Thinking only of what she had so often told him of the misery of living with a man as unsympathetic as her husband, Frank pleaded desperately with a conviction that he was far from feeling.  The hard fact of the lack of sufficient money to pay for her travelling expenses, the difficulty of getting off together from this out-of-the-way station, were not to be got over.  Then the impossibility of knowing whether she could remain with him when he was on frontier duty and of supporting her away from him, the realisation of the fact that they would have to face the Divorce Court with its heavy costs and probably crushing damages, all made the situation seem hopeless.  In despair he sprang up and resumed his nervous pacing of the room.

At last Violet said: 

“All I can see, dearest, is that we must wait.  It will be harder for me than for you.  You at least will not have to live with anyone uncongenial to you.  But I must.  Yet I can bear it for your sake.”

He stopped before her and looked at her in admiration of her courageous and self-sacrificing spirit.  Then he bent down and kissed her tenderly.  Sitting beside her he discussed the situation more calmly than he had hitherto done.  It was finally agreed that he was to go alone to his new station, save all that he could to pay off his debts—­he would receive a higher salary in the Military Police and his expenses would be less—­and when he was free and had made a home for her Violet would sacrifice everything for love and come to him.  With almost tears in his eyes as he thought of her nobility he strained her to his heart.  When the time came for parting the woman broke down completely and wept bitterly as she clung to him.  He kissed her passionately, then with an effort put her from him and almost ran from the room, while she flung herself on a lounge and sobbed convulsively.

One of the Residency syces had taken charge of the pony; and Wargrave, mounting it, galloped madly back to his bungalow, his heart torn with anguish for the unhappiness of the broken-hearted woman that he was leaving behind.

When he arrived home he found that Raymond and his own “boy” and sword-orderly (his native soldier-servant) had begun his packing for him, for his heavy baggage had to be despatched that afternoon.  The bungalow was crowded with his brother-officers waiting to see him.  He had intended to avoid them, for he felt disgraced by the Colonel’s censure which it was evident the Commanding Officer had not kept secret, though the whole matter should have been treated as confidential.  But they made light of his scruples and showed him that he had their sympathy.  He had meant to dine alone in his room that night; but his comrades insisted on his coming to the Mess, where they were to give him an informal farewell dinner.  They would take no refusal.