CHAPTER V

littleaspossible,andMr.Bhattacharyawouldsendhiscarriagetofetchthem,withservantstopointouttheway.Didheknowwheretheylived?Yes,ofcourseheknew,hekneweverythingandhelaughedagain.Theyleftamongaflutterofcomplimentsandsmiles,andthreeladies,whohadhithertotakennopartinthereception,suddenlyshotoutofthesummer-houselikeexquisitelycolouredswallows,andsalaamedthem. MeanwhiletheCollectorhadbeengoinghisrounds.Hemadepleasantremarksandafewjokes,whichwereapplaudedlustily,butheknewsomethingtothediscreditofnearlyeveryoneofhisguests,andwasconsequentlyperfunctory.Whentheyhadnotcheated,itwasbhang,women,orworse,andeventhedesirableswantedtogetsomethingoutofhim.Hebelievedthata“BridgeParty”didgoodratherthanharm,orhewouldnothavegivenone,buthewasundernoillusions,andatthepropermomentheretiredtotheEnglishsideofthelawn.Theimpressionsheleftbehindhimwerevarious.Manyoftheguests,especiallythehumblerandlessanglicized,weregenuinelygrateful.Tobeaddressedbysohighanofficialwasapermanentasset.Theydidnotmindhowlongtheystood,orhowlittlehappened,andwhenseveno’clockstruck,theyhadtobeturnedout.Othersweregratefulwithmoreintelligence.TheNawabBahadur,indifferentforhimselfandforthedistinctionwithwhichhewasgreeted,wasmovedbythemerekindnessthatmusthavepromptedtheinvitation.Heknewthedifficulties.HamidullahalsothoughtthattheCollectorhadplayedupwell.Butothers,suchasMahmoudAli,werecynicaltheywerefirmlyconvincedthatTurtonhadbeenmadetogivethepartybyhisofficialsuperiorsandwasallthetimeconsumedwithimpotentrage,andtheyinfectedsomewhowereinclinedtoahealthierview.YetevenMahmoudAliwasgladhehadcome.Shrinesarefascinating,especiallywhenrarelyopened,anditamusedhimtonotetheritualoftheEnglishclub,andtocaricatureitafterwardstohisfriends. AfterMr.Turton,theofficialwhodidhisdutybestwasMr.Fielding,thePrincipalofthelittleGovernmentCollege.Heknewlittleofthedistrictandlessagainsttheinhabitants,sohewasinalesscynicalstateofmind.Athleticandcheerful,herompedabout,makingnumerousmistakeswhichtheparentsofhispupilstriedtocoverup,forhewaspopularamongthem.Whenthemomentforrefreshmentscame,hedidnotmovebacktotheEnglishside,butburnthismouthwithgram.Hetalkedtoanyoneandheateanything.Amidmuchthatwasalien,helearntthatthetwonewladiesfromEnglandhadbeenagreatsuccess,andthattheirpolitenessinwishingtobeMrs.Bhattacharya’sguestshadpleasednotonlyherbutallIndianswhoheardofit.ItpleasedMr.Fieldingalso.Hescarcelyknewthetwonewladies,stillhedecidedtotellthemwhatpleasuretheyhadgivenbytheirfriendliness. Hefoundtheyoungerofthemalone.ShewaslookingthroughanickinthecactushedgeatthedistantMarabarHills,whichhadcreptnear,aswastheircustomatsunsetifthesunsethadlastedlongenough,theywouldhavereachedthetown,butitwasswift,beingtropical.Hegaveherhisinformation,andshewassomuchpleasedandthankedhimsoheartilythatheaskedherandtheotherladytotea. “I’ldliketocomeverymuchindeed,andsowouldMrs.Moore,Iknow.” “I’mratherahermit,youknow.” “Muchthebestthingtobeinthisplace.” “Owingtomyworkandsoon,Idon’tgetupmuchtotheclub.” “Iknow,Iknow,andwenevergetdownfromit.IenvyyoubeingwithIndians.” “Doyoucaretomeetoneortwo?” “Very,verymuchindeedit’swhatIlongfor.Thispartyto-daymakesmesoangryandmiserable.Ithinkmycountrymenoutheremustbemad.Fancyinvitingguestsandnottreatingthemproperly!YouandMr.TurtonandperhapsMr.McBrydearetheonlypeoplewhoshowedanycommonpoliteness.Therestmakemeperfectlyashamed,andit’sgotworseandworse.” Ithad.TheEnglishmenhadintendedtoplayupbetter,buthadbeenpreventedfromdoingsobytheirwomenfolk,whomtheyhadtoattend,providewithtea,adviseaboutdogs,etc.Whentennisbegan,thebarriergrewimpenetrable.IthadbeenhopedtohavesomesetsbetweenEastandWest,butthiswasforgotten,andthecourtsweremonopolizedbytheusualclubcouples.Fieldingresentedittoo,butdidnotsaysotothegirl,forhefoundsomethingtheoreticalinheroutburst.DidshecareaboutIndianmusic?heenquiredtherewasanoldprofessordownattheCollege,whosang. “Oh,justwhatwewantedtohear.AnddoyouknowDoctorAziz?” “Iknowallabouthim.Idon’tknowhim.Wouldyoulikehimaskedtoo?” “Mrs.Mooresaysheissonice.” “Verywell,MissQuested.WillThursdaysuityou?” “Indeeditwill,andthatmorningwegotothisIndianlady’s.AllthenicethingsarecomingThursday.” “Iwon’tasktheCityMagistratetobringyou.Iknowhe’llbebusyatthattime.” “Yes,Ronnyisalwayshard-worked,”shereplied,contemplatingthehills.Howlovelytheysuddenlywere!Butshecouldn’ttouchthem.Infront,likeashutter,fellavisionofhermarriedlife.SheandRonnywouldlookintothec