“Before the palace here and––he was brought to me. His wound isn’t so very serious, the doctor says,––it’s in his leg and he won’t be able to walk for some time.”
“I am sorry for him,” said Wilson, sincerely. “If there is anything I can do–––”
“There is! There is! I have had him carried to his boat. He was unconscious and the doctor gave him something to make him sleep.”
“Drugged him?” he demanded roughly.
“Only so that he would go quietly. Then I gave the sailors orders to sail back home with him.”
“But why did you wish him to go back?”
“I must tell you, and you will understand. Oh, please to understand! He wanted to––to stay and––and I wanted him to stay. I think if––if it hadn’t been for this trouble we––we would have been married. But now–––”
“Your station forbids it,” he finished for her with a note of harshness in his voice.
She answered very quietly––so quietly that it chided him.