Grace looked at him as if she did not quite understand what he said. He repeated his words, speaking with a still deeper humility.
'Is it so?' said Grace, raising her head proudly. 'To save myself I must desert them?'
'In saving yourself, most noble, you will save others.'
'I will save all, or I will save none,' said Grace in a low voice.
At this moment the palki-gharry drove up, and a beautiful little boy, with long golden curls—like a girl, sprang out and leapt into Grace's arms. 'Why, my Kit,' she said softly, 'my little Kit!'
'We're going to stay all day,' he cried, 'mother and me. Where's Vick? Oh, there she is! Mayn't I go and play with her?'
'Yes, darling, run and play,' said Grace, releasing him.
A pale-faced lady, in a white dress and large straw hat, was in the meantime stepping out of the gharry. Lucy followed her. Both of them, Grace thought, looked scared.
'Well,' she said, smiling, 'have you asked Mrs. Durant about the garnets?'
'Send the man away,' said Lucy, pettishly. 'They have all been scolding me; Captain Durant, and Mr. Graham, and Mrs. Cockburn, and even Emily,' turning to Mrs. Durant. 'They say I ought not to have left you alone with a man like that. I'm sure one doesn't know what to do. If you're frightened, that's wrong; and if you try to forget things a little, and be cheerful, you're heartless. I wish I was dead and out of it all.'