rather clumsily in her arms. "And your little bird?" she asked.

"I'd love to have him."  She took the unwieldy, protesting mongrel, and held him rather clumsily in her arms. "And your little bird?" she asked.

"No, he'll want special medical treatment. Thanks awfully, all the same."  He bent and patted Wickie's black snout with an apologetic gentleness.  "Don't fret your heart out, old chap. It's your own fault—and Ayeshi shall come for you, upon my honour he shall."

"No, he'll want special medical treatment. Thanks awfully, all the same."  He bent and patted Wickie's black snout with an apologetic gentleness.  "Don't fret your heart out, old chap. It's your own fault—and Ayeshi shall come for you, upon my honour he shall."

"I'll take care of him," Anne said.

"I'll take care of him," Anne said.

"I know you will."

"I know you will."

"Good-bye, Major Tristram."  The sunlight was in her eyes, and they were very bright. The colour in her cheeks deepened.  "And God bless you," she added, timidly but very seriously.

"Good-bye, Major Tristram."  The sunlight was in her eyes, and they were very bright. The colour in her cheeks deepened.  "And God bless you," she added, timidly but very seriously.

He smiled down at her.

He smiled down at her.

"And you and Wickie and everybody," he said.  "I'm sure He does."

"And you and Wickie and everybody," he said.  "I'm sure He does."

He strode off, and at the bend of the road turned and waved.

He strode off, and at the bend of the road turned and waved.

But long after he had disappeared, she stood there gazing into the dusk, the unhappy Wickie pressed tightly against her breast.

But long after he had disappeared, she stood there gazing into the dusk, the unhappy Wickie pressed tightly against her breast.

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