. What she said
amazed him, but not be cause it came to him as a new idea. She said, in
different words, exactly what was passing in his own mind, and it was as
though her tears and his search of the Scriptures had brought them both
to one clear-cut conclusion.

"Why are we here, father?" she asked him suddenly; and because she took
him by surprise he did not answer her at once. "We are here to do
good aren't we?" That was no question; it was beginning of a line of
argument. Her father held his tongue, and laid his Bible down, and
listened on. "How much good have we done yet?"

She paused, but the pause was rhetorical, and he knew it; he could see
the light behind her eyes that was more than visionary; it was the light
of practical Scots enthusiasm, unquenched and undiscouraged after a
battle with fear itself. She began to be beautiful again as the spirit
of unconquerable courage won its way.

"Have we won one convert? Is there one, of those you have taught who is
with us still?"

The answer was self-evident. There was none. But there was no sting for
him in what she asked. Rather her words came as a relief, for he could
feel the strength behind them. He still said nothing.

"Have we stopped one single suttee? Have we once, in any least degree,
lessened the sufferings of one of those poor widows?"

"Not once," he answered her, without a trace of shame. He knew, and she
knew, how hard the two of them had tried. There was nothing to apologize
for.

"Have we undermined the power of the Hindoo priests? Have we removed one
trace of superstition?"

"No," he said quietly.

"Have we given up the fight?"

He looked hard at her. Gray eyes under gray brows met gray eyes that
shone from under dark, wet lashes, and deep spoke unto deep. Scotsman
recognized Scotswoman, and the bond between them tightened.

"It seems to me"--there was a new thrill in her voice--"that here is
our opportunity! Either Jaimihr wants to frighten us away or he is in
earnest with his impudent attentions to me. In either case let us make
no attempt to go away. Let us refuse to go away. Let us stay here at all
costs. If he wishes us to go away, then he must have a reason and will
show it, or else try to force us. If he is really trying to make love
to me, then let him try; if he has pluck enough, let him seize me. In
either case we shall force his hand. I am willing to be the bait. The
moment that he harms either you or me, the government will ha