But she stopped half-way.

The happiness died out of her.

She raised a hand to her heart, and her voice once more repeated his name; but her voice faltered as she spoke, and the hand was clasped tight upon her breast.
"Dick," she said, and in his face she read the tidings he had brought.
The blow so long dreaded had at last fallen.
"Yes, mother, it's true," he said very gently; and leading her to a chair, he sat beside her, stroking her hand, almost as a lover might do.
"It's true.

The telegram came last night.

I start within the month." "For Chiltistan ?" Dick looked at her for a moment.
"For the Punjab," he said, and added: "But it will mean Chiltistan.