"Was he--was he anything like--that--that holy man--Peter, you know who I mean ?" Her face was deathly as she uttered the question.
"Let my _mem-sahib_ be comforted!" said Peter soothingly.

"It was not the holy man--the bearer of evil tidings." "Ah!" The words sank down through her heart like a stone dropped into a well.

"But I think the tidings were evil all the same.

Did he say what it was?
But--" as a sudden memory shot across her, "I ought not to ask.
I wish--I wish the captain--_sahib_ would come back." "Let my _mem-sahib_ have patience!" said Peter gently.

"He will soon come now." The blue jay laughed at the gate gleefully, uproariously, derisively.
Stella shivered.
"He is coming!" said Peter.
She started up.