They talked long in undertones, Father Victor urging some scheme on Mr Bennett, who seemed incredulous.
All this was very new and fascinating, but Kim felt sleepy.

They called men into the tent--one of them certainly was the Colonel, as his father had prophesied--and they asked him an infinity of questions, chiefly about the woman who looked after him, all of which Kim answered truthfully.

They did not seem to think the woman a good guardian.
After all, this was the newest of his experiences.

Sooner or later, if he chose, he could escape into great, grey, formless India, beyond tents and padres and colonels.

Meantime, if the Sahibs were to be impressed, he would do his best to impress them.