The colonel turned to Baring for sympathy, and found that the latter had abruptly, almost violently, turned his back.  It surprised him considerably, for he had often declared his conviction that under no circumstances would this officer of his lose his iron composure.  Baring’s behaviour of the night before had seemed to corroborate this; in fact, he had even privately thought him somewhat cold-blooded.

But his present conduct seemed to indicate that even Baring was human, notwithstanding his strength; and in his heart the colonel liked him for it.  After a moment he began to speak, considerately ignoring the other’s attitude.

“She was providentially on the further hill when it happened, and she had great difficulty in getting round to us; lost her way several times, poor girl, and only panic-stricken natives to direct her.  It’s been a shocking disaster—­the native village entirely swept away, though not many European lives lost, I am glad to say.  But Hyde is among the missing.  You knew Hyde?”

“I knew him—­well.”  Baring’s words seemed to come with an effort.

“Ah, well, poor fellow; he probably didn’t know much about it.  Terrible, a thing of this sort.  It’s impossible yet to estimate the damage, but the whole of the lower valley is devastated.  The Magician’s bungalow has entirely disappeared, I hear.  A good thing the old man was away from home.”

At this point, to Colonel Latimer’s relief, Baring turned.  He was paler than usual, but there was no other trace of emotion about him.

“If you will allow me,” he said, “I should like to go and speak to her, too.”

“Certainly,” the colonel said heartily.  “Certainly.  Go at once!  No doubt she is expecting you.  Tell the youngster I want him out here!”

And Baring went.

* * * * *

If Hope did expect him, she certainly did not anticipate the manner of his coming.  The man who entered the colonel’s drawing-room was not the man who had striven with a mastery that was almost brutal to bring her into subjection only the day before.  She could not have told wherein the difference lay, but she was keenly aware of its existence.  And because of her knowledge she felt no misgiving, no shadow of fear.  She did not so much as wait for him to come to her.  Simply moved by the woman’s instinct that cannot err, she went straight to him, and so into his arms, clinging to him with a little sobbing laugh, and not speaking at all, because there were no words that could express what she yet found it so sublimely easy to tell him.  Baring did not speak either, but he had a different reason for his silence.  He only held her closely to him, till presently, raising her face to his, she understood.  And she laughed again, laughed through tears.

“Weren’t you rather quick to give up—­hope?” she whispered.

He did not answer her, but she found nothing discouraging in his silence.  Rather, it seemed to inspire her.  She slipped her arms round his neck.  Her tears were nearly gone.