‘I must stay here. You know I cannot leave India.’
‘You will stay with Mrs—, I mean with the regiment, whilst I go home with the child.’
‘Yes. What else can I do?’
‘Then I shall not go. I refuse to leave you.’
‘Not even for Katie’s sake?’
‘We will take her somewhere else. There are plenty of places in India where we can go for change of air; and if you cared for me, Charlie, you would never contemplate such a thing as a whole year’s separation.’
‘Do you think I like the idea, Ethel? What should I do left here all by myself? I only proposed it for your sake and the child’s.’
‘I will not go,’ repeats Mrs Dunstan, firmly, and she sends for Dr MacQuirk and has a long talk with him.
‘Dr MacQuirk, is it an absolute necessity that Katie should go to England?’