Page:Quartette - Kipling (1885).djvu/32

 At last he turned to me. "Charlie," he said as he wrung my hand, "take care of her; she is all I have in the world. God do so to you and more also, if you fail in your care of her." Before I could reply he had turned from me, seeking to hide the emotion by which he was shaken.

I mounted my horse in silence, and set forth upon this most fateful journey walking slowly by the swinging dooli, the door of which was closed on the side nearest to me. Besides ourselves there were only the necessary coolies and bearers; Laura's servants like my own had excused themselves from accompanying us on various pretexts. They were completely demoralised by panic.

Our destination was three days' march distant, but it had been arranged that we should travel at less than the usual rate of speed, that Laura might not be overfatigued; and the dawn of the next morning brought us to the dak-bungalow, where we purposed to spend the day. A couple of sheep were procured for the coolies, who were to feed and sleep all day, and would thus be ready to take us on again at sunset, and I undertook to make the superannuated half-blind khansamah in charge prepare a meal for us.

His best efforts resulted in an abominable breakfast, which Laura was unable to touch. "I think it is only my want of appetite," she said, as I used some strong language in reference to our incapable cook. "I shall be less tired at dinner time, and then you will see that things will be better."

She was looking pale and wary, and I made a couch of one of the cots in the room by a careful arrangement of rugs and pillows, and induced her to rest there; offering to read to her from one of our favorite books which I had brought with me.

"I cannot listen, Charlie," she said; "my heart is too full."

What could I say to comfort her? My heart also was too full; but full of a love I dared not speak; and though I would have given my life for her I could utter no word of sympathy; for speech would have betrayed what now, more than ever, I was bound never to reveal.

She fell asleep presently with little Norah's name upon her lips; and exhausted by fatigue and emotion, slept through the hottest hours of the day.