"The secret is of thee and me. There is safety. If it became
another's, there might be peril. The thing shall be between us only, for
ever?"
"Do you think that I--"
"My instinct tells me a woman of sensitive mind might one day, out of an
unmerciful honesty, tell her husband--"
"I am not married-"
"But one day--"
She interrupted him. "Sentimental egotism will not rule me. Tell me," she
added, "tell me one thing before I go. You said that your course was set.
What is it?"
"I remain here," he answered quietly. "I remain in the service of Prince
Kaid."
"It is a dreadful government, an awful service--"
"That is why I stay."
"You are going to try and change things here--you alone?"
"I hope not alone, in time."
"You are going to leave England, your friends, your family, your
place--in Hamley, was it not? My aunt has read of you--my cousin--" she
paused.
"I had no place in Hamley. Here is my place. Distance has little to do
with understanding or affection. I had an uncle here in the East for
twenty-five years, yet I knew him better than all others in the world.
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