“Really, Major Ralston, I hope you will not do anything so cruel,” protested Mrs. Burton.  “We never correct him in that way ourselves.”

“Pity you don’t,” said Major Ralston.  “An unlicked cub is an insult to creation.  Give him to me for a little while!  I’ll undertake to improve him both morally and physically to such an extent that you won’t know him.”

Here Tommy uttered a brief, wholly involuntary guffaw.

“What’s the matter with you?” said Ralston.

“Nothing.”  His gloom dropped upon him again like a mantle.  “Have you been at Khanmulla all day?”

“Yes; a confounded waste of time it’s been too.”  Ralston took a deep drink and set down his glass.

“You always think it’s a waste of time if you can’t be doctoring somebody,” muttered Tommy.

“Don’t be offensive!” said Ralston.  “I know what’s the matter with you, my son, but I should keep it to myself if I were you.  As a matter of fact I did give medical advice to somebody this afternoon—­which of course he won’t take.”

Tommy’s face was suddenly scarlet.  It was solely the maternal protective instinct that induced Mrs. Ralston to bend forward and speak.

“Do you mean Captain Monck, Gerald?” she asked.

Major Ralston cast a comprehensive glance around the little group assembled near him, finishing his survey upon Tommy’s burning countenance.  “Yes—­Monck,” he said.  “He’s staying with Barnes at Khanmulla to see this affair through.  If I were Mrs. Monck I should be pretty anxious about him.  He says it’s insomnia.”

“Is he ill?” It was Tommy who spoke, his voice quick and low, all the sullen embarrassment gone from his demeanour.

The doctor’s eyes dwelt upon him for a moment longer before he answered.  “I never saw such a change in any man in such a short time.  He’ll have a bad break-down if he doesn’t watch out.”

“He works too hard,” said Mrs. Ralston sympathetically.

Her husband nodded.  “If it weren’t for that sickly baby of hers, I should advise his wife to go straight to him and look after him.  But perhaps when this trial is over he will be able to take a rest.  I shall order the whole family to Bhulwana if I get the chance.”  He got up with the words, and faced the company with a certain dogged aggressiveness that compelled attention.  “It’s hard,” he said, “to see a fine chap like that knocked out.  He’s about the best man we’ve got, and we can’t afford to lose him.”

He waited for someone to take up the challenge, but no one showed any inclination to do so.  Only after a moment Tommy also sprang up as if there was something in the situation that chafed him beyond endurance.

Ralston looked at him again, critically, not over-favourably.  “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” he said.

Tommy hunched his shoulders, all defiance in a second.  “Going for a ride,” he growled.  “Any objection?”