The Broken Road

oming towards her; and the smile with which she welcomed him was a warm smile of genuine pleasure. Ther

ose took on a wistful and pathetic look, and that her dark quiet eyes, even when her thoughts were absent-and her thoughts were often absent-rested pensively upon you with an unconscious flattery. It appeared that she was pondering deeply who and what you were; whereas she was probably debating w

y. There was something singularly virginal about her. She had, too, quite naturally, an affectionate manner which it was difficult to resist; and above all she made no effort ever. What she said and what she did seemed always purely spontaneous. For the rest, she was a little over the general height of women, and even looked a little taller. For she was very

e come!"

r little white-g

should," h

hould have to wait," she replied reproachfull

nly got your telegram saying you would

should be coming until

ind of you to send

iolet Oliver simply,

dance?"

liver

door. I am hungry. We will g

r realised that her partner was the lightest dancer in the room. She herself loved dancing, and for once in a way to be steered in and out amo

You see, we have never danced together be

ng of him in some way? And with that flattery still sweet in his thoughts, he was aware that her feet suddenly faltered. He looked at her face. It had changed. Yet so swiftly did it recover its composure that Linforth had not even the time to understand what the change implied. Annoyance, surprise, f

as the

ver answer

der. I dislike being bumped by big men," she said, with a litt

rner was very close to the spot where for a moment Violet Oliver had lost countenance. She looked sharply at Sir John Casson, who migh

with her partner onc

she

t the same breath she added

w standing just within

re

olour no darker than many a sunburnt Englishman wears every August, Shere Ali might have passed unnoticed by a stranger. It seem

er, had not as

aid. "He is in the country. I

Mrs. Oliver, and th

and as Shere Ali joined them he ad

ing at Mrs. Oliver, and spoke as though the news ha

it?" aske

turned t

ck to Ch

dible in his voice. Mrs. Oliver heard it and unde

rst boat t

, then?" said Mrs

ly at her, seeking the

t? Or, on the other

k's time," he

egretfully. It would be hard luck if that uneasy State were to wake

ed. "But it is not the kind of trouble w

untry. They were heard of in Masulipatam and other cities of Madras, where they were badly wanted by the police and not often caught. The quarrel in Chiltistan lay between the British Raj, as represented by the Resident, and the Khan, who was spending the revenue of his State chiefly upon his own amusements. It was claimed that the Resident should henceforth supervise the disposition of the revenue, and it had been suggested to the Kh

tood before

ve me a danc

ied, and she laid her ha

Ali did no

l I find yo

e door

came a note of longing into his voice. He looked at Violet Olive

?" he said; and Linfo

t her companion. His face was clouded. The scene which he had witnessed had jarred upon him, and still jarred. When he spoke to her his voice

speaking to me," he said. "It se

u at La Grave.

s to you

she answered Linforth she was turning over in her mind a difficulty which had freshly arisen. Shere Ali was returning to India. In some respects that was awkward. But Linforth's ill-humour promised her a way of escape. He was rather

ot see your friend ag

rown gathered afresh upon his forehead. "He

ued. "I want you not to mention to him that I

ace cleared

t," he said frankly. "I have no right to

re," she agreed, "which

ip, for i

he definite purpose. Those who gathered within her tiny drawing-room, who sought her out at balls and parties, were, as a rule, the younger men of the day, and Linforth, though like them in age and l

that fancy gave her a little thrill of pleasure. She understood that he could easily be lost altogether, that if once he went away he would not return; and that knowledge made her careful not to lose him. Moreover, she had brains herself. She led him on that evening, and he spoke with greater freedom than he had used with her before-greater f

ly and looked anx

watch you," he added with a smile, "lest I

en interested to-night mor

t go upstairs again," she said, and she rose from

you up. The

l dance

Violet Oliver was not given to tricks or any play of the eyeli

hind him she returned to the ball-room. Linforth went away with no suspicion in his mind that she had stayed her feet upon the landing merely to make very sure that he went. He had left his mother behind, however, and she was all suspicion. She had remarked the

w that boy?

. They have much in common. His

ughtfully, and asked: "Have the sons the Road in common, too?" A shadow darkened Sybil Linforth

bled, fear-stricken, and in that assembly of laughing and light-hearted people it roused him with a shock.

inforth down to supper, and bringing her back again, led her round the ball-room. An open archway upon one side led into a conservatory, where only fairy lights gl

Oliver was wearing? I am not c

and-pearls," sai

said Sir John. There was in truth no need. He had ascertained something

r of a man named

ents, entreaties, threats, and persuasions had caused the Road

You are soon forgotten, in India as quickly as here. In most cases, no doubt, it doesn't matter. Men just as

s case?" asked

n Luffe's case,