"It is a good deal, in one sense," Nicholson returned. "It is the only condition under which native and European can work in unity."
Nehal Singh and Stafford were walking a little ahead, and Travers thought he saw the Rajah hesitate as though about to join the conversation. Almost immediately, however, Nicholson changed the subject.
"I've had no time to look up my old friends," he said to Travers. "Perhaps you could tell me something about them. Colonel Carmichael is, of course, still here. I had a few words with him this afternoon. Do you know if that little girl, Lois Caruthers, is with him, or has she gone back to England?"
"No, she is still in Marut."
"That's good. When I was a young lieutenant, she and I were great pals. Of course she is grown-up now, but I always think of her as my wild little comrade who led me into the most hairbreadth adventures." He smiled to himself, and Travers, looking sharply at him, felt that there was a wealth of memories behind the pleasant grey eyes.
"Things change," he said sententiously.
"Do they? Well, perhaps; though the change, I find, lies usually in oneself, and I never change. Is she married?"
"No—not yet."
He saw that Nicholson was on the point of answering, asking another question, and he went on hurriedly:
"She is not here this afternoon. If you are anxious to meet her, how would it be if I ran over to the Colonel's bungalow and persuaded her to come? I dare say I could manage it."