The Karma of Love (Bantam Series No. 14) Read Free Page B

only Mama’s parents were not dead.”
    “Or if Uncle Henry were in England!” Orissa sighed.
    “Uncle Henry!” Charles exclaimed. “That of course is the solution ! ”
    “What do you mean?”
    “You must go to him. After all he is a bachelor. You could make yourself useful and I believe he would like to have you with him.”
    “Do you mean in India?” Orissa asked incredulously.
    “Of course,” Charles replied.
    He saw the sudden light which seemed to illuminate her whole face.
    “Oh, Charles, if only I could!”
    “Why not?” he asked.
    “Do you really think that Uncle Henry would let me live with him?”
    “I have only just thought of it this moment,” Charles admitted, “but I see no reason why not. He has always been fond of you. He always asks if I have heard from you, and now you are grown up it would be quite different from saddling him with a child.”
    “To be in India again would be Heaven,” Orissa said almost beneath her breath. “I dream of it every night!”
    “Does it really mean so much to you?” Charles asked curiously.
    “It is the only home I have ever known,” Orissa answered, “and I was happy ... unbelievably happy until Mama died.”
    “Then somehow we must get you to Uncle Henry. Let me see—he was in Delhi when I left and the Regiment is likely to be there for another month or so.”
    Orissa’s eyes were shining as she said:
    “But I will have to write to him. It w i ll take some time to get a reply. What shall I do in the meantime?”
    Charles did not answer for a moment and Orissa knew he was thinking. Then he said:
    “I have an idea!”
    “What is it?”
    “To tell the truth I was wondering just now how I was going to raise your fare. I am badly dipped at the moment.”
    “Pretty ladies are ... I understand ... very expensive,” Orissa teased.
    “You are right there,” Charles confessed. “So quite frankly, although I suppose I could borrow it from somewhere, it would be very difficult unless you agree to another suggestion.”
    “What is that?” Orissa asked.
    “I was in the office this morning taking instructions about our classes for tomorrow when General Sir Arthur Critchley came in. He is the General Officer Commanding, Bombay.”
    Orissa did not speak but her eyes were watching her brother’s face intently.
    “The General asked the Adjutant,” Charles went on, “if he knew of any officers’ waves who were travelling out on the Dorunda.
    “ ‘No, Sir,’ the Adjutant answered.
    ‘“I have to find someone,’ the General went on, ‘who wall look after my small grandson during the voyage. A cousin was coming with us, but unfortunately she has had an accident and has cancelled her trip at the last moment.’
    “ ‘Sorry to hear that, Sir,’ the Adjutant remarked. “‘It is a cursed nuisance,’ the General said. ‘I cannot expect my wife to be responsible for a child of five during the whole voyage. It would be too much for her.’
    “‘No, Sir.’
    “‘And there is not much point in taking out a Nanny when my daughter-in-law has an Ayah waiting in Bombay .”
    “ ‘No, Sir, I can see that,’ the Adjutant agreed. “‘Perhaps you had better get on to the Shipping Line for me,’ the General said. ‘See if there is a lady travelling to India who would look after the child in return for her First Class Fare. I am quite willing to pay that—one way, of course!’
    “ I understand, Sir,’ the Adjutant answered.”
    When Charles stopped speaking Orissa looked at him and exclaimed excitedly:
    “And you think I might go? But supposing t hey have found someone already?”
    “They will not have done that,” Charles answered. “How do you know?” Orissa asked.
    Her brother grinned at her.
    “The Adjutant told me to find Hughes, who is a newly-joined Lieutenant, and tell him to get on to the Shipping Line. As I was in a hurry I forgot all about it!”
    “Oh, Charles!” Orissa exclaimed. “That is just like you!”
    “If you ask