CHAPTER V

lublikethiseveryevening,thendrivehometodresstheywouldseetheLesleysandtheCallendarsandtheTurtonsandtheBurtons,andinvitethemandbeinvitedbythem,whilethetrueIndiaslidbyunnoticed.Colourwouldremain—thepageantofbirdsintheearlymorning,brownbodies,whiteturbans,idolswhosefleshwasscarletorblue—andmovementwouldremainaslongastherewerecrowdsinthebazaarandbathersinthetanks.Perchedupontheseatofadogcart,shewouldseethem.Buttheforcethatliesbehindcolourandmovementwouldescapeherevenmoreeffectuallythanitdidnow.ShewouldseeIndiaalwaysasafrieze,neverasaspirit,andsheassumedthatitwasaspiritofwhichMrs.Moorehadhadaglimpse. Andsureenoughtheydiddriveawayfromtheclubinafewminutes,andtheydiddress,andtodinnercameMissDerekandtheMcBrydes,andthemenuwas:Juliennesoupfullofbulletybottledpeas,pseudo-cottagebread,fishfullofbranchingbones,pretendingtobeplaice,morebottledpeaswiththecutlets,trifle,sardinesontoast:themenuofAnglo-India.Adishmightbeaddedorsubtractedasoneroseorfellintheofficialscale,thepeasmightrattlelessormore,thesardinesandthevermouthbeimportedbyadifferentfirm,butthetraditionremainedthefoodofexiles,cookedbyservantswhodidnotunderstandit.Adelathoughtoftheyoungmenandwomenwhohadcomeoutbeforeher,P.&O.fullafterP.&O.full,andhadbeensetdowntothesamefoodandthesameideas,andbeensnubbedinthesamegood-humouredwayuntiltheykepttotheaccreditedthemesandbegantosnubothers.“Ishouldnevergetlikethat,”shethought,forshewasyoungherselfallthesamesheknewthatshehadcomeupagainstsomethingthatwasbothinsidiousandtough,andagainstwhichsheneededallies.ShemustgatheraroundheratChandraporeafewpeoplewhofeltasshedid,andshewasgladtohavemetMr.FieldingandtheIndianladywiththeunpronounceablename.Hereatalleventswasanucleussheshouldknowmuchbetterwhereshestoodinthecourseofthenexttwodays. MissDerek—shecompanionedaMaharaniinaremoteNativeState.Shewasgenialandgayandmadethemalllaughaboutherleave,whichshehadtakenbecauseshefeltshedeservedit,notbecausetheMaharanisaidshemightgo.NowshewantedtotaketheMaharajah’smotor-caraswellithadgonetoaChiefs’ConferenceatDelhi,andshehadagreatschemeforburglingitatthejunctionasitcamebackinthetrain.ShewasalsoveryfunnyabouttheBridgeParty—indeedsheregardedtheentirepeninsulaasacomicopera.“Ifonecouldn’tseethelaughablesideofthesepeopleone’ldbedonefor,”saidMissDerek.Mrs.McBryde—itwasshewhohadbeenthenurse—ceasednottoexclaim,“Oh,Nancy,howtopping!Oh,Nancy,howkilling!IwishIcouldlookatthingslikethat.”Mr.McBrydedidnotspeakmuchheseemednice. Whentheguestshadgone,andAdelagonetobed,therewasanotherinterviewbetweenmotherandson.Hewantedheradviceandsupport—whileresentinginterference.“DoesAdelatalktoyoumuch?”hebegan.“I’msodrivenwithwork,Idon’tseeherasmuchasIhoped,butIhopeshefindsthingscomfortable.” “AdelaandItalkmostlyaboutIndia.Dear,sinceyoumentionit,you’requiteright—yououghttobemorealonewithherthanyouare.” “Yes,perhaps,butthenpeople’ldgossip.” “Well,theymustgossipsometime!Letthemgossip.” “Peoplearesooddouthere,andit’snotlikehome—one’salwaysfacingthefootlights,astheBurraSahibsaid.Takeasillylittleexample:whenAdelawentouttotheboundaryoftheclubcompound,andFieldingfollowedher.IsawMrs.Callendarnoticeit.Theynoticeeverything,untilthey’reperfectlysureyou’retheirsort.” “Idon’tthinkAdela’lleverbequitetheirsort—she’smuchtooindividual.” “Iknow,that’ssoremarkableabouther,”hesaidthoughtfully.Mrs.Moorethoughthimratherabsurd.AccustomedtotheprivacyofLondon,shecouldnotrealizethatIndia,seeminglysomysterious,containsnone,andthatconsequentlytheconventionshavegreaterforce.“Isupposenothing’sonhermind,”hecontinued. “Askher,askheryourself,mydearboy.” “Probablyshe’sheardtalesoftheheat,butofcourseIshouldpackherofftotheHillseveryApril—I’mnotonetokeepawifegrillinginthePlains.” “Oh,itwouldn’tbetheweather.” “There’snothinginIndiabuttheweather,mydearmotherit’stheAlphaandOmegaofthewholeaffair.” “Yes,asMr.McBrydewassaying,butit’smuchmoretheAnglo-IndiansthemselveswhoarelikelytogetonAdela’snerves.Shedoesn’tthinktheybehavepleasantlytoIndians,yousee.” “WhatdidItellyou?”heexclaimed,losinghisgentlemanner.“Iknewitlastweek.Oh,howlikeawomantoworryoveraside-issue!” SheforgotaboutAdelainhersurprise.“Aside-issue,aside-issue?”sherepeated.“Howcanitbethat?” “We’renotouthereforthepurposeofbehavingpleasantly!” “Whatdoyoumean?” “WhatIsay.We’reoutheretodojusticeandkeepthepeace.Them’smysentiments.Indiaisn’tadrawing-room.” “Yoursentimentsarethoseofagod,”shesaidquietly