CHAPTER XI
關燈
小
中
大
ewouldscarcelybeexpectedtoentertainregularAnglo-Indians.
“It’stheoldmother’sdoing.Shewasafraidherdearboywouldchooseforhimself,soshebroughtoutthegirlonpurpose,andflungthemtogetheruntilithappened.”
“Mrs.Mooredidnotmentionthattomeamongherplans.”
“Imayhavegotitwrong—I’moutofclubgossip.Butanyhowthey’reengagedtobemarried.”
“Yes,you’reoutofit,mypoorchap,”hesmiled.“NoMissQuestedforMr.Fielding.However,shewasnotbeautiful.Shehaspracticallynobreasts,ifyoucometothinkofit.”
Hesmiledtoo,butfoundatouchofbadtasteinthereferencetoalady’sbreasts.
“FortheCityMagistratetheyshallbesufficientperhaps,andheforher.ForyouIshallarrangealadywithbreastslikemangoes....”
“No,youwon’t.”
“Iwillnotreally,andbesidesyourpositionmakesitdangerousforyou.”HismindhadslippedfrommatrimonytoCalcutta.Hisfacegrewgrave.FancyifhehadpersuadedthePrincipaltoaccompanyhimthere,andthengothimintotrouble!Andabruptlyhetookupanewattitudetowardshisfriend,theattitudeoftheprotectorwhoknowsthedangersofIndiaandisadmonitory.“Youcan’tbetoocarefulineveryway,Mr.Fieldingwhateveryousayordointhisdamnedcountrythereisalwayssomeenviousfellowonthelook-out.Youmaybesurprisedtoknowthattherewereatleastthreespiessittingherewhenyoucametoenquire.IwasreallyagooddealupsetthatyoutalkedinthatfashionaboutGod.Theywillcertainlyreportit.”
“Towhom?”
“That’sallverywell,butyouspokeagainstmoralityalso,andyousaidyouhadcometotakeotherpeople’sjobs.Allthatwasveryunwise.Thisisanawfulplaceforscandal.Why,actuallyoneofyourownpupilswaslistening.”
“Thanksfortellingmethatyes,Imusttryandbemorecareful.IfI’minterested,I’mapttoforgetmyself.Still,itdoesn’tdorealharm.”
“Butspeakingoutmaygetyouintotrouble.”
“It’softendonesointhepast.”
“There,listentothat!Buttheendofitmightbethatyoulostyourjob.”
“IfIdo,Ido.Ishallsurviveit.Itravellight.”
“Travellight!Youareamostextraordinaryrace,”saidAziz,turningawayasifheweregoingtosleep,andimmediatelyturningbackagain.“Isityourclimate,orwhat?”
“PlentyofIndianstravellighttoo—saddhusandsuch.It’soneofthethingsIadmireaboutyourcountry.Anymancantravellightuntilhehasawifeorchildren.That’spartofmycaseagainstmarriage.I’maholymanminustheholiness.Handthat
