XXVI
SHE wiped her eyes. She tried to pull herself together.
"Charlie, if you desert me I shall die."
She was driven now to appeal to his compassion.
She ought to have told him at once.
When he knew the horrible alternative that was placed before her his generosity, his sense of justice, his manliness, would be so vehemently aroused that he would think of nothing but her danger.
Oh, how passionately she desired to feel his dear, protecting arms around her!
"Walter wants me to go to Mei-Tan-Fun."
"Oh, but that's the place where the cholera is.
They've got the worst epidemic that they've had for fifty years.
It's no place for a woman.
You can't possibly go there."
"If you let me down I shall have to."
"What do you mean?
I don't understand."
"Walter is taking the place of the missionary doctor who died.
He wants me to go with him."
"When?"
"Now.
At once."
Townsend pushed back his chair and looked at her with puzzled eyes.
"I may be very stupid, but I can't make head or tail* out of what you're saying.
If he wants you to go to this place with him what about a divorce?"
"He's given me my choice. I must either go to Mei-Tan-Fu or else he'll bring an action."
"Oh, I see." Townsend's tone changed ever so slightly. "I think that's rather decent of him, don't you?"
"Decent?"
"Well, it's a damned sporting thing of him to go there.
It's not a thing I'd fancy.
Of course he'll get a C.M.G.* for it when he comes back."
"But me, Charlie?" she cried, with anguish in her voice.
"Well, I think if he wants you to go, under the circumstances I don't see how you can very well refuse."
"It means death. Absolutely certain death."
"Oh, damn it all, that's rather an exaggeration.
He would hardly take you if he thought that.
It's no more risk for you than for him.
In point of fact there's no great risk if you're careful.
I've been here when there's been cholera and I haven't turned a hair.
The great thing is not to eat anything uncooked, no raw fruit or salads, or anything like that, and see that your drinking water is boiled."
He was gaining confidence as he proceeded, and his speech was fluent; he was even becoming less sullen and more alert; he was almost breezy.
"After all, it's his job, isn't it?
He's interested in bugs.
It's rather a chance for him if you come to think of it."
"But me, Charlie?" she repeated, not with anguish now, but with consternation.
"Well, the best way to understand a man is to put yourself in his shoes.
From his point of view you've been rather a naughty little thing and he wants to get you out of harm's way.
I always thought he never wanted to divorce you, he doesn't strike me as that sort of chap; but he made what he thought was a very generous offer and you put his back up by turning it down.
I don't want to blame you, but really for all our sakes I think you ought to have given it a little consideration."
"But don't you see it'll kill me?
Don't you know that he's taking me there because he knows it'll kill me?"
"Oh, my dear, don't talk like that.