"Somehow I cannot believe it," I broke in. "I've had such a happy time, and Mrs. Hayes-Billington has always been so kind to me, so careful of appearances, and----"
"Just a wolf in sheep's clothing," interrupted my brother, "a regular bad lot! De Lacy was a political agent, and she, as Mrs. de Lacy, was celebrated for her extraordinary good looks and her extravagant love affairs. You must get your things packed and be ready to start with me to-morrow morning at nine o'clock. I have ordered the same tonga. Just put a few things together--your heavy baggage and the ayah can follow."
"Why, to Secunderabad, of course. As soon as I got Vesey's letter and had pulled myself together, I dashed over to the colonel's wife and showed it to her. She said at once that you must come to her. Yes, she really is a thundering good sort. Later on a captain's quarters, near to the C.O.'s, will be vacant, and there you and I can set up house. It will be made a special case, and she has undertaken to talk over the old man."
"Oh, how delightful, Ronnie!" I exclaimed. "What a piece of good fortune!"
"Yes, rather," he assented emphatically. "It looks as if your presentiment were likely to come off."
"What am I to say to Mrs. Hayes-Billington?" I asked after a pause.
"I think so, by this time; I have not seen her all day, she has had a most dreadful headache."
"Well, I must have a jaw with her. Yes, I must. I won't sneak you out of her house without an explanation, and I intend to give her a jolly good bit of my mind."
"Yes, I must," he rejoined, as we entered the bungalow; "which is the drawing-room?"
As I pointed to it in silence he pushed open the door and entered. Mrs. Hayes-Billington, who was crouching over the fire, turned on him a ghastly face, and I realised in a second that she was aware of his errand. Then like a coward I retreated and went away to break the news of my impending departure to the ayah.
"Missie going--me, too, going to-morrow morning!" she exclaimed.
I must confess that I rather expected a scene, but the ayah accepted the news with staggering unconcern. Mary was evidently accustomed to these hasty departures. She was a Deccanee woman, she informed me, and not sorry to return to her own country. With astonishing celerity she began to collect my various and scattered belongings, to sort and to fold. Natives love the excitement and hurry-scurry of a hasty move. A native cook welcomes, rather than otherwise, an unexpected addition to a dinner; a butler is never more in his element than when improvising a hasty _tamasha_, an abruptly arranged _shikar_ party, or an early morning supper!