,for
future
use
,
the
assertion
,
that
'
the
time
will
come
when
the
colour
of
the
hand
which
holds
the
pen
will
be
no
bar
to
its
writing
its
name
in
the
Book
of
----
?
'
He
did
not
feel
sure
of
the
qualitative
noun
,
and
after
trying
Fate
,
Fame
,
Life
,
and
Lord
,
left
a
blank
instead
.
Meanwhile
carriages
and
dogcarts
all
of
sorts
had
begun
to
drive
up
,
their
occupants
disappearing
into
the
tent
for
a
second
or
two
,
then
coming
out
with
the
smile
of
the
elect
on
their
faces
.
Father
Ninian
was
one
of
the
first
,
resplendent
in
a
new
soutane
and
sash
,
with
Akbar
Khân
in
his
orderly
's
get-up
,
oscillating
between
a
palsy
of
delighted
servility
,
and
a
catalepsy
of
dignity
;
the
one
for
his
superiors
,
the
other
for
his
equals
.
And
,
after
a
while
,
in
one
of
those
mysteriously
nondescript
four-wheeled
vehicles
that
defy
classification
,
but
may
be
said
to
come
under
the
head
"
phitton
"
(
phaeton
)
of
which
mission
people
seem
to
have
a
monopoly
,
came
good
Mrs.
Campbell
and
her
niece
,
Erda
Shepherd
;
the
former
full
of
indignant
,
yet
meek
alarm
,
because
Dr.
James
,
having
come
across
an
old
friend
further
down
the
avenue
,
had
bidden
her
go
on
and
write
his
name
as
well
as
her
own
.
"
I
ken
weel
how
it
will
be
,
"
she
asserted
to
her
niece
,
"
for
I
havena
brought
my
specs
,
an
'
a
body
cannot
but
be
nervous
with
a
young
man
in
a
scarlet
coat
glowering
at
them
!
I
shall
put
the
doctor
into
the
wrong
book
;
for
,
you
see
,
I
canna
write
the
two
names
ane
after
the
ither
like
a
marriage
lines
;
for
there
is
one
big
bookie
for
the
women
,
and
one
for
the
men-folk
,
like
a
Puseyite
chapel
!
Ay
!
an
'
for
the
matter
o
'
that
,
like
a
divorce
court--and
I
sou
'd
never
hear
the
last
o't
if
I
evened
the
doctor
to
myself
!
"
"
Let
me
do
all
three
,
Auntie
,
"
said
Erda
,
with
a
laugh
,
as
she
got
out
of
the
carriage
.
"
Really
,
there
's
no
need
for
you
to
come
,
--I
'll
be
back
in
a
minute
.
"
The
blaze
of
sunshine
blinded
her
for
the
darkness
of
the
tent
,
and
she
could
scarcely
tell
whose
hand
it
was
which
stretched
itself
frankly
,
eagerly
,
for
hers
as
she
entered
.
Yet
,
even
through
her
glove
she
knew
the
touch
,
before
Lance
Carlyon
's
voice
said
joyfully
,
--
"
Come
to
write
your
name
?
I
've
just
written
mine
.
Funny
our
hitting
off
the
same
time
,
is
n't
it
?
"
The
tone
of
his
voice
,
joined
to
that
startling
recognition
of
his
touch--which
she
could
not
conceal
from
herself--made
her
shrink
,
as
if
from
actual
intrusion
.
"
I
have
to
write
my
uncle
's
and
aunt
's
first
,
"
she
said
coldly
.
"
There
was
no
use
in
us
all
coming
in
.
"
She
walked
on
as
she
spoke
to
where
the
two
books
lay
on
a
sort
of
lectern
,
while
the
aide-de-camp
,
seeing
the
visitor
was
a
lady
,
came
forward
politely
to
assist
.
"
Not
that
book
,
Mansfield
,
"
remarked
Lance
,
coolly
.
"
Miss
Shepherd
wants--Miss
Shepherd
,
will
you
allow
me
to
introduce
Captain
Mansfield--to
write
her
uncle
's
name
first
.
"
She
looked
back
at
him
almost
angrily
,
full
of
resentment
at
his
persistence
;
but
,
even
in
the
semi-blindness
which
was
still
hers
,
his
face
showed
too
kind
for
that
;
and
as
,
at
that
moment
,
another
lady
came
in
with
a
flutter
of
laces
and
ribbons
to
appropriate
Captain
Mansfield
's
ready
services
,
Erda
had
to
allow
Lance
to
find
her
a
pen
.
"
That
's
right
!
Now
for
the
other
book
,
"
he
said
.
The
aide-de-camp
had
by
this
time
gone
to
see
the
laces
and
ribbons
back
to
their
carriage
,
so
the
two
were
alone
.
"
Your
aunt
's
first
,
you
know
.
"
There
was
a
suspicion
of
friendly
chaff
in
his
tone
,
this
time
,
but
it
was
gone
in
a
minute
as
he
went
on
quickly--
"
Erdmuth
!
--is
that
your
name
?
Why
!
--it
means
earth-mood--or--or
world
's
desire
,
does
n't
it
?
"
She
felt
herself
flush
.
"
I
did
not
know
that
you
were
such
a
German
scholar
,
"
she
replied
,
sarcastically
.
"
Yes
!
my
name
is
Erdmuth
Dorothea
.
I
was
called
so
after--after
some
one
you
most
likely
know
nothing
about
,
Countess
Zinzendorf
.
She
was
famous
enough
,
though
,
--
"
she
paused
,
feeling
savagely
desirous
of
snubbing
him--
"
But
I
daresay
you
never
even
happened
to
hear
of
Jean
Ziska
,
Mr.
Carlyon
?
"
He
smiled
suddenly
,
broadly
.
"
Jean
Ziska
!
"
he
echoed
.
"
Rather
!
We
had
a
pony
called
Ziska
at
home--a
Hungarian--used
to
eat
thistles
like
a
donkey
!
"
He
stopped
to
laugh
,
and
she
was
about
to
turn
and
rend
him
,
when
he
continued
,
half
apologetically
,
"
Of
course
I
have--only
the
name
,
you
see
,
brought
back
such
jolly
old
times
.
Ziska
was
the
beggar
who
had
his
skin
made
into
a
drum
when
he
was
dead
.
I
do
n't
expect
it
's
true
,
but
it
's
a
fine
tale
;
the
drum
ecclesiastic
with
a
vengeance
,
and
no
mistake
!
"
"
Oh
!
but
it
is
,
"
interrupted
the
girl
,
forgetting
her
annoyance
in
her
eagerness
.
"
My
grandfather--we
are
really
Moravians
,
you
see
,
and
our
name
should
be
Schaeffer
,
--saw
it
when
he
was
a
child
.
He
used
to
tell
me
that
people
said
if
it
was
beaten
,
everybody
must--
"
But
Lance
's
attention
had
wandered
.
He
was
looking
at
her
signature
with
a
curious
,
almost
wistful
smile
.
"
Erdmuth
!
"
he
repeated
thoughtfully
;
then
turned
to
her
.
"
I
say
!
you
really
ought
to
come
to
the
ball
with
that
name--do
!
"
He
was
simply
,
she
told
herself
,
the
most
distractingly
irrelevant
,
yet
at
the
same
time
the
most
appallingly
direct
,
person
she
had
ever
come
across
.
"
Really
,
Mr.
Carlyon
,
"
she
began
,
with
such
heat
that
the
aide-de-camp
,
returning
,
stared
;
until
Lance
coolly
asked
him
if
he
did
n't
think
Miss
Shepherd
very
unkind
not
to
come
to
the
Bachelor
's
Ball
?
Whereupon
he
,
having
by
this
time
had
enough
of
laces
and
ribbons
,
and
begun
to
recognize
a
distinct
charm
in
the
glistening
coils
of
hair
,
half-hidden
by
a
wide
hat
,
promptly
asked
her
for
the
pleasure
of
a
dance
.
Erda
looked
from
one
to
the
other
aghast
,
and
to
her
own
intense
surprise
fell
back
upon
the
woman
's
all-embracing
excuse
,
"
I--I
really
have
n't
a
dress
.
"
It
seemed
the
simplest
and
easiest
.
"
Oh
!
anything
does
for
a
fancy
ball
,
"
persisted
Lance
,
argumentatively
,
as
he
followed
her
out
.
"
A
tailor
in
the
bazaar
would
run
you
up
a
Greek
dress
in
no
time
,
and
it
would
do
awfully
well
.
All
white
,
do
n't
you
know--
"
his
voice
slackened
and
grew
soft
,
as
if
he
saw
what
he
described
,
and
the
sight
made
him
glad--
"
all
straight
folds
with
a
little
edge
of
red-gold
like--
"
he
paused
,
then
went
on
boldly--
"
like
the
sunshine
on
your
hair
.
And
red-gold
bracelets
high
up
on
your
arms--and
a
red-gold
apple
in
your
hand--the
World
's
Desire--
"
He
stopped
abruptly
,
with
a
quick
catch
in
his
breath
,
startled
at
his
own
words
.
And
she
,
too
,
held
her
breath
before
the
vision
;
for
she
saw
it
also
.
Saw
herself
,
as
he
had
described
her
,
and
the
glamour
of
it
,
the
desire
of
it
,
assailed
her
,
body
and
soul
.
Yet
she
made
a
desperate
,
a
passionately
resentful
effort
to
ignore
them
.
"
I
did
n't
know
you
were
so
well
up
in
chiffons
,
Mr.
Carlyon
,
"
she
said
,
with
a
forced
laugh
.
"
Did
you
ever
think
of
setting
up
a
milliner
's
shop
?
One
is
badly
needed
in
Eshwara
.
"
But
the
glamour
of
it
had
come
to
Lance
Carlyon
like
a
revelation
,
and
the
blood
was
leaping
in
his
veins
.
"
I
will
,
if
you--
"
he
began
.
She
scarcely
recognized
his
voice
in
one
way
.
In
another
she
knew
it
must
be
his
;
for
all
the
vitality
and
strength
,
the
single-mindedness
and
simplicity
which
she
had
seen
in
him
so
often
,
were
crowded
into
it
;
brought
into
it
by
fancy
,
concentrated
by
a
mere
suggestion--of
herself
.
The
magic
of
this
seemed
to
encompass
her
;
she
sought
shelter
from
it
recklessly
.
"
I
?
"
she
interrupted
.
"
I
do
n't
go
in
for
that
sort
of
thing
,
Mr.
Carlyon
.
You
seem
to
forget
my
work--work
which
I
value
above--milliners
!
Try
Mrs.
Smith--there
she
is
coming
in
her
victoria
;
she
is
one
of
the
best-dressed
women
I
ever
saw
.
"
She
could
not
certainly
have
looked
better
than
she
did
as
,
seeing
Lance
Carlyon
,
she
called
to
him
as
her
carriage
drove
up
.
"
Do
you
know
where
Captain
Dering
is
?
He
promised--
"
Here
Lance
,
with
guilty
haste
,
interrupted
her
.
He
was
just
about
to
drive
over
and
give
her
a
message
.
Dering
had
had
a
touch
of
fever
;
he
had
been
over
at
the
palace
arranging
about
the
Chinese
lanterns
for
the
decorations
till
late
the
evening
before
,
and--
"
He
might
have
sent
a
little
sooner
,
"
put
in
Mrs.
Smith
.
"
I
have
been
waiting
;
he
said
he
would
drive
me
in
his
dogcart
.
"
There
was
no
vexation
,
only
an
almost
pathetic
surprise
in
her
voice
;
and
Lance
looked
guiltier
still
.
"
I
'm
awfully
sorry--it
's
all
my
fault--I
was
late
to
begin
with
,
and
then--
"
He
glanced
at
Erda
involuntarily
,
--compromisingly
,
it
seemed
to
her
.
"
I
am
afraid
I
kept
Mr.
Carlyon
,
"
she
said
,
haughtily
;
"
most
unwillingly
,
I
assure
you
.
Thanks
so
much
,
but
I
can
get
in
quite
well
by
myself
.
"
As
she
drove
off
,
however
,
her
head
was
in
a
whirl
;
and
as
,
when
pausing
to
pick
up
Dr.
Campbell
,
the
whole
panorama
of
the
camp
,
the
hills
behind
it
,
the
distant
temples
of
Eshwara
,
the
busy
place-seekers
in
the
foreground
,
the
scarlet-sin-stains
of
the
chuprassies
'
coats
against
the
dazzling
whiteness
of
the
tents
,
lay
before
her
,
one
of
those
rare
,
incomprehensible
moods
came
upon
her
when
the
soul
retreats
into
its
spiritual
body
,
so
that
the
sight
grows
clear
,
the
touch
keen
,
and
you
can
feel
the
round
world
spin
beneath
your
feet
,
see
the
shadow
of
earth
stretching
far
among
the
stars
.
The
World
's
Desire
!
What
was
it
?
Brought
up
to
believe
that
the
heart
of
man--that
mainspring
of
the
spinning
world--was
vile
,
she
had
never
asked
herself
why
this
was
so
.
She
had
read
the
story
of
Adam
and
Eve
with
unquestioning
faith
,
yet
never
sought
to
know
what
had
changed
the
good
to
evil
.
But
now
,
as
her
eyes
rested
on
those
far-distant
peaks
with
that
faint
mist
about
their
feet
hiding
the
"
Cradle
of
the
Gods
,
"
and
followed
,
as
far
as
the
eye
could
follow
in
the
nearer
hills
,
the
climbing
track
worn
by
the
weariness
of
that
eternal
search
after
righteousness
,
she
asked
herself
what
it
was
which
kept
mankind
so
long
upon
the
road
;
asked
herself
,
for
the
first
time
,
what
that
first
sin
had
been
which
had
lost
Paradise
.
No
lack
of
desire
after
salvation
,
surely
.
Generation
on
generation
of
Eastern
pilgrims
had
worn
that
path
out
of
the
sheer
rock
,
had
agonized
after
good
,
and
remained
evil
.
A
little
shudder
of
memory
ran
through
her
at
the
thought--how
evil
!
And
now
the
West
,
with
its
white
tents
,
its
white
face
,
its
white
creed
,
had
come
to
show
a
newer
,
a
better
way
.
Had
it
?
But
what
had
it
done
for
itself
?
She
had
worked
for
two
years
in
London
ere
coming
out
to
India
;
and
another
shudder
of
memory
swept
over
her
of
what
she
had
seen
there
.
The
World
's
Desire
!
Lance
Carlyon
had
called
her
that--a
woman
with
a
red-gold
apple
in
her
hand
.
The
sound
of
angry
dispute
brought
her
back
to
realities
.
They
were
passing
out
of
the
camp
under
the
triumphal
arch
,
and
one
of
its
sentries
was
barring
the
entrance
of
an
ash-smeared
figure
which
was
brandishing
a
stamped
petition
paper
,
as
if
it
had
been
a
card
of
admission
,
and
yelling
excitedly
for
"
Justice
!
justice
!
"
"
It
is
that
pernicious
fellow
,
Gorakh-nâth
,
"
remarked
Dr.
Campbell
,
sententiously
.
"
He
wishes
,
no
doubt
,
to
appeal
against
Captain
Dering
's
order
,
of
which
I
,
for
one
,
am
heartily
glad
.
A
Christian
government
is
bound
to
refuse
sanction
to
the
practice
of
a
faith
which
,
it
is
impossible
not
to
see
,
is
degrading
in
the
extreme
to
those
who
hold
it
.
"
Erda
's
eyes
were
still
clear
;
clear
with
what
those
who
do
not
see
,
call
dreams
.
"
Yet
it
seeks
what
we
do--peace--forgiveness--the
cradle
of
the
goodness
,
the
innocence
it
left
behind--somehow
.
"
Dr.
James
Campbell
turned
to
her
in
dignified
,
amazed
displeasure
.
"
May
I
ask
what
has
caused--
"
"
That
's
easy
tellin
'
,
"
interrupted
Mrs.
Campbell
,
comfortably
.
"
It
's
yon
hat
with
feathers
,
when
she
is
accustomed
to
a
pith
one
.
An
'
she
standin
'
in
the
sun
talkin
'
to
Mr.
Carlyon
!
It
's
just
got
to
the
lassie
's
head
.
I
was
the
same
myself
when
I
was
young
,
Erda
;
but
Dr.
James
thought
it
a
duty--
"
And
so
I
do
now
,
my
dear
,
"
put
in
her
husband
.
"
It
is
a
distinct
duty
on
the
part
of
mission
workers
to
take
every
precaution
,
and
if
her
head
is
Erda
's
weak
point
,
I
shall
warn
David--
"
Mrs.
Campbell
nodded
hers
and
smiled
,
and
almost
winked
.
"
Oh
!
Davie
will
take
care
of
her
,
never
fear
;
he
is
not
a
ninny
!
"
Erda
flushed
scarlet
all
over
her
face
and
neck
.
It
seemed
to
her
as
if
she
had
forgotten
her
cousin
,
the
Reverend
David
Campbell
,
altogether
.
And
yet
she
was
engaged
to
be
married
to
him
as
soon
as
he
returned
from
a
well-earned
holiday
in
England
.
A
swift
remorse
left
her
pale
again
.
Davie
,
who
was
so
much
in
earnest
,
who
looked
to
her
as--as--
That
vision
of
a
woman
with
a
red-gold
edging
to
her
white
robe
and
a
red-gold
apple
in
her
hand
came
to
send
the
blood
to
her
face
once
more
.
FALLING
STARS
The
long
durbar
tent
was
packed
from
end
to
end
with
the
cane-bottomed
seats
of
the
mighty
;
and
in
each
sat
its
appointed
occupant
,
--patient
,
grave
,
silent
.
But
in
the
two
rows
behind
the
Viceroy
's
still
empty
chair
of
state
the
Englishmen
in
political
dress
or
uniform
who
sat
in
the
front
,
and
the
Englishwomen
in
the
latest
Paris
fashions
who
sat
behind
,
were
talking
and
laughing
;
in
a
perfectly
well-bred
way
,
yet
,
to
the
majority
of
those
silent
spectators
,
at
the
expense
of
decency
,
since
a
durbar
is
,
like
a
West
Indian
ball
,
not
for
'
talkee
.
'
There
was
,
however
,
no
disapproval
on
those
indifferent
dark
faces
.
Such
things
were
part
and
parcel
of
that
general
eccentricity
of
the
Huzoors
,
before
which
it
behoved
calmness
to
remain
calm
.
Yet
those
same
faces
would
have
been
quick
to
notice
and
resent
the
faintest
breach
of
etiquette
in
regard
to
their
own
treatment
,
or
position
.
Those
being
correct
,
the
rest
was
immaterial
.
And
now
,
the
sudden
strains
from
without
of
"
God
Save
the
Queen
"
sent
those
talking
,
laughing
rows
to
their
feet
silently
,
with
the
proud
alacrity
so
noticeable
in
India
when
the
act
is
a
confession
of
faith
,
indeed
!
But
the
mass
beyond
followed
suit
obediently
,
with
a
starry
shiver
of
diamond-flash
,
a
milky
way
of
pearl-shine
;
for
Eugene
Smith
's
electric
light
was
working
full
power
.
Finally
,
as
if
wafted
on
the
full
chords
,
came
a
small
man
,
with
that
inevitable
look
of
coming
into
church
which
Englishmen
consider
dignity
;
possibly
because
public
worship
is
,
really
,
the
only
function
in
which
they
are
not
inwardly
ashamed
of
taking
part
.
The
great
gold
chair
,
the
great
gold
footstool
,
seemed
all
too
large
for
everything
about
their
occupant
,
save
the
diamond
star
,
the
ribbon
on
his
breast
.
Yet
,
in
a
way
,
the
scene
gained
by
his
inadequacy
when
,
after
a
decent
pause
,
a
decent
silence
,
he
rose
,
small
,
insignificant
,
to
give
voice
to
Empire--in
a
strong
Scotch
accent
,
it
must
be
admitted
,
which
equalled
the
Commissioner
's
Irish
one
,
when
,
its
proper
exponent
,
the
Secretary
,
having
a
cold
,
he
read
a
translation
of
the
Viceroy
's
speech
,
and
his
soft
brogue
ran
riot
among
the
clamorous
Persian
vowels
.
"
Ai
Mâhârâjâhân
,
râjâhân
,
nawâbân
wâ
sâhibân
âlishân
.
"
The
diamonds
and
pearls
sat
too
still
for
play
,
so
the
electric
light
contented
itself
with
the
white
teeth
of
Englishwomen
as
they
yawned
.
But
even
these
failed
it
when
,
the
speech
ending
,
that
front
row
began
its
file
past
;
the
civilians
first
,
the
soldiers
next
.
A
quick
file
,
a
formal
bow
as
a
rule
;
but
,
every
now
and
again
,
a
pause
would
come
in
the
monotonous
string
of
names
,
for
a
few
words
from
the
Viceroy
,
and
another
bow
ere
the
recipient
passed
on
.
Muriel
Smith
,
who
sat
behind--the
best
dressed
woman
there
,
as
Erda
Shepherd
had
judged
her--watched
her
husband
's
tall
gaunt
figure
approaching
,
and
wondered
if
that
pause
would
come
to
him
.
Her
heart
beat
so
when
it
did
that
she
could
hear
nothing
except
"
graciously
pleased
,
"
"
eminent
services
,
"
"
distinguished
order
"
;
but
a
whisper
from
her
neighbor
,
"
All
right
!
C
.
S.
I
.
,
not
C
.
I
.
E
.
,
"
left
her
sick
and
faint
with
relief
.
Even
so
,
her
eyes
instinctively
sought
Vincent
Dering
's
sympathy
;
but
he
,
to
her
surprise
,
was
looking
at
the
tall
gaunt
man
whose
face
was
a
"
nunc
dimittis
"
in
itself
,
as
he
made
his
way
back
to
his
seat
,
forgetful
even
of
his
wife
.
But
he
had
forgotten
her
,
amid
a
host
of
other
things
,
for
three
whole
years
:
forgotten
them
in
a
ceaseless
effort
,
an
untiring
energy
.
And
now
that
the
necessity
for
this
was
over
,
sleep
and
rest
were
his
first
thoughts
.
He
took
both
,
apparently
,
in
his
chair
,
while
the
Commissioner
,
causing
this
time
a
fresh
flashing
of
jewels
,
began
on
a
fresh
string
of
titles
.
"
Sri
râja-i-râjân
,
furzund-i-khâs-munsoor-i-zamân-mâhârâj-dhirâj-rasâkh
.
"
And
,
as
they
rolled
on
,
the
atom
of
humanity
belonging
to
them--someone
in
faded
brocade
,
with
ropes
of
ill-shaped
pearls
and
uncut
stones
wound
about
him
,
or
a
jauntier
figure
fresh
and
glittering
from
a
Calcutta
jeweller
's
shop--would
be
singled
out
by
its
political
in
charge
,
like
a
sheep
from
a
flock
,
and
guided
dexterously
to
the
exactly
proper
spot
in
the
whole
round
world
wherein
obeisance
and
offering
could
be
made
with
dignity
to
itself
,
and
the
recipient
.
Then
it
would
be
swept
on
,
regardless
of
an
invariable
desire
to
break
back
,
in
an
endless
circle
to
its
seat
,
while
fresh
titles
rolled
out
,
and
a
fresh
owner
was
hemmed
in
and
swept
forward
.
For
two
whole
mortal
hours
,
this
,
and
nothing
but
this
;
with
,
every
now
and
again
,
that
pause
for
a
few
words
,
translated
now
into
Irish-Urdu
,
producing
an
expression
as
of
a
cat
licking
cream
,
on
a
face
as
it
was
was
hustled
back
,
blindly
obedient
,
as
sheep
are
with
a
collie
they
know
and
trust
.
So
,
at
last
,
long
after
everyone
,
even
Dya
Ram--who
looked
terribly
disjointed
between
his
frock
coat
,
white
tie
,
grey
trousers
,
and
the
gold
mohur
which
he
persisted
in
holding
after
native
custom
in
his
gloved
right
hand--had
passed
,
the
politicals
gathered
in
a
knot
,
like
church-wardens
for
the
offertory
plates
,
and
the
distribution
of
atta
and
pân
,
that
sacrament
of
servitude
and
sovereignty
,
began
.
It
,
too
,
was
exactly
like
an
offertory
;
that
is
,
a
languid
passing
round
of
a
plate
by
an
official
,
and
yawns
for
the
rest
of
the
congregation
.
Finally
,
with
a
vigour
savouring--like
a
voluntary--of
relief
,
the
band
attacked
"
God
Save
the
Queen
"
once
more
,
the
Viceroy
retired
,
the
durbarees
trooped
out
,
still
calm
and
silent
,
yet
satisfied
,
and
the
Commissioner
,
sinking
into
a
vacant
seat
,
said
:
--
"
Thank
the
Lord
!
That
's
over
without
a
hitch
.
So
India
's
safe
for
another
six
months
at
the
cost
of
a
trumpery
title
or
two
.
"
"
I
do
n't
see
on
what
ground
,
"
began
the
Under
Secretary
,
laboriously
.
"
Then
ye
do
n't
read
your
Bible
.
Did
n't
Adam
,
when
he
was
given
dominion
over
the
lower
animals
,
begin
by
bestowing
names
on
them
?
Ah
!
my
dear
Mrs.
Smith
,
I
did
n't
know
ye
were
so
close
.
A
thousand
congratulations
,
my
dear
lady
.
"
"
You
do
n't
mean
it
,
sir
,
"
she
interrupted
,
laughing
.
"
Do
you
think
I
have
forgotten
the
consolatory
verses
you
wrote
me
last
year
when
Eugene
did
n't
get
anything
?
You
are
a
fraud
.
"
"
Not
a
bit
of
it
;
only
an
Irishman
,
"
put
in
Father
Ninian
,
with
an
almost
tender
smile
for
the
keen
,
whimsical
face
which
had
been
friend
to
him
,
and
foe
to
him
,
for
many
a
long
year
.
"
Let
us
have
the
verses
,
Mrs.
Smith
.
"
"
Say
ye
do
n't
remember
them
,
there
's
a
kind
soul
,
"
urged
the
Commissioner
,
persuasively
.
"
But
I
do
:
"
I
dreamt
,
and
lo
,
the
stars
fell
from
the
sky
To
blaze
upon
the
breasts
of
naughty
men
;
And
as
I
wondered
,
came
this
swift
reply
:
--
'
Each
star
is
some
soul
's
inmost
aim
,
and
when
The
angels
do
n't
approve
,
it
is
returned
To
feed
the
base-born
flame
by
which
it
burned
.
The
nice
,
they
keep
until--life
's
struggle
striven--
The
owners
find
them
at
the
gates
of
heaven
.
'
"
"
Striven--heaven
!
"
groaned
the
Commissioner
,
amid
the
clapping
of
hands
.
"
My
dear
madam
,
did
I
commit
such
a
crime--I
mean
rhyme
?
But
the
poet
's
right
.
Ye
ca
n't
go
wide
of
the
mark
,
annyhow
,
even
in
a
song
,
but
you
're
sure
to
find
the
fact
again
in
the
heart
of
a
friend
.
"
So
,
with
that
curiously
light-hearted
,
almost
reckless
,
frivolity
of
Indian
society--a
not
unnatural
recoil
,
perhaps
,
from
the
perpetual
presence
of
the
greatest
social
problem
the
world
has
ever
seen
,
or
is
likely
to
see
,
that
is
,
the
mutual
assimilation
of
East
and
West
without
injury
to
either--the
little
company
of
English
men
and
women
,
empire
makers
and
breakers
,
drifted
out
into
the
sunshine
,
and
so
on
to
the
Viceroy
's
private
enclosure
,
where
the
band
,
weary
of
national
anthems
,
was
already
at
work
on
a
selection
of
street
tunes
,
beginning
with
"
Tommy
,
make
room
for
your
uncle
.
"
So
the
pageant
of
power
passed
into
a
garden-party
,
and
nothing
remained
to
show
the
hand-grip
which
had
made
that
garden
out
of
a
wilderness
,
to
tell
of
the
tireless
effort
to
solve
the
problem
,
the
ceaseless
striving
to
be
just
,
which
underlay
all
the
quips
and
cranks
,
the
foibles
and
follies
,
of
the
great
camp
,
save
the
premature
baldness
of
a
few
heads
,
as
their
owners
fought
desperately
at
badminton
;
fought
to
prevent
a
child
's
shuttlecock
from
falling
in
the
wrong
court
!
A
fight
which
was
watched
with
blank
courtesy
,
as
a
further
exhibition
of
sheer
eccentricity
,
by
those
of
the
jewelled
and
brocaded
owners
of
titles
who
had
the
entrée
to
this
Holy
of
Holies
.
Roshan
Khân
,
however
,
--who
looked
splendid
in
his
uniform
,
--fought
with
the
best
;
and
won
,
too
,
though
Laila
Bonaventura
,
who
played
on
his
side
,
stood
still
,
taking
,
it
is
true
,
the
shots
which
came
within
reach
dexterously
enough
,
but
never
stirring
an
inch
for
one
beyond
.
And
,
as
he
played
,
the
curious
chance
which
had
brought
him
into
her
company
made
his
blood
run
fast
.
Captain
Dering
had
bidden
him
join
the
set
;
bidden
him
curtly
,
almost
savagely
,
as
the
best
player
available
,
in
answer
to
a
challenge
from
Muriel
Smith
to
play
her
,
her
husband
,
and
the
Commissioner
.
And
this
challenge
had
come
curtly
,
also
,
because
Captain
Dering
was
standing
beside
Laila
Bonaventura
,
to
whom
he
had
been
giving
a
cup
of
coffee
.
Not
because
it
gave
him
pleasure
,
but
from
sheer
determination
not
to
let
his
mistake
in
the
darkness
count
for
anything
.
Yet
,
as
the
girl
's
hand
took
the
cup
from
his
,
he
had
remembered
with
a
thrill
the
gladness
,
the
content
it
had
brought
him
.
Though
he
refused
to
acknowledge
the
fact
,
the
puzzle
of
this
mistake
had
been
his
chief
thought
ever
since
it
occurred
,
and
a
smouldering
resentment
regarding
his
past
relationship
with
one
who
was
still
to
him
the
best
and
dearest
of
women
was
the
result
.
He
felt
vaguely
that
she
,
as
well
as
he
,
ought
to
have
known
that
their
sentiment
,
their
monopoly
,
as
it
were
,
of
friendship
,
could
only
mean--what
it
had
meant
to
him
during
those
few
moments
of
blindness
which
had
,
paradoxically
,
opened
his
eyes
.
So
he
had
felt
bitter
,
and
she
had
known
it
instinctively
.
If
she
had
ever
faced
facts
,
this
alone
might
have
opened
her
eyes
also
;
but
she
was
too
good
a
woman
,
too
helplessly
bound
by
her
woman
's
cult
of
love
,
to
disassociate
it
from
friendship
.
So
,
without
bringing
a
doubt
even
,
the
jealous
desire
of
appropriation
which
draws
a
line
clear
and
clean
as
a
sword-cut
between
the
two
,
had
risen
up
in
her
from
the
absence
of
the
sympathetic
look
she
had
expected
from
Vincent
Dering
.
So
she
had
challenged
him
,
and
so
it
came
to
pass
that
Roshan
Khân
played
badminton
with
Laila
Bonaventura
.
She
took
no
notice
of
him
beyond
a
casual
inspection
of
his
uniform
;
still
the
mere
fact
of
being
her
equal
within
the
white
lines
which
separated
their
badminton
court
from
the
realities
of
life
seemed
a
fate
.
When
the
game
was
over
,
his
eyes
followed
her
closely
,
and
he
,
himself
,
at
a
respectful
distance
;
and
as
he
followed
her
,
his
desire
to
speak
to
her
grew
as
he
pondered
on
his
right
to
do
so
.
After
all
,
as
his
grandmother
had
said
,
she
was
his
cousin
.
And
fate
was
on
his
side
once
more
.
A
well-bred
crowding
round
a
table
where
some
photographs
of
the
camp
were
being
shown
,
brought
him
so
near
her
that
she
caught
sight
of
his
yellow
,
silver-laced
uniform
behind
her
,
and
turned
quickly
.
Turned
with
a
look
in
her
big
black
eyes
which
dazzled
him
.
It
vanished
,
however
,
in
a
second
;
yet
her
words
,
spoken
with
a
faint
resentment
,
made
the
memory
of
the
look
give
rise
to
a
swift
pulse
of
angry
suspicion
.
"
I
thought
you
were
Captain
Dering
,
"
she
said
.
"
Why
do
you
wear
the
same
uniform
?
I
thought
natives
could
n't
be
officers
.
"
The
assumption
,
in
his
present
state
of
mind
,
made
all
his
fierce
temper
flash
to
his
face
;
but
ere
he
could
choose
English
words
to
express
it
,
she
laughed
,
and
,
after
her
fashion
when
amused
,
became
confidential
.
"
You
are
angry
at
being
called
a
native
;
but
you
are
one
,
are
n't
you
?
Then
it
is
so
foolish
.
You
are
like
my
guardian
.
He
ca
n't
bear
the
bazaar
people
to
call
me
'
Begum-sahiba
'
;
but
they
do
sometimes
,
you
know
,
because
I
own
a
lot
of
their
houses
and
lands
,
and
my
grandmother
was
a
native
princess
.
I
know
that
,
though
my
guardian
never
speaks
about
it
.
He
is
ashamed
,
I
think--like
you
are
.
I
'm
not
.
I
did
n't
choose
my
grandmother
.
Why
should
one
fuss
about
such
things
?
If
they
're
true
,
it
ca
n't
be
helped
,
and
if
they
're
not
,
what
does
it
matter
?
Besides
,
it
must
be
rather
nice
to
be
a
real
Begum
.
You
have
n't
seen
any
,
of
course
;
they
would
n't
let
you
,
would
they
?
That
must
be
horrid
.
How
could
you
like
people
if
you
did
n't
see
them
?
Besides--
"
she
added
,
with
an
access
of
demure
,
pious
conviction
,
"
it
would
be
wicked
to
marry
them
,
you
know
.
You
should
never
marry
anyone
you
do
n't
love
.
Even
the
Sisters
told
me
that
.
"
Her
voice
had
deepened
,
broadened
;
her
eyes
,
occupied
with
his
uniform
,
not
his
face
,
had
grown
soft
.
Hitherto
he
had
been
too
much
at
a
loss
before
her
sudden
garrulity
to
interrupt
;
now
,
that
vague
suspicion
recurred
,
making
him
feel
inclined
to
say
brutally
,
"
I
am
your
cousin
;
I
claim
you
.
"
The
very
thought
of
her
outraged
face
attracted
him
.
But
English
words
were
inadequate
for
such
emotions
,
so
,
as
he
paused
,
she
went
on
:
--
"
As
you
are
here
,
I
suppose
you
'll
be
asked
to
the
ball
,
also
.
It
is
to
be
in
my
palace
,
you
know
,
because
Captain
Dering
thinks
it
the
best
place
.
He
says
the
gardens
will
be
beautiful
all
lit
up--
"
She
smiled
as
if
at
some
secret
mystery
,
then
continued
:
"
Of
course
,
I
do
n't
know
yet
;
I
have
n't
seen
it
,
but
I
think
it
will
be
lovely
.
Only
I
wish
my
dress
was
different
.
I
am
Beatrice--Dante
's
Beatrice--and
I
think
it
stupid
.
But
my
guardian
chose
it
because--
"
she
smiled
again
with
the
same
secret
amusement--
"
I
do
n't
know
,
of
course
,
but
I
expect
it
is
because
my
great-grandmother
went
as
Beatrice
to
some
ball
long
ago
.
It
is
generally
that
.
I
think
he
must
have
been
in
love
with
her--is
n't
it
funny
?
"
"
Laila
,
"
came
Father
Ninian
's
voice
from
behind
,
"
I
have
been
looking
for
you
everywhere
.
It
is
time
to
go
.
"
His
usually
kind
old
face
was
stern
.
He
gave
the
curtest
of
recognitions
to
Roshan
Khân
,
and
,
as
he
carried
his
ward
off
,
said
sharply
,
"
Who
introduced
you
to
that
native
?
"
"
No
one
,
"
she
replied
,
indifferently
;
"
I
thought
he
was
Captain
Dering
;
their
uniforms--
"
she
broke
off
to
add
,
with
more
animation
,
"
I
do
like
the
gold
and
silver
lace
.
Though
of
course
the
jewels
,
like
the
rajahs
wore
,
look
best
.
"
He
interrupted
her
in
Italian
,
giving
a
quick
gesture
of
dissent
.
"
Say
not
so
,
cara
mia
,
they
would
look
ill
on--on
Englishmen
.
And
listen
,
child
!
You
should
not
speak
to
strangers
;
and
I
would
rather
you
did
not
speak
to
such
natives
at
all
.
They--cannot
understand--quite--for
they
look
on
women
differently
from
what
we
do
.
"
Laila
's
eyes
narrowed
sullenly
.
"
Very
well
,
guardian
,
"
she
said
resignedly
,
"
only
I
suppose
they
must
know
what
their
women
are
really
like--and--perhaps
the
native
ladies
prefer
it
.
"
The
old
man
looked
at
her
,
startled
,
but
said
nothing
.
When
he
had
gone
to
find
Akbar
Khân
and
the
carriage
,
Vincent
Dering
,
seeing
her
alone
,
came
up--so
,
at
least
,
he
told
himself--out
of
sheer
politeness
,
to
ask
if
she
wanted
anything
.
Yet
something
in
her
face
sent
him
beyond
mere
courtesy
at
once
;
something
almost
childishly
apparent
.
"
I
'm
afraid
you
have
n't
been
enjoying
yourself
,
"
he
said
kindly
.
"
Why
not
?
I
thought
it
rather
pleasant
.
"
"
Very
pleasant
!
"
she
assented
wearily
.
"
Only
my
guardian
has
been
telling
me
not
to
do
things
;
and
I
do
n't
know
why
,
but
I
always
want
to
do
them
at
once--do
n't
you
?
"
He
could
not
actually
deny
the
fact
.
"
Sometimes
.
One
has
to
pretend--
"
She
raised
her
eyes
to
his
blindingly
;
he
caught
a
glimpse
in
them
of
the
lawless
approval
Roshan
Khân
had
seen
,
yet
of
something
else--a
lawless
disdain
.
"
Why
must
one
?
"
she
asked
.
"
I
never
mean
to
,
never
!
If
I
want
to
do
a
thing
I
'll
do
it
.
I
do
n't
mean
wicked
things
,
of
course--
"
she
returned
here
to
demure
,
almost
plaintive
piety--
"
I
do
n't
want
to
do
them
,
and
nothing
can
be
wrong
when
it
seems
right
to
you
,
and
it
is
real--ever
so
real
,
and
you
give
yourself
to
it
,
every
bit
of
you
,
without
thinking
,
and--and--ask
nothing--nothing
at
all--
"
Her
vehemence
,
her
passionate
assertion
,
roused
a
quick
response
in
him
.
"
Would
you
do
that
?
"
he
asked
,
his
voice
vibrating
.
"
Would
you--really
?
"
She
smiled
slowly
.
"
Of
course
I
do
n't
know
,
"
she
said
,
"
I
have
n't
tried
yet
;
but
I
never
pretend
.
I
do
n't
even
pretend
to
like
my
dress
for
the
ball
.
It
is
so
stupid
.
"
He
felt
annoyed
at
being
led
into
a
burst
of
emotion
,
and
then
baulked
.
"
You
will
look
charming
,
I
'm
sure
,
"
he
said
in
his
worst
manner
.
"
And
if
you
do
n't
like
it
,
change
to
something
jolly
after
supper
.
Lots
of
people
do
.
"
"
Will
Mrs.
Smith
?
"
she
asked
quickly
.
He
flushed
angrily
.
"
I
really
do
n't
know
,
"
he
began
.
Her
eyes
were
on
him
curiously
.
"
That
's
funny
,
"
she
said
.
"
I
thought
people--not
that
it
matters
,
"
she
went
on
,
"
for
I
ca
n't
.
I
have
n't
a
dress
.
Do
you
know
I
never
have
anything
I
really
like--never
.
"
The
girl
's
voice
was
absolutely
touching
in
its
listless
,
dull
confidence
,
and
he
could
not
help
consolation
.
"
You
'll
have
the
ball
,
I
'm
sure
;
you
will
enjoy
it
awfully
,
and--and
you
must
n't
forget
that
you
've
given
me
the
second
waltz
,
and
the
first
extra
after
supper
.
"
She
did
not
answer
for
a
moment
.
"
Have
I
?
"
she
asked
.
"
I
did
n't
know
it
;
but
I
will
.
That
will
be
nice
.
And
you
are
coming
to
decorate
to-morrow
,
are
n't
you
?
That
will
be
nice
,
too
.
"
Her
tone
lingered
in
his
ears
long
after
she
had
gone
.
It
was
with
him
even
when
he
was
driving
Mrs.
Smith
home
,
and
,
of
course
,
making
up
their
little
misunderstanding
by
the
way
;
possibly
,
because
of
this
making
up
,
since
,
for
the
first
time
,
the
elaborate
éclaircissement
irked
him
.
It
seemed
so
unnecessary
unless
the
whole
affair
meant
something
,
which
was
quite
out
of
the
question
.
For
instance
,
when
driving
Lance
Carlyon
back
to
the
Fort
afterwards
he
did
not
desire
an
explanation
of
the
latter
's
moodiness
.
When
a
chum
was
evil-dispositioned
,
you
waited
calmly
for
him
to
come
round
.
That
was
friendship
.
"
I
'm
sorry
Miss
Shepherd
could
n't
come
,
"
said
Lance
,
suddenly
,
his
eyes
on
that
spit
of
sand
,
with
its
hovels
and
logs
,
below
the
town
.
"
I
wanted
her
to
,
awfully
,
if
only
because
she
's
never
seen
a
durbar
;
but
"
--he
smiled--
"
I
expect
someone
else
wanted
her
instead
.
By
George
!
Dering
,
you
do
n't
know
how
that
girl
works
.
Sometimes
I
feel
it
's
a
shame
,
and
sometimes
I
think
it
's
splendid--though
of
course
it
do
n't
matter
a
dash
what
I
think
.
"
And
that--Vincent
Dering
asked
himself--was
that
love
?
Laila
Bonaventura
's
voice
came
back
to
make
him
certain
of
one
thing
.
That
would
not
be
her
version
of
the
old
,
old
story
;
and
the
knowledge
made
him
,
somehow
,
more
content
with
his
world
.
Meanwhile
another
man
in
yellow
and
silver
lace
was
being
haunted
by
a
girl
's
voice
,
which
had
spoken
of
things
which
no
decent
woman
of
his
own
race
would
have
mentioned
;
yet
which
had
spoken
to
him
with
an
equality
which
no
Englishwoman
would
have
allowed
herself
.
And
as
for
Englishmen
!
The
recollection
of
Father
Narâyan
's
face
as
he
carried
the
girl
off
made
Roshan
Khân
curse
under
his
breath
.
But
the
girl
herself
had
been
different
.
He
literally
did
not
know
what
to
think
;
and
the
desire
for
someone
else
's
opinion
grew
so
strong
that
,
finally
,
with
a
curious
mixture
of
reluctance
and
triumph
,
he
forsook
the
straight
road
to
the
Fort
,
and
turned
his
horse
's
head
towards
his
grandmother
's
house
.
She
was
at
least
a
woman
;
she
might
understand
and
judge
better
than
he
.
His
first
sight
of
her
,
however
,
in
unprepared
toilette
,
minus
the
green
satin
trousers
which
gave
such
dignity
to
her
rotund
little
figure
,
minus
all
pretence
at
pomp
,
dirty
,
untidy
,
unkempt
both
in
her
surroundings
and
herself
,
made
him
feel
what
a
fool
he
was
.
The
more
so
when
she
began
by
resenting
his
summary
visitation
,
especially
in
uniform
,
which
,
she
asserted
,
made
her
feel
,
even
at
her
age
,
as
if
she
were
committing
the
indiscretion
of
seeing
a
stranger
!
What
could
a
woman
like
that
know
?
Yet
having
come
,
he
might
as
well
go
through
with
his
errand
;
so
he
cut
short
her
upbraidings
by
saying
without
preamble
:
"
I
have
seen
my
cousin
.
I
spoke
to
her
,
and--and
she
spoke
back
again
.
"
Mumtâza
Mahal
looked
at
him
for
a
moment
incredulously
,
then
she
cracked
all
her
finger
joints
over
his
head
,
or
as
nearly
over
it
as
her
height
would
allow
.
"
Said
I
not
so
?
"
she
asked
prophetically
.
"
And
when
will
the
wedding
be
?
"
"
Wedding
!
"
he
echoed
petulantly
;
"
there
is
no
talk
of
wedding
.
I
have
but
seen
her
.
"
"
But
seen
her
!
"
echoed
the
old
lady
in
her
turn
.
"
That
came
after
in
my
time
;
but
God
knows
how
things
go
nowadays
.
Then
what
didst
speak
about
?
"
He
had
to
give
a
Bowdlerized
version
of
what
had
passed
;
yet
,
even
so
,
Mumtâza
Mahal
looked
shocked
.
"
A
bold
hussy
;
but
thou
wilt
bit
and
bridle
her
.
"
He
burst
out
angrily--for
his
own
recital
had
shown
him
the
folly
of
castle-building
on
so
slight
a
foundation--
"
I
am
a
fool
,
"
he
said
,
"
and
so
art
thou
for
all
thy
years
!
"
Her
little
black
eyes
flashed
angrily
.
"
Not
I
!
Did
she
not
say
she
would
like
to
be
a
Begum
?
and
if
that
means
not--
"
"
And
could
I
make
her
one
?
"
he
interrupted
fiercely
.
"
I--a
risaldar
on
a
bare
pittance--with
no
prospect
of
rising
.
Dost
dream
me
Nawab
,
fool
?
"
The
old
lady
's
face
grew
cunning
in
a
second
,
the
instinctive
love
of
intrigue
roused
by
the
mere
suggestion
.
She
leant
towards
him
eagerly
.
"
And
wherefore
not
,
Roshan
?
Are
all
things
fixed
?
Do
rulers
never
change
?
I
live
here
in
a
corner
,
nothing
but
a
poor
woman
:
yet
I
hear
more
,
it
seems
,
than
thou
dost
.
I
hear
of
discontent
,
of
desires
,
of
things
that
call
for
change
.
But
to-day
,
they
spoke
of
men
being
killed
to
make
light
for
these
infidels
,
and
Gorakh-nâth
,
jogi
,
hath
sworn
a
miracle
.
"
He
turned
on
her
with
a
bitter
,
reckless
laugh
.
"
Is
that
new
?
Is
there
not
always
talk
?
The
wise
listen
not
.
"
A
vast
importance
,
a
real
dignity
came
to
her
in
an
instant
.
"
If
the
Huzoors
had
listened
to
such
talk
in
'
57.
"
A
thrill
ran
through
him
;
the
thrill
of
secret
curiosity
,
almost
of
expectation
regarding
the
great
Rebellion
from
which
so
many
things
date
,
which
young
India
always
feels
in
the
presence
of
their
elders
,
who
passed
through
it
.
"
Thou
dost
know
,
of
course
,
"
he
said
,
catching
his
breath
;
"
thou
canst
remember
.
"
"
Ay
!
"
she
replied
sternly
,
"
and
there
was
no
more
talk
than
there
is
now
.
'
Tis
not
a
question
of
words
.
It
is
fate
.
Something
happens
,
and
then--then
the
risaldar
may
be
Nawab--as
his
fathers
were
.
"
She
had
gone
too
far
,
and
recalled
him
to
himself
.
"
Then
let
us
await
the
happening
,
"
he
said
curtly
.
"
Wait
!
"
echoed
the
old
lady
,
reverting
to
the
main
point
.
"
Thou
canst
not
wait
.
Having
gone
so
far
,
the
negotiations
cannot
drop
.
Thou
must
send
the
gift
,
and
see
what
comes
of
it
.
"
"
A
gift
!
"
he
repeated
.
"
What
gift
,
and
wherefore
?
"
Mumtâza
Mahal
looked
round
as
if
for
approval
,
tucked
a
packet
of
pân
into
her
cheek
,
and
chuckled
.
She
was
on
familiar
ground
now
.
"
Leave
that
to
me
.
I
know
what
girls
like
.
I
have
them
still
.
Ay
!
a
dress
that
her
grandmother
wore--good
as
new
,
being
for
a
tall
woman--and
jewels
.
'
Tis
no
harm
,
at
least
,
see
you
;
since
if
they
like
it
not
,
the
gift
is
returned
.
"
He
stood
doubtful
,
half
pleased
,
half
shocked
at
the
suggestion
.
She
could
certainly
send
the
things
back
,
and
he
had
many
a
time
seen
English
women
wearing
native
jewelry
;
ay
!
and
decorating
their
rooms
with
native
dresses
.
And
he
could
write
that
they
were
from
her
cousin
and
servant
.
That
would
be
easier
than
telling
.
OUT
OF
THE
PAST
"
I
feel
as
if
I
had
this
moment
arrived
,
"
said
Muriel
Smith
,
as
she
looked
down
into
the
garden
from
a
balcony
which
jutted
out
upon
one
side
of
the
wide
flight
of
marble
steps
that
led
upwards
to
the
loggia
of
the
palace
.
"
Yet
I
know
I
've
been
here
for
hours
.
I
wonder
when
the
sheer
beauty
will
cease
to--to
take
my
breath
away
.
You
understand
,
do
n't
you
?
"
"
Yes
!
"
assented
Vincent
Dering
,
half
grudgingly
.
He
would
rather
not
have
understood
more
than
others
.
But
he
did
;
that
was
the
worst
of
it
.
He
was
looking
his
best
in
the
old
cavalry
uniform
of
grey
,
and
silver
,
and
cherry
colour
,
all
laced
,
embroidered
,
and
glittering
with
epaulettes
,
sabretasche
,
and
high
stock
,
--the
uniform
of
a
hundred
years
ago
,
when
adventurers
ruled
half
India
,
and
Englishmen
were
demi-gods
.
It
seemed
to
have
brought
something
of
their
pride
and
recklessness
,
something
of
the
dreams
they
dreamt
into
his
whole
bearing
,
as
he
stood
leaning
over
the
balustrade
gazing
fixedly
at
the
scene
before
him
.
It
was
beautiful
indeed
!
Beautiful
with
that
unearthly
stillness
which
only
comes
to
illuminations
in
a
windless
Indian
night
.
The
lines
on
lines
,
the
curves
on
curves
of
tiny
lights
which
outlined
each
pillar
and
arch
,
each
buttress
and
recess
of
the
palace
,
the
battlemented
wall
of
the
garden
,
and
the
turreted
town
rising
above
it
,
were
steady
as
the
stars
.
The
fine
fret
of
the
acacia
trees
,
showing
white
against
the
purple
of
the
sky
,
was
still
as
if
carved
in
stone
.
There
was
no
flicker
in
the
soft
radiance
,
which
made
the
solid
marble
seem
translucent
,
illumined
mysteriously
from
within
.
The
very
shadows
slept
.
Such
scented
shadows
,
clinging
to
the
burnished
orange
trees
,
hidden
in
the
wilderness
of
roses
,
dreaming
on
the
perfumed
cushions
of
the
quaint
balconies
and
cupolas
which
overhung
the
river
.
But
it
did
not
sleep
.
It
moved
,
sliding
on
and
on
ceaselessly
.
So
did
the
water
which
dimpled
and
tinkled--after
Heaven
only
knew
how
many
sad
years
of
silence
and
decorum--over
the
fretted
marble
water-slides
.
How
it
laughed
and
babbled
to
the
cunning
coloured
lights
placed
behind
it
!
And
the
fountains
below
,
rising
out
of
the
water-maze
,
--where
there
was
but
room
for
the
flying
feet
of
a
laughing
girl
on
the
marble
ledges
between
the
lotus-leaves
,
--laughed
and
tinkled
,
also
,
as
they
sent
showers
of
diamonds
back
on
the
pale
blossoms
.
The
"
jewel
in
the
lotus
"
indeed
!
There
was
no
colour
to
be
seen
anywhere
.
Only
that
soft
,
steady
,
white
radiance
,
those
soft
,
sleeping
,
black
shadows
.
Except
in
the
drifting
water-maze
,
and
the
drifting
men
and
women
around
it
.
Restless
,
both
of
them
;
going
on
and
on
.
Whither
,
and
wherefore
?
It
was
an
idle
question
,
Vincent
told
himself
,
if
the
move
brought
,
as
it
did
here
,
fresh
laughter
,
fresh
colour
.
"
On
such
a
night
did
young
Lorenzo
,
"
quoted
the
Commissioner
's
brogue
from
the
flight
of
steps
where
,
in
the
guise
of
a
French
cook
,
he
was
fanning
Laila
Bonaventura
,
with
whom
he
had
been
dancing
;
the
latter
sitting
still
and
silent
as
the
shadow
in
which
she
was
half
hidden
.
A
crackling
laugh
betrayed
Dr.
Dillon
's
whereabouts
.
He
was
perched
on
a
balustrade
above
,
his
legs
dangling
,
his
trousers
,
as
usual
,
displaying
his
thin
ankles
;
for
he
was
dressed
in
his
ordinary
evening
suit
.
"
And
old
Lorenzo
also
,
"
he
scoffed
.
"
The
disease
is
nonprotective
,
contagious
,
and
marked
by
extraordinary
vitality
in
the
virus
,
which
after
long
years
may
spring
to
fresh
life
from
a
dress
,
a
bit
of
ribbon
,
a
lock
of
hair
.
"
"
Oh
!
have
done
with
such
blasphemy
!
"
interrupted
the
Commissioner
,
joyously
,
"
and
me
racking
me
brains
which
of
all
the
beauties
of
this
hareem
I
'd
better
fall
in
love
with
!
Dering
,
you
're
a
steward
,
I
believe
.
Turn
that
man
out
for
obtruding
the
exigencies
of
everyday
life--including
a
swallow-tail
coat--into
Paradise
.
"
"
I
've
objected
already
,
sir
,
"
said
Vincent
Dering
,
laughing
;
"
but
he
declares
he
is
a
malarial
bacillus
.
"
"
A
what
?
"
remonstrated
the
brogue
.
"
A
malarial
bacillus
,
sir
,
"
explained
the
doctor
;
"
as
I
have
failed
hitherto--like
everybody
else--to
recognize
the
gentleman
,
even
through
a
microscope
,
I
am
naturally
at
sea
as
to
the
proper
costume
.
And
you
will
,
of
course
,
admit
the
universal
rule
:
'
When
in
doubt
,
play
a
dress
suit
.
'
"
"
By
Jove
!
"
ejaculated
Lance
Carlyon
,
who
,
mopping
his
face
,
had
joined
the
group
,
"
what
a
ripping
idea
.
Wish
I
'd
thought
of
it
instead
of
this
kit
.
"
He
looked
regretfully
at
his
mailed
limbs
;
for
he
was
dressed
as
Lancelot-du-Lac
,
a
costume
which
had
been
chosen
for
him
two
years
before
,
at
Simla
,
by
a
grass
widow
who
had
aspired
to
the
part
of
Guinevere
;
but
who
,
retiring
before
the
young
fellow
's
absolute
unconsciousness
of
her
intention
,
had
left
him
saddled
with
an
expensive
fancy
dress
which
he
felt
bound
to
wear
out
;
for
all
his
spare
cash
was
kept
for
guns
and
polo
ponies
.
"
I
'm
glad
you
did
n't
,
Mr.
Carlyon
,
"
protested
Muriel
Smith
,
consolingly
.
"
You
look
very
nice
in
it
.
Only
those
things
on
your
legs--I
forget
the
proper
name--must
be
difficult
to
dance
in
.
"
"
Greaves--the
well-greaved
Greeks
,
me
dear
madam
,
"
put
in
the
Commissioner
.
"
Plural
of
grief
.
Ah
!
ye
should
have
seen
him
come
to
it
just
now
with
the
general
's
wife
.
Your
chance
of
promotion
's
gone
,
me
dear
boy--the
marble
floor
resounded
.
"
"
Well
,
it
is
n't
half
so
inconvenient
as
my
husband
's
dress
,
anyhow
,
"
continued
Mrs.
Smith
,
persisting
in
her
mission
of
sympathy
,
when
the
laugh
at
Lance
's
expense
had
subsided
.
"
That
's
all
you
know
,
my
dear
,
"
remonstrated
Mr.
Smith
,
sleepily
,
from
a
quiet
nook
in
one
corner
.
"
I
never
said
Robinson
Crusoe
was
a
good
dancing
dress
,
but
I
claim
it
is
n't
bad
to
sleep
in
,
especially
out
of
doors
.
Soft
and
furry--and--
"
His
voice
sank
into
dreamful
ease
.
"
And
it
can
claim
solitude
,
anyhow
,
"
added
the
doctor
,
mournfully
.
"
Think
of
the
disgust
of
an
old
established
microbe
,
like
myself
,
when
his
swept
and
garnished
home
is
invaded
by
a
party
of
seven
strange
devils
.
"
"
How
rude
you
are
!
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Smith
.
"
Besides
,
we
are
n't
seven
,
and
I
believe
Robinson
Crusoe
discovered
this
island
before
you
did
!
"
"
I
think
the
French
cook
takes
the
cake
,
though
,
"
said
poor
Lance
,
who
had
been
following
up
his
own
grievance
.
"
Shirt
sleeves
must
be
an
awful
pull
when
you
are
dancing
with
a
burra
mem
.
"
[
8
]
"
True
for
you
!
"
assented
the
Commissioner
,
sympathetically
.
"
That
's
the
very
reason
I
took
to
it
,
me
dear
boy
,
when
me
own
merits
and
me
advancing
years
doomed
me
to
all
the
stout
ladies
in
India
.
Besides
,
me
paper
cap
rids
me
of
two
of
me
reports
anyhow
.
Ye
see
I
always
have
to
wear
two
caps
;
one
before
,
and
one
after
supper
.
Otherwise
I
find
the
contints
get
mixed
,
and
make
me
statements
unreliable
;
and
then
me
enemies
say
it
's
the
champagne
.
I
feel
it
coming
on
me
now
,
but--
"
he
sprang
to
his
feet
,
light
as
a
boy--
"
by
a
merciful
providence
there
's
the
band
at
the
'
Roast
Beef
.
'
Now
,
are
ye
coming
in
to
supper
with
me
,
Mrs.
Smith
,
or
are
you
one
of
those
who
have
to
change
their
identity
?
"
"
Not
I
,
"
she
declared
,
taking
his
arm
,
"
I
'm
quite
content
with
myself
,
thank
you
!
"
She
might
well
be
,
since
her
costume
of
water-nymph
could
not
have
been
improved
upon
.
It
enabled
her
to
show
off
her
long
,
rippling
,
pale
gold
hair
,
and
the
filmy
green
and
white
,
the
feathery
weeds
,
the
iridescent
shells
,
matched
her
delicate
face
,
which
seemed
almost
overweighted
by
her
water-lily
crown
.
"
Besides
,
Undine
can
always
do
quick-change
artist
,
and
assume
a
soul
,
"
suggested
the
Commissioner
,
as
he
led
her
off
;
adding
,
in
mock
alarm
:
"
Me
dear
madam
!
I
apologize
profoundly
.
Miss
Bonaventura
,
Captain
Dering
's
waiting
for
you
,
I
'm
sure
.
"
Laila
,
who
had
risen
also
,
stood
silent
,
looking
taller
and
slimmer
than
usual
in
her
guise
of
Beatrice
.
It
seemed
to
have
brought
out
the
fact
that
she
had
some
of
the
best
blood
of
Italy
in
her
veins
.
Vincent
Dering
had
recognized
this
fact--which
Father
Ninian
had
taken
care
to
communicate
to
him
as
soon
as
the
latter
had
found
out
that
,
nominally
at
any
rate
,
the
former
was
a
Roman
Catholic
,
and
therefore
a
possible
lover--when
he
had
gone
up
to
apologize
to
the
girl
for
having
missed
that
second
dance
,
owing
to
his
duties
as
steward
.
The
recognition
had
him
vaguely
sorry
for
the
girl
;
sorry
also
for
the
old
man
who
,
evidently
,
dreamt
such
idle
dreams
.
He
did
not
mean
to
marry
a
Begum
!
He
crossed
over
to
her
now
,
offering
his
arm
,
but
she
refused
it
,
saying
she
did
not
want
supper
.
"
But
you
are
enjoying
yourself
,
surely
?
"
he
said
.
"
Oh
,
yes
!
thank
you
,
"
she
answered
;
"
only
it
is
n't
real
,
of
course
.
It
does
n't
mean
anything
.
"
Dr.
Dillon
,
who
was
within
hearing
,
looked
down
at
her
sharply
.
"
Perhaps
,
my
dear
young
lady
,
it
is
as
well
it
does
n't
.
So
let
us
eat
,
drink
,
and
be
merry
,
for
tomorrow
we
die
!
"
She
looked
up
at
him
quite
shocked
.
"
Oh
!
I
did
n't
mean
that
,
of
course
;
that
is
wrong
.
I
only
meant
that
things
do
n't
match--the
place
and
the
people
,
I
mean
.
Except
one
or
two--those
for
instance
.
"
She
pointed
out
Roshan
Khân
who
,
dressed
as
himself
,
was
taking
advantage
of
the
emptiness
of
the
garden
during
supper
time
,
to
go
round
it
with
old
Akbar
Khân
as
guide
,
the
latter
in
the
wildest
antics
of
alacrity
.
"
Did
you
ever
see
such
a
funny
figure
?
"
continued
the
girl
,
with
an
odd
little
laugh
.
"
He
is
quite
crazy
with
joy
.
He
told
me
to-day
this
was
the
first
time
for
forty
years
that
he
had
been
himself
!
That
he
has
been
bewitched
.
"
"
I
believe
I
've
been
bewitched
too
,
"
said
Vincent
,
suddenly
.
"
Let
us
all
go
back
forty
years
.
"
Dr.
Dillon
swung
his
feet
further
over
,
and
dropped
to
the
ground
almost
between
them
.
"
That
would
effectually
annihilate
two
of
the
company
,
and
reduce
me
to
cutting
my
teeth
;
and
I
want
the
use
of
them
at
supper
.
Come
along
and
have
something
solid
,
Miss
Bonaventura
;
there
is
nothing
so
indigestible
as
fancy
sweets
