Romney felt the very core of the mystery now—his passion not to take or seize, but to give her his life. All the difference between the old and the new was in this—the difference between flesh and spirit, death and life. The thought came that this which he now knew had to do with the romances of the coming age—the passion to give one’s self, not to seize something for one’s own. He wanted to give her every beauty from his past and the high conceptions from the future, one by one. He had loved her spirit, her understanding mind, her presence, somehow as detached principles until this moment. Now they seemed one. All had come to the very earth of her being. He had knelt to her. The touch of her lips was the whole mystery. Nothing seemed impossible. He went to the door. Her word "to-night" was ringing through his whole being. He sought Bamban early, to remark that they would set out for Wampli at noon. "There is some extra baggage at the Consulate, including some provisions. We will need an extra camel and driver. In adding to the provisions in stock, arrange for four persons, Bamban, and don’t spare on the little matters of extra comfort and accommodation—" "Four persons?" said Bamban. "Anna Erivan is going with us to Wampli." Romney had a peculiar sense of hatred for an instant from his servant, who a moment before was inclined to prostrate himself, at least in effect. Bamban’s hands were lifted, his head thrust forward from his shoulders, thin lips protruding, and a kind of dusk about his features. "It would be better for us to return with her to Turgim in case she is not safe here, rather than to have a woman on the next part of the journey. Any delay is better than taking a woman—" "I think we’ll be able to manage according to the plan—" "You will forgive your servant, but our mission is endangered by this plan. The solicitude of those represented by the master who came yesterday is withdrawn from any party which contains a white woman. It would be wiser for you to give up the mission and return to Peking—" Romney coloured a little. "The master who came yesterday is friendly," he said. "I am afraid you are taking the woman to her death—to say nothing of your own." "Bring the camels toward the end of afternoon, Bamban."