'The men have finished luncheon,' he said; 'I must go and see how things are getting on.' The Indian officer, after one glance back at the house, went with him.

There was a private footpath through the plantation of trees, and down this the two disappeared.

Soon afterwards the piano ceased, and a lady came slowly across the lawn, still humming the air she had been playing.

She was the farmer's sister, and was engaged to the officer.

The wife looked up from the book which she had taken from the table, with a smile of welcome.