She hesitated a moment, and then rose and quietly left the
room. A moment later he joined her outside.
"Come outside," he said, "I must speak to you;" and together they
went out through the passage into the courtyard.
"Isobel," he began, "I need not tell you that I love you; till
lately I have not known how much, but I feel now that I could not
live without you."
"Why are you going away then, Captain Forster?" she asked quietly.
"I don't want to go alone," he said; "I cannot go alone--I want
you to go with me. Your uncle would surely consent; it is the only
chance of saving your life. We all know that it is next to hopeless
that a force sufficient to rescue us can be sent; there is just a
chance, but that is all that can be said. We could be married at
Allahabad. I would make for that town instead of Lucknow if you
will go with me, and I could leave you there in safety till these
troubles are over; I am going to take another horse as well as my
own, and two would be as likely to escape as one."
"Thank you for the offer, Captain Forster," she said coldly, "but
I decline it. My place is here with my uncle and the others."
"Why is it?" he asked passionately. "If you love me, your place
is surely with me; and you do love me, Isobel, do you not? Surely
I have not been mistaken."
Isobel was silent for a moment.
"You were mistaken, Captain Forster," she said, after a pause. "You
paid me attentions such as I had heard you paid to many others, and
it was pleasant.
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