CHAPTER VI

ndmadehisponycaper.“Fartheraway,orminewillstartoutofsympathy,”hewailed,revealingthetruesourceofhisirritation.“Ithasbeensoroughandwildthisafternoon.Itspoiledsomemostvaluableblossomsintheclubgarden,andhadtobedraggedbackbyfourmen.Englishladiesandgentlemenlookingon,andtheCollectorSahibhimselftakinganote.But,Dr.Aziz,I’llnottakeupyourvaluabletime.Thiswillnotinterestyou,whohavesomanyengagementsandtelegrams.IamjustapoorolddoctorwhothoughtrighttopaymyrespectswhenIwasaskedandwhereIwasasked.Yourabsence,Imayremark,drewcommentaries.” “Theycandamnwellcomment.” “Itisfinetobeyoung.Damnwell!Oh,veryfine.Damnwhom?” “IgoornotasIplease.” “Yetyoupromiseme,andthenfabricatethistaleofatelegram.Goforward,Dapple.” Theywent,andAzizhadawilddesiretomakeanenemyforlife.Hecoulddoitsoeasilybygallopingnearthem.Hedidit.Dapplebolted.HethunderedbackontotheMaidan.Thegloryofhisplaywiththesubalternremainedforalittle,hegallopedandswoopedtillhepouredwithsweat,anduntilhereturnedtheponytoHamidullah’sstablehefelttheequalofanyman.Onceonhisfeet,hehadcreepingfears.Washeinbadodourwiththepowersthatbe?HadheoffendedtheCollectorbyabsentinghimself?Dr.PannaLalwasapersonofnoimportance,yetwasitwisetohavequarrelledevenwithhim?Thecomplexionofhismindturnedfromhumantopolitical.Hethoughtnolonger,“CanIgetonwithpeople?”but“AretheystrongerthanI?”breathingtheprevalentmiasma. Athishomeachitwasawaitinghim,bearingtheGovernmentstamp.Itlayonhistablelikeahighexplosive,whichatatouchmightblowhisflimsybungalowtobits.Hewasgoingtobecashieredbecausehehadnotturnedupattheparty.Whenheopenedthenote,itprovedtobequitedifferentaninvitationfromMr.Fielding,thePrincipalofGovernmentCollege,askinghimtocometoteathedayafterto-morrow.Hisspiritsrevivedwithviolence.Theywouldhaverevivedinanycase,forhepossessedasoulthatcouldsufferbutnotstifle,andledasteadylifebeneathhismutability.Butthisinvitationgavehimparticularjoy,becauseFieldinghadaskedhimtoteaamonthago,andhehadforgottenaboutit—neveranswered,nevergone,justforgotten. Andherecameasecondinvitation,withoutarebukeorevenanallusiontohisslip.Herewastruecourtesy—thecivildeedthatshowsthegoodheart—andsnatchinguphispenhewroteanaffectionatereply,andhurriedbackfornewstoHamidullah’s.ForhehadnevermetthePrincipal,andbelievedthattheoneseriousgapinhislifewasgoingtobefilled.Helongedtoknoweverythingaboutthesplendidfellow—hissalary,preferences,antecedents,howbestonemightpleasehim.ButHamidullahwasstillout,andMahmoudAli,whowasin,wouldonlymakesillyrudejokesabouttheparty.