Free Nurse in India by Juliet Armstrong

hesitated, and then, conscious that the old man ’ s eyes were resting wonderingly on her face , she told him steadily that she would be spending the rest of the night in the sickroom.
    “Then I will bring bedding and sleep outside the doorway,” he observed and salaaming left her, as deeply troubled now as she had been happy only a few moments before.
    Allegra Glydd, not only in Ghasirabad but in Roger ’ s bungalow! What chance now was there that Roger would e ver understand the truth of that old story? There was such candor in Allegra ’ s dark eyes, such childish innocence in her voice. If she had been able to fool a hardheaded judge, would she not be able to twist a man like Roger around her little finger? Already he believed in her and was prejudiced against that so-called friend of hers, Star Lefreyne.
    He thinks he is in love with me, she thought despairingly, but he scarcely knows me. When he remembers how he spoke to me of Star Lefreyne, and of how I kept silent on the subject, isn ’ t it almost certain that his prejudice will be deepened? From the very moment Allegra exclaims, “Stella Hantley! Why, that ’ s the other name of that awful Star Lefreyne”—the mischief will begin to work.
    For a full five minutes she paced up and down her room, sick with misery at the thought that at this very moment Allegra might be pouring her lies into Roger ’ s ears. To steel herself to sacrifice and walk out of Roger ’ s life, in order to save people from unhappiness—that was something she might well have brought herself to do. But to lose his affection and respect without the chance, perhaps, of defending herself—for if he met her with cool politeness, what coul d she do—oh, how was.it to be borne?
    And then, true to her nursing training, she squared her shoulders and fought back the hot tears that threatened her.
    One thing is certain, she told herself resolutely. Crybaby tactics will cut no ice in a situation like this. And meanwhile — I ’ ve a life to save.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    Before she could return to her patient, however, she had another intruder to reckon with. The low cough that takes the place of a knock at the door throughout the curtained East sounded just outside in the corridor. And when she went to investigate she found herself looking into the wrinkled, inscrutable face of the woman she had, with such good reason, come to dread—the old rani.
    “May I speak with you a moment?” It was a command rather than a request, and before Stella could demur the old woman had stepped over the threshold. “It is some time now since we met and talked together.”
    “And yet, Your Highness—” Stella met those hooded, glittering eyes without visible tremor “—I seem to have been conscious all the while of your presence near me.”
    Just for an instant the old queen ’ s fierce gaze wavered, then recovering herself she went on hardly, “Time was when I was rani of Kotpura State. Now my realm is shrunk to a few meager square yards—the women ’ s quarter of Bhindi Palace. And even here my authority is challenged.”
    There seemed no suitable reply to make to this assertion, and Stella remained silent. Then the old woman continued, with increasing bitterness, “The heir to the throne of the Fireborn dynasty lies sick unto death, and those of his own house and race are banished from his bedside. An infidel Christian woman, whose very touch is defiling, tends him, night and day; and to guard him there comes no Hindu warrior, but a Muslim slave.” She wrung her clawlike hands. “Surely the Goddess Kali—Kali the Terrible—will exact a fearful vengeance!”
    For the first time Stella realized something of the depths of the old queen ’ s emotion. It was not mere jealousy of the usurpation of her power, nor even anxiety over the life of Prithviraj, that racked her so cruelly. Stronger than these natural feelings was her sick terror of the curses that might fall upon the ancient Kotpura dynasty