WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
"Do nothing! How did you get on with the milking?"
"I managed it somehow—after you taught me. 'Remember?"
Then the talk stopped with an almost audible jar. Still no Mrs. Jim.
"That reminds me, I owe you fifty rupees for the condensed milk. I thought perhaps you 'd be coming here when you were transferred to the Khanda district, and I could pay you then; but you did n't."
"I passed within five miles of the camp, but it was in the middle of a march, you see, and the carts were breaking down every few minutes, and I could n't get 'em over the ground till ten o'clock that night. I wanted to come awfully. You knew I did, did n't you ?"
"I—believe—I—did," said "William, facing him with level eyes. She was no longer white.
"Did you understand?"
"Why you did n't ride in? Of course I did."
"Why?"
"Because you could n't, of course. I knew that."
"Did you care?"
"If you had come in—but I knew you would n't—but if you had, I should have cared a great deal. You know I should."
"Thank God I did n't! Oh, but I wanted to! I could n't trust myself to ride in front of the carts, because I kept edging 'em over here, don't you know?"
"I knew you would n't," said William, contentedly. "Here 's your fifty."
Scott bent forward and kissed the hand that held the
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