"For God's sake, how? Let me come too."

"You can't. You're not in it. I am going to attach myself to the
medical mission at Lahore and learn nursing, and then I shall go
to my own people."

"Missionaries? You've nothing in common with them?"

"Nothing. But they teach what I want. Mr. Clifden, I shall not
come this way again. If I remember - I'll write to you, and tell
you what the real world is like."

She smiled, the absorbed little smile I knew and feared. I saw
pleading was useless then. I would wait, and never lose sight of
her and of hope.

"Vanna, before you go, give me your gift of sight. Interpret for
me. Stay with me a little and make me see."

"What do you mean exactly?" she asked in her gentlest voice, half
turning to me.

"Make one journey with me, as my sister, if you will do no more.
Though I warn you that all the time I shall be trying to win my
wife. But come with me once, and after that - if you will go, you
must. Say yes."

Madness! But she hesitated - a hesitation full of hope, and
looked at me with intent eyes.