“Sit down and listen to me quietly. I have pacified this frontier, and I am the only man who can keep it quiet. Nalapur is only looking for a pretext to break with us; if my back was turned they would invade us without one. My post is here; it is my duty to remain; I will not--dare not leave it. Penelope, do you ask me to leave it? If you do, I am mistaken in you. Look up, and tell me.” Penelope raised her head as if compelled by his tone, and her eyes met his. “No,” she said helplessly, “it would be wrong. You must not go. But oh, Colin, Colin!” She bowed her head again and broke into a passion of sobs, for her last hope was gone. She heard Major Keeling get up and walk up and down the room, and knew that her sobs were agonising to him, but she could not restrain them. At last she found him close to her again, his hand on her shoulder. “Dear,” he said, “let us bear it together. When you are in the doctor’s hands after a fight, it helps if there’s a friend beside you, whose hand you can grip hard. Take mine, Penelope.” Her sobs ceased, and she looked at him wonderingly through her tears. He went on speaking in the same low, deeply moved voice-- “I can’t bear to leave you to go through it alone. Let me help. You know I know what trouble is. Give me the right to share yours.” “Now--when Colin may be tortured, starving, dying? Oh, how can you?” cried Penelope. “Oh, go, go away, and never talk like this again. I don’t want my trouble to be less. Why should I? Share it! how can you share it? you won’t even--no, I don’t mean that. I have only Colin, and he has only me.” He looked down hopelessly at her bowed head. “I cannot desert my post,” he said, and turned to leave her. “Oh no, no!” cried Penelope, following him. “It was wicked of me to say what I did. Only, please don’t talk like that again. Let me feel you are a real friend. Oh, you will help him if you can, won’t you?” “I dare not encourage you to hope for your brother’s safety, but it might be possible to obtain news of him. If it can be done, it shall be. Trust me--and forgive me.” CHAPTER XIX. A WOUNDED SPIRIT.