The Broken Road

right. Shere Ali was i

ver sat by

ght," she said lightly, as

hame. Then he clasped his hands together, and blurted out violently: "It left me miserable. I could not stay away," and he turned to his companion. "I wanted to see you, if only for five minutes." It was Violet Oliver's instinct to be ki

d softly. "And yet

to Chiltistan,"

ted, dwelling upon the word

nt that Violet Oliver moved uneasily. She was conscious of suspense;

the whole question," he said. "I am tr

Through a doorway at the end of the conservatory Shere Ali could see the dancers swing by in the lighted ball-room, the women in their bright frocks and g

e dining with a party on the balcony of a restaurant over the lake. A boat passed hidden by the darkness. We could hear the splash of the oars. There were musicians in

in his dejected looks, that Violet was moved to a deep sympathy.

s, so many reforms which must be made. You used to talk to me so eagerly. No more of your people were to be sold into slavery. You wer

ile how Shere All's enthusiasm had wearied h

plans mere drea

a moment he recaptured that for which he had been seeking-his identity with his own race. But the moment passed. His attitude relaxed. He turned to Violet with troubled eyes. "No, they are not drea

ied Violet. "When you

o, the road which yo

cry Shere All broke in upon her words. He le

in thought, poring over the maps. Yes, for even at the beginning, in our first term at Eton, we began. Over the passes to the foot of the Hindu Kush! Only a year ago I was eager, really, honestly eager," and he paused for a moment, wonder

er quickly. "Less than a week ago. When

right up to to-day, right up to this morning when the letter came. And then-"

as in August of last year. Linforth and I talked of the Road through a long day in the hut upon the

r protested. "That

Shere Ali quietly; a

Chiltistan? She asked herself the question, knowing well the answer. There would have been no lamentations-a little regret, perhaps, perhaps indeed a longing to take her with hi

pe it is not true. You have been ten years here; you have made many friends. Just f

ile came upon his face. "There's one t

es

ring my pear

e and the movement revealed Violet Oliver. She had a love of beautiful things, but, above all, of jewels. It was a passion with her deep

y lovely," sh

ember that you wore the

s you know,

; and she rose with a st

id th

uietly. Her heart beat quickly. She looked into Shere Ali's face and was afraid. He was quite still; even the expre

didn't understand," she said, and her lips shook, so that the words were blurred. She raised her hands to her n

teaching. He had spent one summer's holidays with Mrs. Linforth for his hostess in the house under the Sussex Downs, and from her and from Dick's manner towards her he had begun to acquire it. He had become conscious of that reverence, and proudly conscious. He had fostered it. It was

ff," he implored. "There

f those who take but do not give. She removed her hands from he

y. "It would not cause you very much trouble, and it would mean a

will," said Mrs. O

pro

will come ba

xt summer, if it's only

e made way

stopped for Shere Ali to come level with her. "I shall

orthwards from Bombay. I t

ver; but it seemed that she was not satisfied. She walk

Calcutta at Christmas, for instance? Calcutta is the place to which people go at Christmas, is

n for his future, drew some pride from her encouragement. He also drew so

nutes ago. I have not forgotten really that there is much for me to do in my own country; I have not forgotten that I can tha

n Violet Oliver's fac

by the unhappiness of her friend, and in that distress compunction had played its part. There was no hardness in Violet Oliver's character. To give pain flattered

," he said. "We may not b

held it for a little while,

the summer of next year

amongst the lights and the noise, and the familiar groups of her friends, she uttered a little sigh of relief. The summer of next year was a lo

the music swelled. The note of regret was louder than ever in his ears, and dominated the melody. To-morrow the lights, the delicate frocks, the laughing voices and bright eyes would be gone. The violins spoke to him of that morrow of blank emp

he asked. "Or do I b

as his race and the land of his birth. He could not answer the question; for there was a third possibility wh