CHAPTER VI
THE ARRIVAL
Two months later, on a dripping evening in August, Monck stood alone onthe verandah of his bungalow at Udalkhand with a letter from Stella inhis hand. He had hurried back from duty on purpose to secure it, knowingthat it would be awaiting him. She had become accustomed to theseparation now, though she spoke yearningly of his next leave. Mrs.Ralston had joined her, and she wrote quite cheerfully. She was verywell, and looking forward--oh, so much--to the winter. There wascertainly no sadness to be detected between the lines, and Monck foldedup the letter and looked across the dripping compound with a smile inhis eyes.
When the winter came, he would probably have taken up his newappointment. Sir Reginald Bassett--a man of immense influence andenergy--was actually in Udalkhand at that moment. He was ostensiblypaying a friendly visit at the Colonel's bungalow, but Monck knew wellwhat it was that had brought him to that steaming corner of Markestan inthe very worst of the rainy season. He had come to make some definitearrangement with him. Probably before that very night was over, he wouldhave begun to gather the fruit of his ambition. He had started alreadyto climb the ladder, and he would raise Stella with him, Stella and thatother being upon whom he sometimes suffered his thoughts to dwell with asemi-humorous contemplation as--his son. A fantastic fascination hungabout the thought. He could not yet visualize himself as a father. Itwas easier far to picture Stella as a mother. But yet, like a magnetdrawing him, the vision seemed to beckon. He walked the desert with alighter step, and Tommy swore that he was growing younger.
There was an enclosure in Stella's letter from Tessa, who called him herdarling Uncle Everard and begged him to come soon and see how good shewas getting. He smiled a little over this also, but with a touch ofwonder. The child's worship seemed extraordinary to him. His conquest ofTessa had been quite complete, but it was odd that in consequence of itshe should love him as she loved no one else on earth. Yet that she didso was an indubitable fact. Her devotion exceeded even that of Tommy,which was saying much. She seemed to regard him as a sacred being, andher greatest pleasure in life was to do him service.
He put her letter away also, reflecting that he must manage somehow tomake time to answer it. As he did so, he heard Tommy's voice hail himfrom the compound, and in a moment the boy raced into sight, taking theverandah steps at a hop, skip, and jump.
"Hullo, old chap! Admiring the view eh? What? Got some letters? Have youheard from your brother yet?"
"Not a word for weeks." Monck turned to meet him. "I can't think whathas happened to him."
"Can't you though? I can!" Tommy seized him impetuously by the shouders;he was rocking with laughter. "Oh, Everard, old boy, this beatseverything! That brother of yours is coming along the road now. And he'stravelled all the way from Khanmulla in a--in a bullock-cart!"
"What?" Monck stared in amazement. "Are you mad?" he inquired.
"No--no. It's true! Go and see for yourself, man! They're just gettinghere, slow and sure. He must be well stocked with patience. Come on!They're stopping at the gate now."
He dragged his brother-in-law to the steps. Monck went, half-suspiciousof a hoax. But he had barely reached the path below when through therain there came the sound of wheels and heavy jingling.
"Come on!" yelled Tommy. "It's too good to miss!"
But ere they arrived at the gate it was blocked by a massive figure in astreaming black mackintosh, carrying a huge umbrella. "I say," said asoft voice, "what a damn' jolly part of the world to live in!"
"Bernard!" Monck's voice sounded incredulous, yet he passed Tommy at abound.
"Hullo, my boy, hullo!" Cheerily the newcomer made answer. "How do youopen this beastly gate? Oh, I see! Swelled a bit from the rain. I mustsee to that for you presently. Hullo, Everard! I chanced to find myselfin this direction so thought I would look up you and your wife. How areyou, my boy?"
An immense hand came forth and grasped Monck's. A merry red face beamedat him from under the great umbrella. Twinkling eyes with red lashesshone with the utmost good-will.
Monck gripped the hand as if he would never let it go. But "My good man,you're mad to come here!" were the only words of welcome he found toutter.
"Think so?" A humorous chuckle accompanied the words. "Well, take meindoors and give me a drink! There are a few traps in the cart outside.Had we better collect 'em first?"
"I'll see to them," volunteered Tommy, whose sense of humour was stillsomewhat out of control. "Take him in out of the rain, Everard! Send the_khit_ along!"
He was gone with the words, and Everard, with his brother's hand pulledthrough his arm, piloted him up to the bungalow.
In the shelter of the verandah they faced each other, the one brothersquare and powerful, so broad as to make his height appearinsignificant; the other, brown, lean, muscular, a soldier in everyline, his dark, resolute face a strange contrast to the ruddy opencountenance of the man who was the only near relation he possessed inthe world.
"Well,--boy! I believe you've grown." The elder brother, surveyed theyounger with his shrewd, twinkling eyes. "By Jove, I'm sure you have! Iused not to have to look up to you like this. Is it this devilishclimate that does it? And what on earth do you live on? You look apositive skeleton."
"Oh, that's India, yes." Everard brushed aside all personal comment assuperfluous. "Come along in and refresh! What particular star have youfallen from? And why in thunder didn't you say you were coming?"
The elder man laughed, slapping him on the shoulder with hearty force.His clean-shaven face was as free from care as a boy's. He looked as iflife had dealt kindly with him.
"Ah, I know you," he said. "Wouldn't you have written off post-haste--ifyou hadn't cabled--and said, 'Wait till the rains are over?' But I hadraised my anchor and I didn't mean to wait. So I dispensed with yourbrotherly counsel, and here I am! You won't find me in the way at all.I'm dashed good at effacing myself."
"My dear good chap," Everard said, "you're about the only man in theworld who need never think of doing that."
Bernard's laugh was good to hear. "Who taught you to turn such a prettycompliment? Where is your wife? I want to see her."
"You don't suppose I keep her in this filthy place, do you?" Everard waspouring out a drink as he spoke. "No, no! She has been at Bhulwana inthe Hills for the past three months. Now, St. Bernard, is this as youlike it?"
The big man took the glass, looking at him with a smile of kindlycriticism. "Well, you won't bore each other at that rate, anyhow," heremarked. "Here's to you both! I drink to the greatest thing in life!"He drank deeply and set down the glass. "Look here! You're just off tomess. Don't let me keep you! All I want is a cold bath. And then--ifyou've got a spare shakedown of any sort--going to bed is mere ritualwith me. I can sleep on my head--anywhere."
"You'll sleep in a decent bed," declared Everard. "But you're comingalong to mess with me first. Oh yes, you are. Of course you are! There'san hour before us yet though. Hullo, Tommy! Let me introduce youformally to my brother! St. Bernard,--my brother-in-law Tommy Denvers."
Tommy came in through the window and shook hands with much heartiness.
"The _khit_ is seeing to everything. Pleased to meet you, sir! Beastlywet for you, I'm afraid, but there's worse things than rain in India.Hope you had a decent voyage."
Bernard laughed in his easy, good-humoured fashion. "Like the niggers,I can make myself comfortable most anywheres. We had rather a foul timeafter leaving Aden. Ratting in the hold was our main excitement when weweren't sweating at the pumps. Oh no, I didn't come over in one of yourmajestic liners. I have a sailor's soul."
A flicker of admiration shot through the merriment in Tommy's eyes."Wish I had," he observed. "But the very thought of the sea turns mineupside down. If you're keen on ratting, there's plenty of sport of thatkind to be had here. The brutes hold gymkhanas on the verandah every,night. I sit up with a gun sometimes when Everard is out of the way."
"Yes, he's a peaceful person to live with," remarked Everard. "
Havesomething to eat, St. Bernard!"
"No, no, thanks! My appetite will keep. A cold bath is my most pressingneed. Can I have that?"
"Sure!" said Tommy. "You 're coming to mess with us of course? OldReggie Bassett is honouring us with his presence to-night. It will be ahistoric occasion, eh, Everard?"
He smiled upon the elder brother with obvious pleasure at the prospect.Bernard Monck always met with a welcome wherever he went, and Tommy wasprepared to like any one belonging to Everard. It was good too to seeEverard with that eager light in his eyes. During the whole of theiracquaintance he had never seen him look so young.
Bernard held a somewhat different opinion, however, and as he foundhimself alone again with his brother he took him by the shoulders, andheld him for a closer survey.
"What has India been doing to you, dear fellow?" he said. "You lookabout as ancient as the Sphinx. Been working like a dray-horse all thistime?"
"Perhaps." Everard's smile held something of restraint. "We can't all ofus stand still, St. Bernard. Perpetual youth is given only to thefavoured few."
"Ah!" The older man's eyes narrowed a little. For a moment there existeda curious, wholly indefinite, resembance between them. "And you arehappy?" he asked abruptly.
Everard's eyes held a certain hardness as he replied, "Provisionally,yes. I haven't got all I want yet--if that's what you mean. But I am onthe way to getting it."
Bernard Monck looked at him a moment longer, and let him go. "Are yousure you're wanting the right thing?" he said.
It was not a question that demanded an answer, and Everard made none. Heturned aside with a scarcely perceptible lift of the shoulders.
"You haven't told me yet how you come to be here," he said. "Have yougiven up the Charthurst chaplaincy?"
"It gave me up." Bernard spoke quietly, but there was deep regret in hisvoice. "A new governor came--a man of curiously rigid ideas. Anyway, Iwas not parson enough for him. We couldn't assimilate. I tried myhardest, but we couldn't get into touch anywhere. I preached the law ofDivine liberty to the captives. And he--good man! preferred to keep themsafely locked in the dungeon. I was forced to quit the position. I hadno choice."
"What a fool!" observed Everard tersely.
Bernard's ready smile re-appeared. "Thanks, old chap!" he said. "That'sjust the point of view I wanted you to take. Now I have other schemes onhand. I'll tell you later what they are. I think I'd better have thatcold bath next if you're really going to take me along to mess with you.By Jove, how it does rain! Does it ever leave off in these parts?"
"Not very often this time of the year. I'm not going to let you stayhere for long." Everard spoke with his customary curt decision. "It's noplace for fellows like you. You must go to Bhulwana and join my wife."
"Many thanks!" Bernard made a grotesque gesture of submission. "Whatsort of woman is your wife, my son? Do you think she will like me?"
Everard turned and smote him on the shoulder. "Of course she will! Shewill adore you. All women do."
"Oh, not quite!" protested Bernard modestly. "I'm not tall enough toplease everyone of the feminine gender. But you think your wife willoverlook that?"
"I know," said Everard, with conviction.
His brother laughed with cheery self-satisfaction. "In that case, ofcourse I shall adore her," he said.