tea was the one he liked best. He gave himself exactly thirty minutes for it. It was thirty minutes of solid rest. "Where's Alderbury," he asked, as he seated himself in a comfortable cane chair. "He has gone to see Ananda." "You don't mind if I read, do you, Eola? The new magazines came two days ago and I haven't had time even to open them." He tore off the cover of an illustrated monthly and handed it to her. A second magazine was opened for himself, and he was soon deep in an article professing to give the last word on the chemistry of biology. Whilst he read he drank his tea. A bell rang and he jumped up, instantly detaching himself from the magazine and breaking off in the middle of a paragraph. He hurried away in the direction of the college without another thought for his visitor. At his departure Mrs. Hulver appeared. "When you go out, Miss, will you kindly get some carpet thread for the tailor. The motor is ready." "I can't leave the house till Mr. Alderbury has come in. He promised to be back to tea at four o'clock. He must have been detained." "Oh, yes, miss, I daresay he has been detained," assented Mrs. Hulver. "Our master might be kept if he chose to allow it. As William--that was my third--used to say: 'There are some men who will be in time for every meal, hungry or not; and there are others who will be in time for nothing but their own funerals.'" Eola ignored the implied depreciation of her guest and proceeded to give orders that would ensure his comfort. "We shall want another pot of tea, please. Tell the matey to keep the kettle boiling, and he is not to make the tea until Mr. Alderbury comes in." "If you like to go out now, miss, I can see to Mr. Alderbury and give him his tea. I am sure he won't mind. His head is that full of his missioning that he won't notice whether it is poured out by you or by me. As William--that was my first--used to say: 'When a man is bothered by business he has no room in his head for a woman and can't tell one from another.' Mr. Alderbury is bothered with this business of Pantulu Iyer's son coming Christian. It has all been done in a hurry, as I was telling you. As William--that was my third--used to say----" What William the third said was lost in the sudden appearance of the guest. "So sorry I'm late, Miss Wenaston. Yes, please, I should like some tea. What with the dust and the amount of talking I've done, I'm as thirsty as a fish."