CHAPTER III

normous,theoldestandmostuncomfortablebungalowinthecivilstation,withasunksoupplateofalawn,andtheyhadonedrinkmore,thistimeofbarleywater,andwenttobed.Theirwithdrawalfromtheclubhadbrokenuptheevening,which,likeallgatherings,hadanofficialtinge.AcommunitythatbowsthekneetoaViceroyandbelievesthatthedivinitythathedgesakingcanbetransplanted,mustfeelsomereverenceforanyviceregalsubstitute.AtChandraporetheTurtonswerelittlegodssoontheywouldretiretosomesuburbanvilla,anddieexiledfromglory. “It’sdecentoftheBurraSahib,”chatteredRonny,muchgratifiedatthecivilitythathadbeenshowntohisguests.“Doyouknowhe’snevergivenaBridgePartybefore?Comingontopofthedinnertoo!IwishIcouldhavearrangedsomethingmyself,butwhenyouknowthenativesbetteryou’llrealizeit’seasierfortheBurraSahibthanforme.Theyknowhim—theyknowhecan’tbefooled—I’mstillfreshcomparatively.Noonecanevenbegintothinkofknowingthiscountryuntilhehasbeeninittwentyyears.—Hullo,themater!Here’syourcloak.—Well:foranexampleofthemistakesonemakes.SoonafterIcameoutIaskedoneofthePleaderstohaveasmokewithme—onlyacigarette,mind.Ifoundafterwardsthathehadsenttoutsalloverthebazaartoannouncethefact—toldallthelitigants,'Oh,you’dbettercometomyVakilMahmoudAli—he’sinwiththeCityMagistrate.’EversincethenI’vedroppedonhiminCourtashardasIcould.It’staughtmealesson,andIhopehim.” “Isn’tthelessonthatyoushouldinviteallthePleaderstohaveasmokewithyou?” “Perhaps,buttime’slimitedandthefleshweak.Iprefermysmokeattheclubamongstmyownsort,I’mafraid.” “WhynotaskthePleaderstotheclub?”MissQuestedpersisted. “Notallowed.”Hewaspleasantandpatient,andevidentlyunderstoodwhyshedidnotunderstand.Heimpliedthathehadoncebeenasshe,thoughnotforlong.Goingtotheverandah,hecalledfirmlytothemoon.Hissaisanswered,andwithoutloweringhishead,heorderedhistraptobebroughtround. Mrs.Moore,whomtheclubhadstupefied,wokeupoutside.Shewatchedthemoon,whoseradiancestainedwithprimrosethepurpleofthesurroundingsky.InEnglandthemoonhadseemeddeadandalienhereshewascaughtintheshawlofnighttogetherwithearthandalltheotherstars.Asuddensenseofunity,ofkinshipwiththeheavenlybodies,passedintotheoldwomanandout,likewaterthroughatank,leavingastrangefreshnessbehind.ShedidnotdislikeCousinKateortheNationalAnthem,buttheirnotehaddiedintoanewone,justascocktailsandcigarshaddiedintoinvisibleflowers.Whenthemosque,longanddomeless,gleamedattheturnoftheroad,sheexclaimed,“Oh,yes—that’swhereIgotto—that’swhereI’vebeen.” “Beentherewhen?”askedherson. “Betweentheacts.” “But,mother,youcan’tdothatsortofthing.” “Can’tmother?”shereplied. “No,reallynotinthiscountry.It’snotdone.There’sthedangerfromsnakesforonething.Theyareapttolieoutintheevening.” “Ahyes,sotheyoungmantheresaid.” “Thissoundsveryromantic,”saidMissQuested,whowasexceedinglyfondofMrs.Moore,andwasgladsheshouldhavehadthislittleescapade.“Youmeetayoungmaninamosque,andthenneverletmeknow!” “Iwasgoingtotellyou,Adela,butsomethingchangedtheconversationandIforgot.Mymemorygrowsdeplorable.” “Washenice?” Shepaused,thensaidemphatically:“Verynice.” “Whowashe?”Ronnyenquired. “Adoctor.Idon’tknowhisname.” “Adoctor?IknowofnoyoungdoctorinChandrapore.Howodd!Whatwashelike?” “Rathersmall,withalittlemoustacheandquickeyes.HecalledouttomewhenIwasinthedarkpartofthemosque—aboutmyshoes.Thatwashowwebegantalking.HewasafraidIhadthemon,butIrememberedluckily.Hetoldmeabouthischildren,andthenwewalkedbacktotheclub.Heknowsyouwell.” “Iwi