"No; it must be somewhere up on the frontier. Otherwise they wouldn't send Military Police to garrison it."
"But what is it like? Is it a big station?" she persisted.
"I can't tell you. But it's sure not to be. No; it must be a small place up in the hills or in the jungle. There's only a detachment there."
"But what have I got to do with your being sent there?" she asked in perplexity.
"Don't you understand? Someone's been making mischief," he replied. "Those two vile-minded women have been talking scandal of us to the Colonel."
"What? Talking about you and me? Oh!" she exclaimed.
His words brought home to her the fact that these bitter-tongued women whom she despised had dared to assail her—her, the Burra Mem, the Great Lady of their little world. Had dared to? She could not silence them. And what would they say of her, how their tongues would wag, if she ran away from her husband! And they would have a right to talk scandal of her then. The thought made her pause.
"But how could I go with you to this place in Bengal? Where could I live?" she asked.
"You'd live with me."
"Oh! In your bungalow? How could I? And how would I get there?" she continued. "I haven't any money. I don't suppose I've got a ten-rupee note. And I couldn't ask my husband."