“What is it? Have they come back?” they demanded, with one voice. “No, no; they are killed--all killed! Papa and Fred both--oh, Mrs North, what can I do?” She dropped sobbing on the floor at Georgia’s feet, and buried her face in her dress. “Perhaps it isn’t true,” suggested Georgia faintly. She had sunk down again on the bed. “There’s no hope--one man has come back, the only survivor. Both of them at once! and I was praying for them, and I felt so sure--and even while I was praying they were being killed.” “Is the whole force cut off?” asked Georgia, almost in a whisper. “All but this one man.” Flora checked her sobs for a moment to answer. “Fitz Anstruther too?” cried Mabel sharply. “All, I tell you! It doesn’t signify to you, Mab; you have your Eustace left, but I have lost everything. Oh, Mrs North, you know how it feels. Help me to bear it.” “Flora dear,” began Georgia, with difficulty. “I--I can’t breathe,” she gasped, struggling to stand up. “Please ask Mrs Hardy to come. I feel so faint. She will understand.” Rahah, who had been crouched in the corner as usual, sprang up and ran out, returning in a moment with Mrs Hardy, who fell upon both girls immediately, and drove them out with bitter reproaches. “You pair of selfish, thoughtless chatterboxes! I should have thought you had more sense, Flora. Just be off, both of you. You can have my rooms for the rest of the night; I shall stay here. Even if all our poor fellows are killed, is that any reason for killing Mrs North too?” “Oh, please don’t, Mrs Hardy! I never thought--Mrs North is always so kind, and I am so miserable,” sobbed Flora. “You shouldn’t be miserable unless you’re quite certain it’s necessary. You wouldn’t believe a native who told you he was dead, as they are always doing; so why should you when he says other people are dead?” demanded Mrs Hardy, with a brilliancy of logic which somehow failed to satisfy. “I haven’t a doubt that the _bhisti_ took to his heels in a panic at the sound of the first shot, and if he hadn’t fortunately been in the rear, the panic might have spread to all the rest. There, go away, do, and don’t cry so. We’ll hope all will go well.” “Why have you left your post, doctor?” asked Mr Burgrave, meeting Dr Tighe crossing the courtyard. “The hospital will have to look after itself a good deal to-night, but I have left the Padri and my Babu in charge there. Mrs North is taken ill.” “Good heavens! It only needed this to make the horror of the situation complete.” “From our point of view, it may be the best thing that could happen. It will make the men fight like demons. Here, you girl, where are you going?” He had caught the shoulder of a veiled woman who ran up and tried to slip past him into the passage, but she let her _chadar_ fall aside, and disclosed herself as Rahah.