His instinct told him that he had won Lois
at the critical moment, and that another twenty-four hours would have
seen her safe under the reawakening influence of an old, only
half-forgotten friendship; and Nicholson, too, felt dimly that a
cunning and none too scrupulous hand had shattered a secret hope that
he had cherished from his first year in India. Altogether, there was a
stiffness between them which the world was quick to recognize without
understanding. But Beatrice had made her observations, and, as it has
been said, had come to a definite conclusion. Her interest in Lois was
now thoroughly aroused, and the vision of a dark, suffering little
face against a white pillow recurred to her as she walked her horse
beside Nehal Singh's. As they passed out of the wood, her companion
lifted his whip and pointed in front of them.
"Look!" he said.
She raised her hand to the rim of her helmet, shading her eyes from
the dazzling sun, and gazed in the direction which he indicated.
"Why!" she exclaimed, smiling, "a model world, Rajah!"
"Yes," he answered, "that is what I have tried to make it. I do not
think plague or disease will ever find firm foothold here, and one day
my people will learn to do for themselves what I do for them. They are
as yet no more than children who have to be taught what is good and
bad. There is the chief overseer."
A respectable looking Hindu, who stood at the door of his hut,
salaamed profoundly.
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