"I don't think that would be easy, would it?"

"Far from easy ... but just possible. You see, if we got you out of Delhi, where would you go? One doesn't know from one hour to the next where revolt will break out. We might be sending you into disaster ... whereas here in Delhi ... at least we are well represented and we know where we are."

"There must be more important things to worry about than us."

"That is not the case," he said. "I wish to God you had never come. I wish I could stay here. I want to keep my eyes on things ... here. But I can't. Drusilla, you will have to think for yourself and Lavinia."

"Have you talked to Lavinia?"

"I have tried to. It doesn't make much impression. She doesn't really see danger. I don't like leaving you here with the Khansamah. I wish I could get rid of him. I am certain that he was responsible for that outbreak of thuggery. He would regard it as a gesture of defiance ... against us, you see. He is at variance with the laws because we have imposed them. But someone took revenge on him, for the murder of young Asraf was revenge by the family of one of the victims. Now he may suspect that we were involved in the plot to spirit Roshanara away. I want you to be ready to leave at a moment's notice."

"I will be."

"There may not be much warning. I wish I could stay in Delhi, but I have to leave tonight."

"Don't worry about us. I will be prepared."

"The children ..."

"I shall manage that. I shall tell them it is a new game. They will be easy to handle then."

"I'm sure you'll manage. Sometimes I thank God you are here and at others I curse myself for having brought you."

I smiled at him. "Please don't do that," I said. "It has been ... illuminating."

He looked at me steadily for a moment and then suddenly he put his arms round me and held me tightly against him.

Then I felt that everything was worthwhile.

When he had gone I felt a frightening loneliness. There seemed to be a special stillness in the air ... a tension, as if something terrible were lurking, ready to spring out on us and destroy us.

It was early evening. The children were in bed. The ayah's cousin had joined her to help her look after the children. She was a quiet, gentle girl and both Louise and Alan were already fond of her.

I heard a gentle knock at the door. I went to it and there was the ayah.

"Is anything wrong?" I cried in alarm.

She put her fingers to her lips and came into the room.

"I want you to come ... see my brother. He must see you."

"Why does he want to see me?"

"He want to say thank you." She lowered her voice. "For saving Roshanara."

"There is no need for that."

"Yes ... great need."

I knew how easily susceptibilities could be wounded, so I said, "I shall be home tomorrow. Perhaps he would call then."

"He not come. He say you go to him."

"When?"

"Now."

"The children ..."

"They are in good care."

I knew that she had set her little cousin to watch over them.

"Very important," she said and added mysteriously, "for plan."

I was very puzzled and she went on, "Come. Go to gazebo. Wait there."

I was very curious, but I did sense an urgency in her manner, and because I knew that I must be prepared for any extraordinary occurrence I fell in at once with her suggestion.

I looked in at the children. They were sleeping peacefully and the ayah's cousin was seated by Alan's bed.

"I watch," she said.

I went with all speed to the gazebo. The ayah was already there. She opened a box and took out a blue sari, which she asked me to put on. It seemed to become more and more mysterious, but remembering Fabian's warnings and the dangers in which we were living, I complied. She gave me a piece of material rather like a shawl to put round my head.

"We go," she said.

We left the garden, avoiding coming in view of the house, and we were soon hurrying along the streets.

I knew the way well. It was near the bazaar.

We came to a house. I had noticed it before, because it had a magnificent mango tree in front of it. Now it was full of blossom.

"This is my brother's house," said the ayah.

The brother came out to greet us. He bowed twice and took us into the house. He drew aside a beaded curtain and invited us into a room which seemed full of carved wooden furniture.

"Salar very happy," he said. "He want thank for Roshanara ..." He shook his head and there were tears in his eyes. "She safe now ... she well. She happy. Missie Drusilla, she say, she one great lady."

"Oh, it was nothing," I told him. "Naturally we wouldn't have allowed it to happen. It is against the law."

"Salar ... he wish to do service. He wish to say not good in big house. Not good stay."

"Yes," I said, "there is trouble everywhere."

"Not good," he went on, nodding. "Salar want to say big thank."

"Well, you must not think any more of it. We were fond of Roshanara. We could not allow her to do as they wanted her to. Naturally we did what we could."

The ayah said, "My brother does not understand. He say you must leave big house. It not good."

"I know," I said. "We shall go when we can."

"My brother say best go back across sea."

"Tell him we shall when the opportunity comes."

They talked together, Salar shaking his head and the ayah nodding with him.

"He say will help," she told me.

"Will you thank him very, very much and say that I shall not forget his kindness."

"He owe debt. He like not to owe. He like to pay."

"I am sure he does and I do appreciate it. Tell him that if I need his help I will ask."

In due course we were ushered out of the house.

Salar evidently felt relieved, for he had made his gratitude known to me.

It was a few days later when I heard that incendiary fires were springing up all over Meerut and that mutiny had broken out there.

The tension in the household increased. The Great Khansamah had grown in importance over the past weeks. He strutted about the house as though he were indeed master of us all. I was very much afraid of what he might do.

I talked to Lavinia about it.

I said, "Lavinia, aren't you afraid?"

"What of?"

"Are you completely oblivious to what is going on around you?"

"Oh, all this talk, you mean? There's always talk."

"You know that Fabian and Dougal are worried about us?"

"There is no need to. Major Cummings is here to protect us. He says he will make sure that I am all right."

"What about the children?"

"They are all right. They are only children. They know nothing of all this whispering. Besides, you'll look after them ... and Ayah, of course."

"Lavinia, you don't seem to have an inkling of what is going on. This is an explosive situation."

"I tell you we shall be all right. Khansamah will make sure of that."

"He is against us."

"He's not against me. We understand each other ... besides, he's one of my great admirers."

"I marvel at you, Lavinia."

"All right. Marvel away. It is what I expect."

I knew it was no use trying to impress on her the gravity of the situation.

It was only a day or so later when, in the evening, the ayah came to my room.

She said, "We must go ... go now. I will take the children to the gazebo. Come there ... as quick as you can. I take children ... now."

I could see that she was aware of some impending danger and that it was very close. The urgency of her voice convinced me that I must obey at once without question.

"I will go and bring the Countess."

"Quick. No time to lose."

"The children are in bed."

"No matter. I tell them new game. I keep them quiet. We will bring them. Must be quick. No time."

"Why ... ?"

"Not now. Just come. I tell ..."

I ran to Lavinia's room. Fortunately she was alone. She was seated by the mirror, combing her hair.

I said, "Lavinia. We have to go at once."

"Where?"

"Down to the gazebo."

"What for?"

"Look. There is no time to explain. I don't know myself yet. Just come. I know it is important. The children will be there."

"But whatever for?"

"Don't argue. Come."

"I'm not dressed."

"Never mind."

"I won't be ordered like this."

"Lavinia. Ayah will be frantic. Promise me you'll come at once. And come quickly. Don't let anyone know where you are going."

"Really, Drusilla."

"Look, you must have some idea of the danger we're in." She did look slightly alarmed. Even she must have been aware of the changing atmosphere.

She said, "All right ... I'll come."

"I'll go on ahead. I must tell Ayah. She'll be wondering why I'm so long. Don't forget. Don't tell anyone ... not anyone where you are going, and try not to let anyone see you. It's very important."

I went down by means of a back staircase. I reached the garden without seeing anyone, and sped across the grass to the gazebo.

Ayah was there with the children. I could see the panic in her eyes.

"We must go ... quick ... ," she whispered. "It is dangerous to wait."

Louise said, "It's a new game, Drusilla. It is hide and seek, isn't it, Ayah?"

"Yes, yes ... we now hide and seek. Come."

"I must wait for the Countess," I said.

"No wait."

"She will come down here and not know what to do."

"We must take the children now. You come, too."

I said, "I have to wait."

"We cannot. No wait."

"Where are you going?"

"To my brother house."

"To Salar!"

She nodded.

"This what he say. When time come you must be here... with Missie ... with children ... Time come. We must go."

"Take the children. I will bring the Countess there. I have told her I will wait for her here. I must stay for her."

The ayah shook her head. "No. Bad. Bad ... not good."

She had wrapped the children in cloaks so that I could hardly see them. She put the box she had brought to the gazebo into my hands. "You wear," she said. "Cover head. You look Indian woman ... a little then. Come. Do not wait."

I put on the sari and the shawl over my head.

"Drusilla, you do look funny," said Louise.

"Now we go. I take children. You come to brother. We want do this for you."

"As soon as the Countess arrives I will bring her. She can't be long. I think she is realizing the danger at last."

"Tell her cover head. Wear shawl ..."

I was dismayed, but I knew I must deal with such problems when they came.

Taking Alan's hand and commanding Louise to keep close, Ayah hurried out of the gazebo.

The stillness was broken only by the sound of insects, with which I had now become familiar. I could hear the beating of my own heart. I was aware the ayah was better informed of danger than I could be and I could see that it had become more acute.

I felt alone and helpless. As soon as I had let the children go I believed I should have gone with them. They were in my charge, but how could I have left Lavinia? The folly of Lavinia had once before had a great effect on my life. I now believed that it was about to do so again.

If only she had come with me at once. It might well be that there was no need for the flight from the house, but Ayah believed so. I went to the door of the arbour and looked towards the house. And then ... suddenly I heard shouting. I saw dark figures at the windows. It seemed that the entire household was invading the upper rooms.

My heart was thundering, my throat parched. I kept whispering, "Lavinia ... Lavinia, where are you? Why don't you come?"

There was nothing I wanted so much as to see her stealthily creeping across the grass to the gazebo.

But she did not come.

Instinctively I knew that I should go, that I should find my way to the house with the mango tree. I knew my way there. I had passed it many times.

Go! Go! said my common sense. But I could not go without Lavinia.

What if she came to the gazebo and found me gone? Where would she go? What would she do? She did not know that there would be sanctuary in that house.