"Oh, yes. Don't bother about me."
"I think you'd better not wait for me this evening.
I may be very late and I'll get something to eat from Colonel Y #252;."
"Very well."
He rose.
"If I were you, I wouldn't try to do anything to-day. You'd better take it easy.
Is there anything you want before I go?"
"No, thanks.
I shall be quite all right."
He paused for an instant, as though he were undecided, and then, abruptly and without looking at her, took his hat and walked out of the room.
She heard him go through the compound.
She felt terribly alone.
There was no need for self-restraint now and she gave herself up to a passion of tears.
LVII
THE night was sultry and Kitty sat at the window looking at the fantastic roofs, dark against the starlight, of the Chinese temple, when at last Walter came in.
Her eyes were heavy with weeping, but she was composed.
Notwithstanding all there was to harass her she felt, perhaps only from exhaustion, strangely at peace.
"I thought you'd be already in bed," said Walter as he came in.
"I wasn't sleepy.
I thought it cooler to sit up.
Have you had any dinner?"
"All I want."
He walked up and down the long room and she saw that he had something to say to her. She knew that he was embarrassed.
Without concern she waited for him to summon up his resolution.
He began abruptly.
"I've been thinking about what you told me this afternoon.
It seems to me that it would be better if you went away.
I have spoken to Colonel Y #252; and he will give you an escort.
You could take the amah with you.
You will be quite safe."
"Where is there for me to go?"
"You can go to your mother's."
"Do you think she would be pleased to see me?"
He paused for a moment, hesitating, as though for reflexion. "Then you can go to Hong Kong."
"What should I do there?"
"You will need a good deal of care and attention.
I don't think it's fair to ask you to stay here."
She could not prevent the smile, not only of bitterness but of frank amusement, that crossed her face.
She gave him a glance and very nearly laughed.
"I don't know why you should be so anxious about my health."
He came over to the window and stood looking out at the night.
There had never been so many stars in the unclouded sky.
"This isn't the place for a woman in your condition."
She looked at him, white in his thin clothes against the darkness; there was something sinister in his fine profile, and yet oddly enough at this moment it excited in her no fear.
"When you insisted on my coming here did you want it to kill me?" she asked suddenly.
He was so long answering that she thought he had refused to hear.
"At first."
She gave a little shudder, for it was the first time he had admitted his intention.
But she bore him no ill will for it.
Her feeling surprised herself; there was a certain admiration in it and a faint amusement.