From her verandah she could see the bustle and stir in the camp. The next day one of the meadow stretches lay bare of tents. So the work of embarkation must be close at hand. Aye, the bay was thronged with transports! There was a sound of drums and fifes in the air. What room for love and peace when war and strife were afoot? But any moment now might bring Marmaduke, and that was enough for the present.
It was on the fourth day, when she was beginning to wonder if possibly he had not found time, that an orderly appeared with a note. It was not from Duke; it was from Andrew.
"Dear Madam,
"Please come. I have sent the Colonel's charger. He will carry a lady. He is very ill."
She turned soul-sick as she read.
"Is he--is the Colonel very ill?" she asked.
"Verra ill indeed, m'm. It's the co-lira, and they're sayin' he's like to dee--God forbid it!"
"Like to die!"
Well, it was best to know the truth. She put on her European dress and started, remembering as she rode through the flower-set meadows how they had planned this visit to his hut. How she should spend the day there and be introduced to his friends. For though they never spoke of the future or the past, living only in the present heaven, Marmaduke had evidently never considered the possibility of separation and she had been content to let such possibilities slide.
And now? She bit her lip to keep it from quivering as Andrew met her.