Perhaps it was her smooth warm colour which suggested the
idea, but as her cheeks flushed at sight of Captain Dan and the
long dark eyes lighted up in welcome, I thought of a delicate
painting on ivory and I wondered more and more what it all could
mean.
"I have brought Jim to see you," said Captain Dan. "No, don't
trouble to move dear."
But even before he had spoken I had seen the girl wince with pain
as she had endeavoured to sit up to greet us. She lay on her
side in a rather constrained attitude, but although her sudden
movement had brought tears to her eyes she smiled bravely and
extended a tiny ivory hand to me.
"This is my wife, Jim!" said Captain Dan.
I could find no words at all, but merely stood there looking very
awkward and feeling almost awed by the indescribable expression
of trust in the eyes of the little Eurasian, as with her tiny
fingers hidden in her husband's clasp she lay looking up at him.
"Now you know, Jim," said he, "why we must get aboard the Patna
to-night. My wife is really too ill to travel; in fact, I shall
have to carry her down to the cab, and such a proceeding in
daylight would attract an enormous crowd in this neighbourhood!"
"Give me the letters and the papers," I answered.
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