“I have no desire to remember,” she answered. “About Gordon—what is it?”
“Ah, yes, about Gordon!” She drew herself up a little. “I am to go to England—for the Khedive, to ask Gordon to save the Soudan.”
“Then you’ve forgiven the Khedive?” he inquired with apparent innocence.
“I’ve no wish to prevent him showing practical repentance,” she answered, keenly alive to his suggestion, and a little nettled. “It means no more slavery. Gordon will prevent that.”
“Will he?” asked Kingsley, again with muffled mockery.
“He is the foe of slavery. How many, many letters I have had from him! He will save the Soudan—and Egypt too.”
“He will be badly paid—the Government will stint him. And he will give away his pay—if he gets any.”
She did not see his aim, and her face fell. “He will succeed for all that.”
“He can levy taxes, of course.”
“But he will not-for himself.”