by F. E. Penny
CHAPTER XI
Eola sat at the tea-table in the verandah. Her brother, punctual tothe stroke of four, came in without haste, crossing the compound fromthe college buildings to the private house. Punctuality, he declared,was his salvation. He could not have stood the rush of work had he notrigidly adhered to the hours of his meals. Afternoon tea was the onehe liked best. He gave himself exactly thirty minutes for it. It wasthirty minutes of solid rest.
"Where's Alderbury," he asked, as he seated himself in a comfortablecane chair.
"He has gone to see Ananda."
"You don't mind if I read, do you, Eola? The new magazines came twodays ago and I haven't had time even to open them."
He tore off the cover of an illustrated monthly and handed it to her.A second magazine was opened for himself, and he was soon deep in anarticle professing to give the last word on the chemistry of biology.Whilst he read he drank his tea. A bell rang and he jumped up,instantly detaching himself from the magazine and breaking off in themiddle of a paragraph. He hurried away in the direction of the collegewithout another thought for his visitor. At his departure Mrs. Hulverappeared.
"When you go out, Miss, will you kindly get some carpet thread for thetailor. The motor is ready."
"I can't leave the house till Mr. Alderbury has come in. He promisedto be back to tea at four o'clock. He must have been detained."
"Oh, yes, miss, I daresay he has been detained," assented Mrs. Hulver."Our master might be kept if he chose to allow it. As William--thatwas my third--used to say: 'There are some men who will be in time forevery meal, hungry or not; and there are others who will be in time fornothing but their own funerals.'"
Eola ignored the implied depreciation of her guest and proceeded togive orders that would ensure his comfort.
"We shall want another pot of tea, please. Tell the matey to keep thekettle boiling, and he is not to make the tea until Mr. Alderbury comesin."
"If you like to go out now, miss, I can see to Mr. Alderbury and givehim his tea. I am sure he won't mind. His head is that full of hismissioning that he won't notice whether it is poured out by you or byme. As William--that was my first--used to say: 'When a man isbothered by business he has no room in his head for a woman and can'ttell one from another.' Mr. Alderbury is bothered with this businessof Pantulu Iyer's son coming Christian. It has all been done in ahurry, as I was telling you. As William--that was my third--used tosay----"
What William the third said was lost in the sudden appearance of theguest.
"So sorry I'm late, Miss Wenaston. Yes, please, I should like sometea. What with the dust and the amount of talking I've done, I'm asthirsty as a fish."
He hurried away to his room to get rid of the powdery ochre blown upfrom the laterite roads. Mrs. Hulver glanced after him with as muchdisapproval as she dared to show.
"Next to schoolmasters, missionaries should be particular in beingpunctual. As William--that was my second--used to say: 'Men should bevalued like watches for the time they keep.'"
"And he was quite right from a military point of view. Will you seeabout the tea, please, Mrs. Hulver!"
"It's being made, miss. I've got my eye on the matey. It will beready as soon as Mr. Alderbury is ready for it. Like as not he willread those letters that have come while he has been away and forget allabout his tea." Mrs. Hulver looked at Eola as much as to say, "And youtoo." She continued: "A man with a lot of business needs a good head.As William--that was my second--used to say: 'Drive your business witha firm hand and a clear head or your business will drive you."
Alderbury's appearance checked the flow of Mrs. Hulver's wisdom, andshe departed to her room. As he received his cup from Eola's hand hesaid:
"You would like to hear how I fared, I am sure."
"Yes, please; tell me all about it."
The words did not ring quite true; they were wanting in sympathy, andseemed to the quick sensitive ear of the missionary to be spoken moreout of polite curiosity than real interest. He glanced at her andtried to swallow some of the scalding liquid with the aid of theteaspoon. The innate love of fighting in a good cause rose within him,and he determined to try conclusions with her. She should becomeinterested, and more. He would conquer her indifference and rouse hersympathy.
"I had no end of a difficulty in seeing the parents. It was the fatherI wanted to get at and he was very inaccessible."
"You had an interview with Ananda, of course. I knew him in England,and should like to hear how he is getting on. I don't care a bit abouthis stupid old father. Why can't the father let the son alone, andallow him to take his own line?"
"The step involves so much."
"If that is so, then Ananda shouldn't have taken it."
Alderbury put down his cup suddenly, his mind entirely diverted fromthe business of tea-drinking by her words.
"You don't mean that you really think he ought not to have become aChristian?" he inquired, in a grave voice that had lost the lightnesswith which he had greeted her on arrival home from his visit.
The seriousness of his manner awoke a spirit of perverseness.
"I am of the opinion that he might have had more consideration for hisfather's feelings," she said, with a levity that jarred. "Why shouldexisting relations that seemed so satisfactory be disturbed?" Then, asAlderbury remained silent, she continued: "There is a time for allthings. It is too soon to ask educated India to accept Christianity;the way is studded with such colossal difficulties. Don't you oftenfeel that you are fighting against almost insuperable obstacles?"
"In short you think it would be more expedient for the missionary torun away or temporise, instead of buckling on his armour and standingup to the enemy. What about our responsibilities and lending a helpinghand to our fellow-men? The marsh is a good enough place for the horseto wallow in, and the man enjoying the firm ground of the meadow has noduty towards the poor beast! Miss Wenaston, that is a poor creed."
"Are you so sure that the Hindu is in the mud?" she asked, more in aspirit of provocation than honest inquiry.
There was a fearful fascination in rousing him, and she took the riskof his anger for the pure pleasure of seeing him come up to thefighting line. The eyes that met hers shone with the light of battle,and she inwardly trembled at the spirit she had wantonly raised.
"Am I sure, you ask?" he cried derisively. "If you knew what Hinduismmeant you would never put such a question to a man of my profession.You cannot realise how encrusted it is with insidious error appealingmischievously to the sensual part of humanity. You know nothing of thepractices at the worship of Kali--of the life led by the dasis in thetemples of Southern India----" he stopped abruptly, conscious of havingbeen led in his excitement and enthusiasm a little too far. It wasimpossible to pursue such an unsavoury subject with an English woman.
"I don't know much about the worship of Kali; and I am sure that Inever heard the word dasi before. What is a dasi?"
"Oh! never mind," he exclaimed, the fire subdued. "Please give meanother cup of tea, and I will tell you about Ananda. Perhaps when youhear what has driven him out of the faith of his ancestors, you will beable to sympathise."
He explained the theory of transmigration, and how Ananda had revoltedagainst it on the loss of his friend; how he put himself underinstruction in England and took the step voluntarily and withoutpressure. From the story of his conversion he passed on to thedescription of all that had followed since Ananda arrived in India.
"The man is being persecuted in all kinds of ways. They have suppliedhim with food, but they have employed an out-caste sweeper to carry itto him. The prejudice of fifty generations is not to be conquered allat once, and Ananda cannot bring himself to receive his food at thehands of a man whom he holds more unclean than we should consider anunwashed workman who had just emptied a sewer."
"How has he been existing?"
"On biscuits and milk, a poor diet for a healthy hungry man. It haskept him from starvatio
n however. Your brother did wisely in sendingfor me after receiving Ananda's letter. He needs advice and support,and he will require help of another kind when the small amount of cashin his pocket is finished."
"I suppose you talked to him--and prayed with him?" said Eola,conscious of the banality of her words even as she spoke them.
"Dear lady! does a man stop to fall on his knees when he sees a comradedrowning? You will think me a poor sort of missionary, perhaps, when Iconfess that I forgot to pray with him. I was too busy chuckinglife-belts to the poor chap. Already he was assailed with doubts as tothe wisdom of the step he had taken. 'I have been too hasty,' he said.'I did not consider how seriously it would affect my father's peace ofmind and his health.' Then he drew a picture of the old man's feebleappearance as he came to him two or three mornings ago in the compound.'He was so bowed and bent he might have been seventy instead of fifty.'It gave him a shock, and he seems to have entertained a suggestion madeby his father which was nothing less than the contemplation of partialapostacy. I fought against the weakness. I preached free-will andchoice. I appealed to his honesty and combated the cowardice thatprompted retrogression. He admitted that he could never again acceptthe Hindu doctrine of transmigration. Then I pointed out theresponsibility that falls on a man's shoulders when his eyes are openedand the choice of road lies with him. I dug away and rooted about tofind a little courage. He has more obstinacy than courage at present.I hope that the one will breed the other."
While he talked he drank tea and devoured bread and butter with thewholesome hunger of a schoolboy. Mrs. Hulver appeared once more.
"The motor is waiting, miss. I'm afraid I can't do without the carpetthread."
"I will go at once," replied Eola, rising from the tea-table to put onher hat. "Will you come for a run in the car, Mr. Alderbury?"
"I should like it immensely," he replied with a promptness that did notescape the ears of the housekeeper.
She was not satisfied with the result of her interruption to theconversation. By despatching Miss Wenaston on a shopping errand shehad aimed at putting an end to the _tete-a-tete_. The guest, shesupposed, would be driven to his room or into the garden until Dr.Wenaston was released from his duties and could join him. As Eoladisappeared in the direction of her room Alderbury turned in hisimpulsive way to Mrs. Hulver.
"I haven't had a moment to ask you after yourself. How have you beensince we last met?"
"I've been keeping pretty well, thank you, sir. All that troubles meis the haricot veins in my legs. If I stand about too much, they swelland become very painful."
"How is your son?"
Mrs. Hulver beamed suddenly, and the severe expression that she hadworn since he appeared in the verandah vanished. Next to talking abouther late husbands she loved to expand on the subject of her boy.
"He is very well and grown quite the man. He tells me that he has justbeen made a corporal. He's in his father's old regiment, and it hasbeen ordered out at once. He ought to be landing in less than a week'stime. He has promised to come off and see his old mother the firstminute he can get leave. They say that the regiment is going toBangalore. If so I shall see him often."
"I hope he will prove a good son."
"No fear but what he will," said Mrs. Hulver, with the unshakenconfidence of a proud mother. "He is happy in his work and likessoldiering. As William--that was my second and the boy's ownfather--used to say when I talked of the child following any othertrade: 'Bring up the foal to the shafts and don't try to teach him todrive a wheelbarrow.'"
"He was perfectly right; each man should follow the line for which heis best suited."
"But they don't do so always. There are many men--and women, too--who,being square, find themselves in round holes. Now you, sir, I take it,are in the right-shaped hole. So am I; and so is Miss Wenaston. Shewould do badly in my hole, for instance; for she would be cheated everyhour of her life by these budmashes of servants; and she would be stillworse off in your hole. There's nothing of the missionary about her,as any one can see with half an eye. As William--that was mythird--used to say: 'It doesn't need a uniform to show you who's a bornsoldier.' He was a fine figure and had a handsome----"
Miss Wenaston appeared and the car drew up under the portico, cuttingMrs. Hulver short. She watched the pair drive away with renewedmisgivings. "I don't like that look in her face. She's feeling justas I used to feel when William, my second and the father of my boy,took me out walking in the bazaar, he looking so fine in his corporal'suniform." She called to the butler. "Ramachetty! Come here; I wantyou. To-morrow is pay-day. I'm going out into the garden to count theroses. Where's the gardener?"
She descended the steps of the front verandah and walked slowly,displaying an imposing dignity, to the spot where the roses stood. Shecounted the pots.
"--six--seven--" As she arrived at the seventh the gardener pointedwith feverish anxiety to the eighth. It bore a beautiful double pinkblossom full of fragrance, proclaiming itself a true and genuine _LaFrance_, "Eight; good! Wasn't it just as I said?" she asked the butlertriumphantly. "With care the roses would turn back to their propersort. Why haven't the others turned, too?" she inquired, lookingseverely at the gardener.
"They are turning now; all coming nicely if missus will please wait."
"Mind they do come," she replied, lifting a warning finger thatindicated a determination to exact the fulfilment of her demand.
"Missus will let off the fine!" said the gardener in an insinuatingvoice.
"Certainly not! There will be four rupees fine to-morrow; four rupeeskept back until the missie has twelve good, sweet-smelling double pinkroses."
"I am a very poor man!" whined the gardener. "I have a large familyand two wives, both big hungry women. What can I do if missus stops mypay?"
"You should have thought of that before you spoilt the roses," saidMrs. Hulver, showing no sign of relenting.
"I am not a bad man," pleaded the gardener. "Missus must pleaseforgive. I am same religion as missus--a Christian----"
"What!" cried Mrs. Hulver, with such startling emphasis that they alljumped, butler, gardener and gardener's assistants.
"A Christian, a poor worm of a Christian, same religion as missus andmaster and missie!"
"How dare you call yourself a Christie?" cried Mrs. Hulver, in deepindignation. "How dare you say that you belong to the same religion asme and the master and our missie? You! a spoiler of roses! you! a lazyidle budmash of a gardener! You! with two big hungry wives!"
The unfortunate bigamist trembled visibly before this outpouring ofwrath. He felt that he had made a false step.
"Ramachetty! is that man a Christian?" she asked, turning to the butlerwith an abruptness that upset his self-possession.
"I never heard that he was, ma'am. He doesn't belong to my Church, theRoman Church."
"Is it true that he has got two wives?"
"Yes, ma'am; one to cook and keep the house, and the other to mind thefield and the buffalo and make the butter. My Church doesn't allow twowives."
"No; nor any other Christian Church. He calls himself a Christianbecause he thinks I shall be sorry for him and let him off his fine.Tell him that only heathen people marry two wives and turn pink rosesinto red. He is the sort of budmash who brings Christianity intodisgrace. I'll double his fine if he dares to say again that hebelongs to my religion. When he has learned to keep pink double rosespink and double, then we will talk about his being a Christian andbelonging to our religion; but mind! I don't give him much hope. Inever knew any missionary that allowed two wives."
The butler was not indifferent to the pronoun used by Mrs. Hulver whenshe spoke of "our religion." He dismissed the gardener to his dutiesand followed the housekeeper to the back verandah. She retired to herroom to make out the pay-list for the establishment. Against thegardener's name she ventured to write the full sum of his wages andmade no note of any fine.
"Those four missing
plants will all be back by to-morrow unless I amvery much mistaken. Christian or heathen, I'll keep him and the restof them up to the Christian standard or my name is not Maria Hulver.As William my third used to say, he having been in the Artillery:'Drive your team straight whether they're horses or mules, and you andyour guns will get over the ground without a spill.'"
