CHAPTER III

sefulaccessionofwill-power.Themeagretune,thecurtseriesofdemandsonJehovah,fusedintoaprayerunknowninEngland,andthoughtheyperceivedneitherRoyaltynorDeitytheydidperceivesomething,theywerestrengthenedtoresistanotherday.Thentheypouredout,offeringoneanotherdrinks. “Adela,haveadrinkmother,adrink.” Theyrefused—theywerewearyofdrinks—andMissQuested,whoalwayssaidexactlywhatwasinhermind,announcedanewthatshewasdesirousofseeingtherealIndia. Ronnywasinhighspirits.Therequeststruckhimascomic,andhecalledouttoanotherpasser-by:“Fielding!how’sonetoseetherealIndia?” “TryseeingIndians,”themananswered,andvanished. “Whowasthat?” “Ourschoolmaster—GovernmentCollege.” “Asifonecouldavoidseeingthem,”sighedMrs.Lesley. “I’veavoided,”saidMissQuested.“Exceptingmyownservant,I’vescarcelyspokentoanIndiansincelanding.” “Oh,luckyyou.” “ButIwanttoseethem.” Shebecamethecentreofanamusedgroupofladies.Onesaid,“WantingtoseeIndians!Hownewthatsounds!”Another,“Natives!why,fancy!”Athird,moreserious,said,“Letmeexplain.Nativesdon’trespectoneanythemoreaftermeetingone,yousee.” “Thatoccursaftersomanymeetings.” Butthelady,entirelystupidandfriendly,continued:“WhatImeanis,Iwasanursebeforemymarriage,andcameacrossthemagreatdeal,soIknow.IreallydoknowthetruthaboutIndians.AmostunsuitablepositionforanyEnglishwoman—IwasanurseinaNativeState.One’sonlyhopewastoholdsternlyaloof.” “Evenfromone’spatients?” “Why,thekindestthingonecandotoanativeistolethimdie,”saidMrs.Callendar. “Howifhewenttoheaven?”askedMrs.Moore,withagentlebutcrookedsmile. “Hecangowherehelikesaslongashedoesn’tcomenearme.Theygivemethecreeps.” “AsamatteroffactIhavethoughtwhatyouweresayingaboutheaven,andthatiswhyIamagainstMissionaries,”saidtheladywhohadbeenanurse.“IamallforChaplains,butallagainstMissionaries.Letmeexplain.” Butbeforeshecoulddoso,theCollectorintervened. “DoyoureallywanttomeettheAryanBrother,MissQuested?Thatcanbeeasilyfixedup.Ididn’trealizehe’damuseyou.”Hethoughtamoment.“Youcanpracticallyseeanytypeyoulike.Takeyourchoice.IknowtheGovernmentpeopleandthelandowners,Heaslopherecangetholdofthebarristercrew,whileifyouwanttospecializeoneducation,wecancomedownonFielding.” “I’mtiredofseeingpicturesquefigurespassbeforemeasafrieze,”thegirlexplained.“Itwaswonderfulwhenwelanded,butthatsuperficialglamoursoongoes.” HerimpressionswereofnointeresttotheCollectorhewasonlyconcernedtogiveheragoodtime.WouldshelikeaBridgeParty?Heexplainedtoherwhatthatwas—notthegame,butapartytobridgethegulfbetweenEastandWesttheexpressionwashisowninvention,andamusedallwhoheardit. “IonlywantthoseIndianswhomyoucomeacrosssocially—asyourfriends.” “Well,wedon’tcomeacrossthemsocially,”hesaid,laughing.“They’refullofallthevirtues,butwedon’t,andit’snoweleven-thirty,andtoolatetogointothereasons.” “MissQuested,whataname!”remarkedMrs.Turtontoherhusbandastheydroveaway.Shehadnottakentothenewyounglady,thinkingherungraciousandcranky.Shetrustedthatshehadn’tbeenbroughtouttomarrynicelittleHeaslop,thoughitlookedlikeit,Herhusbandagreedwithherinhisheart,butheneverspokeagainstanEnglishwomanifhecouldavoiddoingso,andheonlysaidthatMissQuestednaturallymademistakes.Headded:“Indiadoeswondersforthejudgment,especiallyduringthehotweatherithasevendonewondersforFielding.”Mrs.TurtonclosedhereyesatthisnameandremarkedthatMr.Fieldingwasn’tpukka,andhadbettermarryMissQuested,forshewasn’tpukka.Thentheyreachedtheirbungalow,lowande