"Marian," she called out, "the people are beginning to leave. Some one is coming up our path."
"Oh, it is only the new people—a judge or something and his wife—who have taken Hilltop Hall. But I shall have finished before they pass the gate. I should like to see what they are like."
But long before the usual procession—a gentleman on a pony, a lady in a jampan, and torchbearers and servants ad libitum—which Honour was expecting could have reached the gate, it was opened and two people came up the steep path to the bungalow. By the light of the torch carried before them by a servant, Honour recognised Lady Antony, with a burnouse thrown over her evening dress, and her husband. Her heart stood still, for such a visit could only mean bad news. Sir Edmund and his wife were fond of dropping in informally on their young neighbours, but to leave their guests, at an important entertainment in their own house—this was unheard of. Honour ran to the top of the steps to meet them.
"Oh, what is it?" she cried, lowering her voice so that it should not reach Marian. "Is it papa?"
"Sir Arthur is well. I have a letter from him," said Sir Edmund.
"Your mother is also in good health."
"Then who is it?" demanded Honour fearfully. "Is it either of my brothers? Oh, not—not Charles?"
"Hush! let me break it to her," said Lady Antony, as Marian's pretty sparkling face, the eyes wide with astonishment, appeared at the window. "Dear Marian," she took the girl's arm and led her back into the room, "I have something to say to you."
"What was it—cholera?" Honour was asking with dry lips of Sir Edmund as they stood on the verandah.
"No, unfortunately." Honour's eyes met his in perplexity. "It was murder. This morning I received news that Captain Cowper and Mr Nisbet had been wounded in a street-tumult at Agpur, but that Cowper's injuries were so slight he did not wish his wife alarmed about them. To-night your father sends a runner to say that the poor fellows were pursued and murdered outside the city."
"How dreadful!" was all Honour could say.