\"Iain’tmovin’,\"saidtheCorporal,raisinghishead;\"youdaren’t’itamanon’islegs。LetgoO’JerryBlazesan’comeoutO’thatwithyourfistes。Comean’’itme。Youdaren’t,youbloomin’
dog-shooter!\"
\"Idare。\"
\"Youlie,youman-sticker。Yousneakin’,Sheenybutcher,youlie。
Seethere!\"Slanekickedtherifleaway,andstoodupintheperilofhislife。\"Comeon,now!\"
ThetemptationwasmorethanSimmonscouldresist,fortheCorporalinhiswhiteclothesofferedaperfectmark。
\"Don’tmisnameme,\"shoutedSimmons,firingashespoke。Theshotmissed,andtheshooter,blindwithrage,threwhisrifledownandrushedatSlanefromtheprotectionofthewell。Withinstrikingdistance,hekickedsavagelyatSlane’sstomach,buttheweedyCorporalknewsomethingofSimmons’sweakness,andknew,too,thedeadlyguardforthatkick。Bowingforwardanddrawinguphisrightlegtilltheheeloftherightfootwassetsomethreeinchesabovetheinsideoftheleftknee-cap,hemettheblowstandingononeleg——exactlyasGondsstandwhentheymeditate——andreadyforthefallthatwouldfollow。Therewasanoath,theCorporalfelloverhisownleftasshinbonemetshinbone,andthePrivatecollapsed,hisrightlegbrokenaninchabovetheankle。
\"’Pityyoudon’tknowthatguard,Sim,\"saidSlane,spittingoutthedustasherose。Thenraisinghisvoice——\"Comean’takehimorf。
I’vebruk’isleg。\"Thiswasnotstrictlytrue,forthePrivatehadaccomplishedhisowndownfall,sinceitisthespecialmeritofthatleg-guardthattheharderthekickthegreaterthekicker’sdiscomfiture。
SlanewalkedtoJerryBlazesandhungoverhimwithostentatiousanxiety,whileSimmons,weepingwithpain,wascarriedaway。\"
’Opeyouain’t’urtbadly,Sir,\"saidSlane。TheMajorhadfainted,andtherewasanugly,raggedholethroughthetopofhisarm。
Slanekneltdownandmurmured。\"S’elpme,Ibelieve’e’sdead。
Well,ifthatain’tmybloomingluckallover!\"
ButtheMajorwasdestinedtoleadhisBatteryafieldformanyalongdaywithunshakennerve。Hewasremoved,andnursedandpettedintoconvalescence,whiletheBatterydiscussedthewisdomofcapturingSimmons,andblowinghimfromagun。TheyidolizedtheirMajor,andhisreappearanceonparadebroughtaboutascenenowhereprovidedforintheArmyRegulations。
Great,too,wastheglorythatfelltoSlane’sshare。TheGunnerswouldhavemadehimdrunkthriceadayforatleastafortnight。
EventheColonelofhisownregimentcomplimentedhimuponhiscoolness,andthelocalpapercalledhimahero。Thesethingsdidnotpuffhimup。WhentheMajorofferedhimmoneyandthanks,thevirtuousCorporaltooktheoneandputasidetheother。Buthehadarequesttomakeandprefaceditwithmanya\"Begy’pardon,Sir。\"CouldtheMajorseehiswaytolettingtheSlaneM’KennaweddingbeadornedbythepresenceoffourBatteryhorsestopullahiredbarouche?TheMajorcould,andsocouldtheBattery。
Excessivelyso。Itwasagorgeouswedding。
******
\"WotdidIdoitfor?\"saidCorporalSlane。\"Forthe’orsesO’
course。Jhansiain’tabeautytolookat,butIwasn’tgoin’to’aveahiredturn-out。JerryBlazes?IfI’adn’t’a’wantedsomething,Simmightha’blowedJerryBlazes’blooming’eadintoHirishstewforaughtI’d’a’cared。\"
AndtheyhangedPrivateSimmons-hangedhimashighasHamaninhollowsquareoftheregiment;andtheColonelsaiditwasDrink;andtheChaplainwassureitwastheDevil;andSimmonsfancieditwasboth,buthedidn’tknow,andonlyhopedhisfatewouldbeawarningtohiscompanions;andhalfadozen\"intelligentpublicists\"wrotesixbeautifulleadingarticleson\"’ThePrevalenceofCrimeintheArmy。\"
Butnotasoulthoughtofcomparingthe\"bloody-mindedSimmons\"tothesquawking,gapingschoolgirlwithwhichthisstoryopens。
TheEnlightenmentsofPagett,M。P。
\"Becausehalfadozengrasshoppersunderafernmakethefieldringwiththeirimportunatechinkwhilethousandsofgreatcattle,reposedbeneaththeshadowoftheBritishoak,chewthecudandaresilent,praydonotimaginethatthosewhomakethenoisearetheonlyinhabitantsofthefield-that,ofcourse,theyaremanyinnumberorthat,afterall,theyareotherthanthelittle,shrivelled,meagre,hopping,thoughloudandtroublesomeinsectsofthehour。\"-Burke:\"ReflectionsontheRevolutioninFrance。\"
THEYweresittingintheverandaof\"thesplendidpalaceofanIndianPro-Consul\";surroundedbyallthegloryandmysteryoftheimmemorialEast。InplainEnglishitwasaone-storied,ten-roomed,whitewashed,mud-roofedbungalow,setinadrygardenofdustytamarisktreesanddividedfromtheroadbyalowmudwall。Thegreenparrotsscreamedoverheadastheyflewinbattalionstotheriverfortheirmorningdrink。Beyondthewall,cloudsoffinedustshowedwherethecattleandgoatsofthecitywerepassingafieldtograze。TheremorselesswhitelightofthewintersunshineofNorthernIndialayuponeverythingandimprovednothing,fromthewhiningPeisian-wheelbythelawn-tenniscourttothelongperspectiveoflevelroadandtheblue,domedtombsofMohammedansaintsjustvisibleabovethetrees。
\"AHappyNewYear,\"saidOrdetohisguest。\"It’sthefirstyou’veeverspentoutofEngland,isn’tit?\"
\"Yes。’HappyNewYear,\"saidPagett,smilingatthesunshine。
\"Whatadivineclimateyouhavehere!JustthinkofthebrowncoldfoghangingoverLondonnow!\"Andherubbedhishands。
ItwasmorethantwentyyearssincehehadlastseenOrde,hisschoolmate,andtheirpathsintheworldhaddividedearly。Theonehadquittedcollegetobecomeacog-wheelinthemachineryofthegreatIndianGovernment;theothermoreblessedwithgoods,hadbeenwhirledintoasimilarpositionintheEnglishscheme。
ThreesuccessiveelectionshadnotaffectedPagett’spositionwithaloyalconstituency,andhehadgrowninsensiblytoregardhimselfinsomesortasapillaroftheEmpire,whoserealworthwouldbeknownlateron。Afterafewyearsofconscientiousattendanceatmanydivisions,afternewspaperbattlesinnumerableandthepublicationofinterminablecorrespondence,andmorehastyoratorythaninhiscalmermomentshecaredtothinkupon,itoccurredtohim,asithadoccurredtomanyofhisfellowsinParliament,thatatourtoIndiawouldenablehimtosweepalargerlyreandaddresshimselftotheproblemsofImperialadministrationwithafirmerhand。Accepting,therefore,ageneralinvitationextendedtohimbyOrdesomeyearsbefore,PagetthadtakenshiptoKarachi,andonlyover-nighthadbeenreceivedwithjoybytheDeputy-CommissionerofAmara。Theyhadsatlate,discussingthechangesandchancesoftwentyyears,recallingthenamesofthedead,andweighingthefuturesoftheliving,asisthecustomofmenmeetingafterintervalsofaction。
Nextmorningtheysmokedtheafterbreakfastpipeintheveranda,stillregardingeachothercuriously,Pagett,inalightgreyfrock-coatandgarmentsmuchtoothinforthetimeoftheyear,andapuggriedsun-hatcarefullyandwonderfullymade。Ordeinashootingcoat,ridingbreeches,browncowhidebootswithspurs,andabatteredflaxhelmet。Hehadriddensomemilesintheearlymorningtoinspectadoubtfulriverdam。Themen’sfacesdifferedasmuchastheirattire。Orde’swornandwrinkledaroundtheeyes,andgrizzledatthetemples,wastheharderandmoresquareofthetwo,anditwaswithsomethinglikeenvythattheownerlookedatthecomfortableoutlinesofPagett’sblandlyreceptivecountenance,theclearskin,theuntroubledeye,andthemobile,clean-shavedlips。
\"AndthisisIndia!\"saidPagettforthetwentiethtimestaringlongandintentlyatthegreyfeatheringoftbetamarisks。
\"OneportionofIndiaonly。It’sverymuchlikethisfor300milesineverydirection。Bytheway,nowthatyouhaverestedalittle——I
wouldn’tasktheoldquestionbefore——whatd’youthinkofthecountry?\"
’Tisthemostpervasivecountrythateveryetwasseen。IacquiredseveralpoundsofyourcountrycomingupfromKarachi。Theairisheavywithit,andformilesandmilesalongthatdistressfuleternityofrailthere’snohorizontoshowwhereairandearthseparate。\"
\"Yes。Itisn’teasytoseetrulyorfarinIndia。Butyouhadadecentpassageout,hadn’tyou?\"
\"Verygoodonthewhole。YourAnglo-Indianmaybeunsympatheticaboutone’spoliticalviews;buthehasreducedshiplifetoascience。\"
\"TheAnglo-Indianisapoliticalorphan,andifhe’swisehewon’tbeinahurrytobeadoptedbyyourpartygrandmothers。Buthowwereyourcompanions,unsympathetic?\"
\"Well,therewasamancalledDawlishe,ajudgesomewhereinthiscountryitseems,andacapitalpartneratwhistbytheway,andwhenIwantedtotalktohimabouttheprogressofIndiainapoliticalsense(Ordehidagrin,whichmightormightnothavebeensympathetic),theNationalCongressmovement,andotherthingsinwhich,asaMemberofParliament,I’mofcourseinterested,heshiftedthesubject,andwhenIoncecorneredhim,helookedmecalmlyintheeye,andsaid:’That’sallTommyrot。
ComeandhaveagameatBull。’Youmaylaugh;butthatisn’tthewaytotreatagreatandimportantquestion;and,knowingwhoI
was。well。Ithoughtitratherrude,don’tyouknow;andyetDawlisheisathoroughlygoodfellow。\"
\"Yes;he’safriendofmine,andoneofthestraightestmenIknow。
Isuppose,likemanyAnglo-Indians,hefeltitwashopelesstogiveyouanyjustideaofanyIndianquestionwithoutthedocumentsbeforeyou,andinthiscasethedocumentsyouwantarethecountryandthepeople。\"
\"Precisely。ThatwaswhyIcamestraighttoyou,bringinganopenmindtobearonthings。I’manxioustoknowwhatpopularfeelinginIndiaisreallylikey’know,nowthatithaswakenedintopoliticallife。TheNationalCongress,inspiteofDawlishe,musthavecausedgreatexcitementamongthemasses?\"
\"Onthecontrary,nothingcouldbemoretranquilthanthestateofpopularfeeling;andastoexcitement,thepeoplewouldassoonbeexcitedoverthe’RuleofThree’asovertheCongress。\"
\"Excuseme,Orde,butdoyouthinkyouareafairjudge?Isn’ttheofficialAnglo-Indiannaturallyjealousofanyexternalinfluencesthatmightmovethemasses,andsomuchopposedtoliberalideas,trulyliberalideas,thathecanscarcelybeexpectedtoregardapopularmovementwithfairness?\"
\"WhatdidDawlishesayaboutTommyRot?Thinkamoment,oldman。YouandIwerebroughtuptogether;taughtbythesametutors,readthesamebooks,livedthesamelife,andnewlanguages,andworkamongnewraces;whileyou,morefortunate,remainathome。WhyshouldIchangemymindourmind-becauseIchangemysky?WhyshouldIandthefewhundredEnglishmeninmyservicebecomeunreasonable,prejudicedfossils,whileyouandyournewerfriendsaloneremainbrightandopen-minded?
Yousurelydon’tfancyciviliansaremembersofaPrimroseLeague?\"
\"Ofcoursenot,butthemerepositionofanEnglishofficialgiveshimapointofviewwhichcannotbutbiashismindonthisquestion。\"Pagettmovedhiskneeupanddownalittleuneasilyashespoke。
\"Thatsoundsplausibleenough,but,likemoreplausiblenotionsonIndianmatters,Ibelieveit’samistake。You’llfindwhenyoucometoconsulttheunofficialBritonthatourfault,asaclass——Ispeakoftheciviliannow-israthertomagnifytheprogressthathasbeenmadetowardliberalinstitutions。ItisofEnglishorigin,suchasitis,andthestressofourworksincetheMutiny——onlythirtyyearsago——hasbeeninthatdirection。No,IthinkyouwillgetnofairerormoredispassionateviewoftheCongressbusinessthansuchmenasIcangiveyou。ButImayaswellsayatoncethatthosewhoknowmostofIndia,fromtheinside,areinclinedtowonderatthenoiseourscarcelybegunexperimentmakesinEngland。\"
\"ButsurelythegatheringtogetherofCongressdelegatesisofitselfanewthing。\"
\"There’snothingnewunderthesunWhenEuropewasajunglehalfAsiaflockedtothecanonicalconferencesofBuddhism;andforcenturiesthepeoplehavegatheredatPun,Hurdwar,Trimbak,andBenaresinimmensenumbers。Agreatmeeting,whatyoucallamassmeeting,isreallyoneoftheoldestandmostpopularofIndianinstitutionsInthecaseoftheCongressmeetings,theonlynotablefactisthatthepriestsofthealtarareBritish,notBuddhist,JamorBrahmanical,andthatthewholethingisaBritishcontrivancekeptalivebytheeffortsofMessrs。Hume,Eardley,Norton,andDigby。\"
\"Youmeantosay,then,itsnotaspontaneousmovement?\"
\"Whatmovementwaseverspontaneousinanytruesenseoftheword?Thisseemstobemorefactitiousthanusual。Youseemtoknowagreatdealaboutit;tryitbythetouchstoneofsubscriptions,acoarsebutfairlytrustworthycriterion,andthereisscarcelythecolorofmoneyinit。ThedelegateswritefromEnglandthattheyareoutofpocketforworkingexpenses,railwayfares,andstationery——themerepasteboardandscaffoldingoftheirshow。Itis,infact,collapsingfrommerefinancialinanition。\"
\"ButyoucannotdenythatthepeopleofIndia,whoare,perhaps,toopoortosubscribe,arementallyandmorallymovedbytheagitation,\"Pagettinsisted。
\"ThatispreciselywhatIdodeny。Thenativesideofthemovementistheworkofalimitedclass,amicroscopicminority,asLordDufferindescribedit,whencomparedwiththepeopleproper,butstillaveryinterestingclass,seeingthatitisofourowncreation。ItiscomposedalmostentirelyofthoseoftheliteraryorclerklycasteswhohavereceivedanEnglisheducation。\"
\"Surelythatsaveryimportantclass。Itsmembersmustbetheordainedleadersofpopularthought。\"
\"Anywhereelsetheymightheleaders,buttheyhavenosocialweightinthistopsy-turvyland,andthoughtheyhavebeenemployedinclericalworkforgenerationstheyhavenoprac。ticalknowledgeofaffairs。Aship’sclerkisausefulperson,butheitscarcelythecaptain;andanorderly-roomwriter,howeversmarthemaybe,isnotthecolonel。Yousee,thewriterclassinIndiahasnevertillnowaspiredtoanythinglikecommand。Itwasntallowedto。TheIndiangentleman,forthousandsofyearspast,hasresembledVictorHugo’snoble:
’UnvraisireChatelainLaisseecrireLevilain。
SamaindigneQuandilsigneEgratigneLevelin。
Andthelittleegralignureshemostlikestomakehavebeenscoredprettydeeplybythesword。\"
\"Butthisischildishandmedhevalnonsense!\"
\"Precisely;andfromyour,orratherour,pointofviewthepenismightierthanthesword。Inthiscountryit’sotherwise。ThefaultliesinourIndianbalances,notyetadjustedtocivilizedweightsandmeasures。\"
\"Well,atallevents,thisliteraryclassrepresentthenaturalaspirationsandwishesofthepeopleatlarge,thoughitmaynotexactlyleadthem,and,inspiteofallyousay,Orde,IdefyyoutofindareallysoundEnglishRadicalwhowouldnotsympathizewiththoseaspirations。\"
Pagettspokewithsomewarmth,andhehadscarcelyceasedwhenawellappointeddog-cartturnedintothecompoundgates,andOrderosesaying:
\"HereisEdwards,theMasteroftheLodgeIneglectsodiligently,cometotalkaboutaccounts,Isuppose。\"
AsthevehicledroveupundertheporchPagettalsorose,sayingwiththetrainedeffusionbornofmuchpractice:
\"Butthisisalsomyfriend,myoldandvaluedfriendEdwards。I’mdelightedtoseeyou。IknewyouwereinIndia,butnotexactlywhere。\"
\"Thenitisn’taccounts,Mr。Edwards,\"saidOrde,cheerily。
\"Why,no,sir;IheardMr。Pagettwascoming,andasourworkswereclosedfortheNewYearIthoughtIwoulddriveoverandseehim。\"
\"Averyhappythought。Mr。Edwards,youmaynotknow,Orde,wasaleadingmemberofourRadicalClubatSwitebtonwhenI
wasbeginningpoliticallife,andIowemuchtohisexertions。
There’snopleasurelikemeetinganoldfriend,except,perhaps,makinganewone。Isuppose,Mr。Edwards,yousticktothegoodoldcause?\"
\"Well,yousee,sir,thingsaredifferentouthere。There’spreciouslittleonecanfindtosayagainsttheGovernment,whichwasthemainofourtalkathome,andthemthatdosaythingsarenotthesorto’peopleamanwhorespectshimselfwouldliketobemixedupwith。Therearenopolitics,inamannerofspeaking,inIndia。
It’sallwork。\"
\"Surelyyouaremistaken,mygoodfriend。WhyIhavecomeallthewayfromEnglandjusttoseetheworkingofthisgreatNationalmovement。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhereyou’regoingtofindthenationasmovestobeginwith,andthenyou’llbehardputtoittofindwhattheyaremovingabout。It’slikethis,sir,\"saidEdwards,whohadnotquiterelishedbeingcalled\"mygoodfriend。\"\"Theyhaven’tgotanygrievance——nothingtohitwith,don’tyousee,sir;andthenthere’snotmuchtohitagainst,becausetheGovernmentismorelikeakindofgeneralProvidence,directinganold——establishedstateofthings,thanthatathome,wherethere’ssomethingnewthrowndownforustofightabouteverythreemonths。\"
\"Youareprobably,inyourworkshops,fullofEng’ishmechanics,outofthewayoflearningwhatthemassesthink。\"
\"Idon’tknowsomuchaboutthat。TherearefourofusEnglishforemen,andbetweensevenandeighthundrednativefitters,smiths,carpenters,painters,andsuchlike。\"
\"AndtheyarefulloftheCongress,ofcourse?\"
\"Neverhearawordofitfromyear’sendtoyear’send,andIspeakthetalktoo。ButIwantedtoaskhowthingsaregoingonathome——oldTylerandBrownandtherest?\"
\"Wewillspeakofthempresently,butyouraccountoftheindifferenceofyourmensurprisesmealmostasmuchasyourown。Ifearyouareabacksliderfromthegoodolddoctrine,Edwards。\"Pagettspokeasonewhomournedthedeathofanearrelative。
\"Notabit,Sir,butIshouldbeifItookupwithaparcelofbaboos,pleaders,andschoolboys,asneverdidaday’sworkintheirlives,andcouldn’tiftheytried。AndifyouwastopollusEnglishrailwaymen,mechanics,tradespeople,andthelikeofthatallupanddownthecountryfromPeshawurtoCalcutta,youwouldfindusmostlyinataletogether。Andyetyouknowwe’rethesameEnglishyoupaysomerespecttoathomeat’lectiontime,andwehavethepullo’knowingsomethingaboutit。\"
\"Thisisverycurious,butyouwillletmecomeandseeyou,andperhapsyouwillkindlyshowmetherailwayworks,andwewilltalkthingsoveratleisure。Andaboutalloldfriendsandoldtimes,\"addedPagett,detectingwithquickinsightalookofdisappointmentinthemechanic’sface。
NoddingbrieflytoOrde,Edwardsmountedhisdog-cartanddroveoff。
\"It’sverydisappointing,\"saidtheMembertoOrde,who,whilehisfrienddiscoursedwithEdwards,hadbeenlookingoverabundleofsketchesdrawnongreypaperinpurpleink,broughttohimbyaChuprassee。
\"Don’tletittroubleyou,oldchap,\"’saidOrde,sympathetically。
\"Lookhereamoment,herearesomesketchesbythemanwhomadethecarvedwoodscreenyouadmiredsomuchinthedining-room,andwantedacopyof,andtheartisthimselfisheretoo。\"
\"Anative?\"saidPagett。
\"Ofcourse,\"wasthereply,\"BishenSiaghishisname,andhehastwobrotherstohelphim。Whenthereisanimportantjobtodo,thethreego’atopartnership,buttheyspendmostoftheirtimeandalltheirmoneyinlitigationoveraninheritance,andI’mafraidtheyaregettinginvolved,ThoroughbredSikhsoftheoldrock,obstinate,touchy,bigoted,andcunning,butgoodmenforallthat。
HereisBishenSingn-shallweaskhimabouttheCongress?\"
ButBishenSingh,whoapproachedwitharespectfulsalaam,hadneverheardofit,andhelistenedwithapuzzledfaceandobviouslyfeignedinteresttoOrde’saccountofitsaimsandobjects,finallyshakinghisvastwhiteturbanwithgreatsignificancewhenhelearnedthatitwaspromotedbycertampleadersnamedbyOrde,andbyeducatednatives。Hebeganwithlaboredrespecttoexplainhowhewasapoormanwithnoconcerninsuchmatters,whichwereallunderthecontrolofGod,butpresentlybrokeoutofUrduintofamiliarPunjabi,themeresoundofwhichhadarusticsmackofvillagesmoke-reekandplough-tail,ashedenouncedthewearersofwhitecoats,thejugglerswithwordswhofilchedhisfieldfromhim,themenwhosebackswereneverbowedinhonestwork;andpouredironicalscornontheBengali。HeandoneofhisbrothershadseenCalcutta,andbeingatworktherehadBengalicarpentersgiventothemasassistants。
\"Thosecarpenters!\"saidBishenSingh。\"Blackapesweremoreefficientworkmates,andasfortheBengalibabu-tchick!\"Thegutturalclickneedednointerpretation,butOrdetranslatedtherest,whilePagettgazedwithin……terestatthewood-carver。
\"HeseemstohaveamostilliberalprejudiceagainsttheBengali,\"
saidtheM。P。
\"Yes,it’sverysadthatforagesoutsideBengalthereshouldhesobitteraprejudice。Prideofrace,whichalsomeansrace-hatred,istheplagueandcurseofIndiaanditspreadsfar,\"pointedwithhisriding-whiptothelargemapofIndiaontheverandawall。
\"See!IbeginwiththeNorth,\"saidhe。\"There’stheAfghan,and,asahighlander,hedespisesallthedwellersinHindoostan-withtheexceptionoftheSikh,whomhehatesascordiallyastheSikhhateshim。TheHinduloathesSikhandAfghan,andtheRajput——that’salittlelowerdownacrossthisyellowblotofdesert——hasastrongobjection,toputitmildly,totheMarathawho,bytheway,poisonouslyhatestheAfghan。Let’sgoNorthaminute。TheSindhihateseverybodyI’vementioned。Verygood,we’lltakelesswarlikeraces。ThecultivatorofNorthernIndiadomineersoverthemaninthenextprovince,andtheBeharioftheNorthwestridiculestheBengali。Theyareallatoneonthatpoint。I’mgivingyoumerelytheroughestpossibleoutlinesofthefacts,ofcourse。\"
BishenSingh,hiscleancutnostrilsstillquivering,watchedthelargesweepofthewhipasittraveledfromthefrontier,throughSindh,thePunjabandRajputana,tillitrestedbythevalleyoftheJumna\"Hate——eternalandinextinguishablehate,\"concludedOrde,flickingthelashofthewhipacrossthelargemapfromEasttoWestashesatdown。\"RememberCanning’sadvicetoLordGranville,’NeverwriteorspeakofIndianthingswithoutlookingatamap。’\"
Pagettopenedhiseyes,Orderesumed。\"Andtherace-hatredisonlyapartofit。What’sreallythematterwithBisbenSinghisclass-hatred,which,unfortunately,isevenmoreintenseandmorewidelyspread。That’soneofthelittledrawbacksofcaste,whichsomeofyourrecentEnglishwritersfindanimpeccablesystem。\"
Thewood-carverwasgladtoberecalledtothebusinessofhiscraft,andhiseyesshoneashereceivedinstructionsforacarvedwoodendoorwayforPagett,whichhepromisedshouldbesplendidlyexecutedanddespatchedtoEnglandinsixmonths。Itisanirrelevantdetail,butinspiteofOrde’sreminders,fourteenmonthselapsedbeforetheworkwasfinished。Businessover,BishenSinghhungabout,reluctanttotakehisleave,andatlastjoininghishandsandapproachingOrdewithbatedbreathandwhisperinghum。bleness,saidhehadapetitiontomake。Orde’sfacesuddenlylostalltraceofexpression。\"Speakon,BishenSingh,\"saidhe,andthecarverinawhiningtoneexplainedthathiscaseagainsthisbrotherswasfixedforhearingb&foreanativejudgeand-herehedroppedhisvoicestilllowertidhewassummarilystoppedbyOrde,whosternlypointedtothegatewithanemphaticBegone!
BishenSingh,showingbutlittlesignofdiscomposure,salaamedrespectfullytothefriendsanddeparted。
Pagettlookedinquiry;Ordewithcompleterecoveryofhisusualurbanity,replied:\"It’snothing,onlytheoldstory,hewantshiscasetobetriedbyanEnglishjudge-theyalldothat-butwhenhebegantohintthattheothersidewereinimproperrelationswiththenativejudgeIhadtoshuthimup。GungaRam,themanhewantedtomakeinsinuationsabout,maynotbeverybright;buthe’sashonestasday-lightonthebench。Butthat’sjustwhatonecan’tgetanativetobelieve。\"
\"DoyoureallymeantosaythesepeopleprefertohavetheircasestriedbyEnglishjudges?\"
’Why,certainly。\"
Pagettdrewalongbreath。\"Ididn’tknowthatbefore。\"Atthispointaphaetonenteredthecompound,andOrderosewith\"Confoundit,there’soldRasulAhKhancometopayoneofhistiresomedutycalls。I’mafraidweshallnevergetthroughourlittleCongressdiscussion。\"
PagettwasanaimostsilentspectatorofthegraveformalitiesofavisitpaidbyapunctiliousoldMahommedangentlemantoanIndianofficial;andwasmuchimpressedbythedistinctionofmannerandfineappearanceoftheMohammedanlandholder。
Whentheexhangeofpolitebanalitiescametoapause,heexpressedawishtolearnthecourtlyvisitor’sopinionoftheNationalCongress。
Ordereluctantlyinterpreted,andwithasmilewhichevenMohammedanpolitenesscouldnotsavefrombitterscorn,RasulAhKhanintimatedthatheknewnothingaboutitandcaredstillless。ItwasakindoftalkencouragedbytheGovernmentforsomemysteriouspurposeofitsown,andforhisownparthewonderedandheldhispeace。
Pagettwasfarfromsatisfiedwiththis,andwishedtohavetheoldgentleman’sopinionontheproprietyofmanagingallIndianaffairsonthebasisofanelectivesystem。
Ordedidhisbesttoexplain,butitwasplainthevisitorwasboredandbewildered。Frankly,hedidn’tthinkmuchofcommittees;theyhadaMunicipalCommitteeatLahoreandhadelectedamenialservant,anorderly,asamember。Hehadbeeninformedofthisongoodauthority,andafterthat,committeeshadceasedtointeresthim。ButallwasaccordingtotheruleofGovernment,and,pleaseGod,itwasallforthebest。
\"Whatanoldfossilitis!\"criedPagett,asOrdereturnedfromseeinghisguesttothedoor;\"justlikesomeoldblue-bloodedhidalgoofSpain。WhatdoeshereallythinkoftheCongressafterall,andoftheelectivesystem?\"
\"Hatesitalllikepoison。Whenyouaresureofamajority,electionisafinesystem;butyoucanscarcelyexpecttheMahommedans,themastmasterfulandpowerfulminorityinthecountry,tocontemplatetheirownextinctionwithjoy。Theworstofitisthatheandhisco-religionists,whoaremany,andthelandedproprietors,also,ofHindurace,arefrightenedandputoutbythiselectiopbusinessandbytheimportancewehavebestowedonlawyers,pleaders,writers,andthelike,whohave,uptonow,beeninabjectsubmissiontothem。Theysaylittle,hutafteralltheyarethemostimportantfagotsinthegreatbundleofcommunities,andalltheglibbunkumintheworldwouldnotpayfortheirestrangement。Theyhavecontrolledtheland。\"
\"ButIamassuredthatexperienceoflocalself-governmentinyourmunicipalitieshasbeenmostsatisfactory,andwhenoncetheprincipleisacceptedinyourcentres,don’tyouknow,itisboundtospread,andtheseimportant——ah’mpeopleofyourswouldlearnitliketherest。Iseenodifficultyatall,\"andthesmoothlipsclosedwiththecomplacentsnaphabitualtoPagett,M。P。,the\"manofcheerfulyesterdaysandconfidentto-morrows。\"
Ordelookedathimwithadrearysmile。
\"Theprivilegeofelectionhasbeenmostreluctantlywithdrawnfromscoresofmunicipalities,othershavehadtobesummarilysuppressed,and,outsidethePresidencytowns,theactualworkdonehasbeenbadlyperformed。Thisisoflessmoment,perhaps-itonlysendsupthelocaldeath-rates-thanthefactthatthepublicinterestinmunicipalelections,neververystrong,haswaned,andiswaning,inspiteofcarefulnursingonthepartofGovernmentservants。\"
\"Canyouexplainthislackofinterest?\"saidPagett,puttingasidetherestofOrde’sremarks。
\"Youmayfindawardofthekeyinthefactthatonlyoneineverythousandafourpopulationcanspell。Thentheyareinfinitelymoreinterestedinreligionandcastequestionsthaninanysortofpolitics。Whenthebusinessofmereexistenceisover,theirmindsareoccupiedbyaseriesofinterests,pleasures,rituals,superstitions,andthelike,basedoncenturiesoftraditionandusage。You,perhaps,findithardtoconceiveofpeopleabsolutelydevoidofcuriosity,towhomthebook,thedailypaper,andtheprintedspeechareunknown,andyouwoulddescribetheirlifeasblank。That’saprofoundmistake。Youareinanotherland,anothercentury,downonthebed-rockofsociety,wherethefamilymerely,andnotthecommunity,isall-important。TheaverageOrientalcannotbebroughttolookbeyondhisclan。Hislife,too,isnaorecompleteandself-sufficing,andlesssordidandlow-thoughtedthanyoumightimagine。Itisbovineandslowinsomerespects,butitisneverempty。YouandI
areinclinedtoputthecartbeforethehorse,andtoforgetthatitisthemanthatiselemental,notthebook。
’Thecornandthecattleareallmycare,AndtherestisthewillofGod。’
Whyshouldsuchfolklookupfromtheirimmemoriallyappointedroundofdutyandintereststomeddlewiththeunknownandfusswithvoting-papers。Howwouldyou,atopofallyourinterestscaretoconductevenone-tenthofyourlifeaccordingtothemannersandcustomsofthePapuans,let’ssay?That’swhatitcomesto。\"
\"Butiftheywon’ttakethetroubletovote,whydoyouanticipatethatMohammedans,proprietors,andtherestwouldbecrushedbymajoritiesofthem?\"
AgainPagettdisregardedtheclosingsentence。
\"Because,thoughthelandholderswouldnotmoveafingeronanypurelypoliticalquestion,theycouldberaisedindangerousexcitementbyreligioushatreds。Alreadythefirstnoteofthishasbeensoundedbythepeoplewhoaretryingtogetupanagitationonthecow-killingquestion,andeveryyearthereistroubleovertheMohammedanMuharrumprocessions。
\"Butwholooksafterthepopularrights,beingthusunrepresented?\"
\"TheGovernmentofHcrMajestytheQueen,EmpressofIndia,inwhich,iftheCongresspromotersaretobebelieved,thepeoplehaveanimplicittrust;fortheCongresscircular,speciallypreparedforrusticcomprehension,saysthemovementis’fortheremissionoftax,theadvancementofHindnstan,andthestrengtheningoftheBritishGovemment。’Thispaperisheadedinlargeletters-
’MAVTHEPROSPEEITYOFTHEEMPIREOFINDIA
ENDURE。\"’
\"Really!\"saidPagett,\"thatshowssomecleverness。Buttherearethingsbetterworthimi’ationinourEnglishmethodsof-er-politicalstatementthanthissortofamiablefraud。\"
\"Anyhow,\"resumedOrde,\"youperceivethatnotawordissaidaboutelectionsandtheelectiveprinciple,andthereticenceoftheCongresspromotershereshowstheyarewiseintheirgeneration。\"
\"Buttheelectiveprinciplemusttriumphintheend,andthelittledifficultiesyouseemtoanticipatewouldgivewayontheintroductionofawell-balancedscheme,capableofindefiniteextension。\"
\"Butisitpossibletodeviseaschemewhich,alwaysassumingthatthepeopletookanyinterestinit,withoutenormousexpense,ruinousdislocationoftheadminist:ationanddangertothepublicpeace,cansatisfytheaspirationsofMr。Humeandhisfollowing,andyetsafeguardtheinterestsoftheMahommedans,thelandedandwealthyclasses,theConservativeHindus,theEurasians,Parsees,Sikhs,Rajputs,nativeChristians,domiciledEuropeansandothers,whoareeachimportantandpowerfulintheirway?\"
Pagett’sattention,however,wasdivertedtothegate,whereagroupofcultivatorsstoodinapparenthesitation。
\"HerearethetwelveApostles,hyJove-comestraightoutofRaffaele’scartoons,\"saidtheM。P。,withthefreshappreciationofanewcomer。
Orde,lothtobeinterrupted,turnedimpatientlytowardthevillagers,andtheirleader,handinghislongstafftooneofhiscompanions,advancedtothehouse。
\"ItisoldJelbo,theLumherdar,orhead-manofPindSharkot,andavery’intelligentmanforavillager。\"
TheJatfarmerhadremovedhisshoesandstoodsmilingontheedgeoftheveranda。Hisstronglymarkedfeaturesglowedwithrussetbronze,andhisbrighteyesgleamedunderdeeplysetbrows,contractedbylifelongexposuretosunshine。HisbeardandmoustachestreakedwithgreysweptfromboldcliffsofbrowandcheekinthelargesweepsoneseesdrawnbyMichaelAngelo,andstrandsoflongblackhairmingledwiththeirregularlypiledwreathsandfoldsofhisturban。Thedraperyofstoutbluecottoncloththrownoverhisbroadshouldersandgirtroundhisnarrowloins,hungfromhistallforminbroadlysculpturedfolds,andhewouldhavemadeasuperbmodelforanartistinsearchofapatriarch。
Ordegreetedhimcordially,andafterapolitepausethecountrymanstartedoffwithalongstorytoldwithimpressiveearnestness。Ordelistenedandsmiled,interruptingthespeakerat’timestoargueandreasonwithhiminatonewhichPagettcouldhearwaskindly,andfinallycheckingthefluxofwordswasabouttodismisshim,whenPagettsuggestedthatheshouldbeaskedabouttheNationalCongress。
ButJellochadneverheardofit。Hewasapoormanandsuchthings,bythefavorofhisHonor,didnotconcernhim。
\"What’sthematterwithyourbigfriendthathewassoterriblyinearnest?\"askedPagett,whenhehadleft。
\"Nothingmuch。Hewantsthebloodofthepeopleinthenextvillage,whohavehadsmallpoxandcattleplagueprettybadly,andbythehelpofawizard,acurrier,andseveralpigshavepasseditontohisownvillage。’Wantstoknowiftheycan’tberuninforthisawfulcrime。Itseemstheymadeadreadfulcharivariatthevillageboundary,threwaquantityofspell-bearingobjectsovertheborder,abuffalo’sskullandotherthings;thenbrandedachamur-whatyouwouldcallacurrier-onhishinderpartsanddrovehimandanumberofpigsoverintoJelIno’svillage。Jelbosayshecanbringevidencetoprovethatthewizarddirectingtheseproceedings,whoisaSansi,hasbeenguiltyoftheft,arson,rattle-killing,perjuryandmurder,butwouldprefertohavehimpunishedforbewitchingthemandinflictingsmall-pox。\"
\"Andhowonearthdidyouanswersuchalunatic?\"
\"LunaticItheoldfellowisassaneasyouorI;andhehassomegroundofcomplaintagainstthoseSansis。Iaskedifhewouldlikcanativesuperintendentofpolicewithsomementomakeinquiries,butheobjectedonthegroundsthepolicewereratherworsethansmallpoxandcriminaltribesputtogether。\"
\"Criminaltribes-er-Idon’tquiteunderstand,\"saidPaget~
\"WehaveinIndiamanytribesofpeoplewhointheslackanti-Britishdaysbecamerobbers,invariouskind。andpreye~onthepeople。Theyarebeingrestrainedandreclaimedlittlebylittle,andintimewillbecomeuseful;citizens,buttheystillcherishhereditarytraditionsofcrime,andareadifficultlottodealwith。
Bythewaywhat;aboutthepoliticalrightsofthesefolkunderyourschemes?Thecountrypeoplecallthemvermin,butIsup-posetheywouldbeelectorswiththerest。\"
\"Nonsense-specialprovisionwouldbemadefortheminawell-consideredelectoralscheme,andtheywoulddoubtlessbetreatedwithfittingseverity,\"saidPagett,withamagisterialair。
\"Severity,yes-butwhetheritwouldbefittingisdoubtful。Eventhosepoordevilshaverights,and,afterall,theyonlypracticewhattheyhavebeentaught。\"
\"Butcriminals,Ordel\"
\"Yes,criminalswithcodesandritualsofcrime,godsandgodlingsofcrime,andahundredsongsandsayingsinpraiseofit。
Puzzling,isn’tit?\"
\"It’ssimplydreadful。Theyoughttobeputdownatonce。Aretheremanyofthem?\"
\"Notmorethanaboutsixtythousandinthisprovince,formanyofthetrlbesbroadlydescribedascriminalarereallyvagabondandcrimlnalonlyonoccasion,whileothersarebeingsettledandreclaimed。Theyareofgreatantiquity,alegacyfromthepast,thegolden,gloriousAryanpastofMaxMuller,Birdwoodandtherestofyourspindriftphilosophers。\"
AnorderlybroughtacardtoOrdewhotookitwithamovementofirritationattheinterruption,andbandedittoPagett;alargecardwitharuledborderinredink,andinthecentreinschoolboycopperplate,Mr。DmaNath。\"Givesalaam,\"saidthecivilian,andthereenteredinhasteaslenderyouth,cladinacloselyfittingcoatofgreyhomespun,tighttrousers,patent-leathershoes,andasmallblackvelvetcap。Histhincheektwitched,andhiseyeswanderedrestlessly,fortheyoungmanwasevidentlynervousanduncomfortable,thoughstrivingtoassumeafreeandeasyair。
\"Yourhonormayperhapsrememberme,\"hesaidinEnglisb,andOrdescannedhimkeenly。
\"Iknowyourfacesomehow。YoubelongedtotheShershahdistrictIthink,whenIwasinchargethere?\"
\"Yes,Sir,myfatheriswriteratShershah,andyourhonorgavemeaprizewhenIwasfirstintheMiddleSchoolexaminationfiveyearsago。SincethenIhaveprosecutedmystudies,andIamnowsecondyear’sstudentintheMissionCollege。\"
\"Ofcourse:youareKedarNath’sson-theboywhosaidhelikedgeographybetterthanplayorsugarcakes,andIdidn’tbelieveyou。Howisyourfathergettingon?\"
\"Heiswell,andhesendshissalaam,buthiscircumstancesaredepressed,andbealsoisdownonhisluck。\"
\"YoulearnEnglishidiom\"。attheMissionCollege,itseems。\"
\"Yes,sir,theyarethebestidioms,andmyfatherorderedmetoaskyourhonortosayawordforhimtothepresentincumbentofyourhonor’sshoes,thelatchetofwhichheisnotworthytoopen,andwhoknowsnotJoseph;forthingsaredifferentatShershahnow,andmyfatherwantspromotion。\"
\"Yourfatherisagoodman,andIwilldowhatIcanforhim。\"
AtthispointatelegramwashandedtoOrde,who,afterglancingatit,saidhemustleavehisyoungfriendwhomheintroducedtoPagett,\"amemberoftheEnglishHouseofCommonswhowishestolearnaboutIndia。\"
OrdebadscarcelyretiredwithhistelegramwhenPagettbegan:
\"PerhapsyoucantellmesomethingoftheNationalCongressmovement?\"
\"Sir,itisthegreatestmovementofmoderntimes,andoneinwhichalledvcatedmenlikeusmustjoin。AllourstudentsarefortheCongress。\"
\"Excepting,Isuppose,Mahommedans,andtheChristians?\"saidPagett,quicktousehisrecentinstruction。
\"Thesearesomemereexceptionstotheuniversalrule。\"
\"ButthepeopleoutsidetheCollege,theworkingclasses,theagriculturists;yourfatherandmother,forinstance。\"
\"Mymother,\"saidtheyoungman,withavisibleefforttobringhimselftopronouncetheword,\"hasnoideas,andmyfatherisnotagriculturist,norworkingclass;heisoftheKayethcaste;buthehadnottheadvantageofacollegiateeducation,andhedoesnotknowmuchoftheCongress。Itisamovementfortheeducatedyoung-man\"-
connectingadjectiveandnouninasortofvocalhyphen。
\"Ah,yes,\"saidPagett,feelinghewasalittleofftherails,\"andwhatarethebenefitsyouexpecttogainbyit?\"
\"Oh,sir,everything。EnglandowesitsgreatnesstoParliamentaryinstitutions,andweshouldatoncegainthesamehighpositioninscaleofnations。Sir,wewishtohavethesciences,thearts,themanufactures,theindustrialfactories,withsteamengines,andothermotivepowersandpublicmeetings,anddebates。Alreadywehaveadebatingclubinconnectionwiththecollege,andelectaMr。Speaker。Sir,theprogressmustcome。YoualsoareaMemberofParliamentandworshipthegreatLordRipon,\"saidtheyouth,breathlessly,andhisblackeyesflashedashefinishedhiscommalesssentences。
\"Well,\"saidPagett,drily,\"ithasnotvetoccurredtometoworshiphisLord-ship,althoughIbelieveheisaveryworthyman,andIamnotsurethatEnglandowesquiteallthethingsyounametotheHouseofCommons。Yousee,myyoungfriend,thegrowthofanationlikeoursisslow,subjecttomanyinfluences,andifyouhavereadyourhistoryaright\"-\"Sir。Iknowitall-all!NormanConquest,MagnaCharta,Runnymede,Reformation,Tudors,Stuarts,Mr。MiltonandMr。Burke,andIhavereadsomethingofMr。HerbertSpencerandGibbon’s’DeclineandFall,’Reynolds’
MysteriesoftheCourt,’andPagettfeltlikeonewhohadpulledthestringofashower-bathunawares,andhastenedtostopthetorrentwithaqtlestionastowhatparticulargrievancesofthepeopleofIndiatheattentionofanelectedassemblyshouldbefirstdirected。ButyoungMr。DmaNathwasslowtoparticularize。
Thereweremany,verymanydemandingconsideration。Mr。
Pagettwouldliketohearofoneortwotypicalexamples。
TheRepealoftheArmsActwasatlastnamed,andthestudentlearnedforthefirsttimethatalicensewasnecessarybeforeanEnglishmancouldcarryaguninEngland。ThennativesofIndiaoughttobeallowedtobecomeVolunteerRiflemeniftheychose,andtheabsoluteequalityoftheOrientalwithhisEuropeanfellow-subjectincivilstatusshouldbeproclaimedonprinciple,andtheIndianArmyshouldbeconsiderablyreduced。Thestudentwasnot,however,preparedwithanswerstoMr。Pagett’smildestquestionsonthesepoints,andhereturnedtovaguegeneralities,leavingtheM。P。somuchimpressedwiththecrudityofhisviewsthathewasgladonOrde’sreturntosaygood-byetohis\"veryinteresting\"youngfriend。
\"WhatdoyouthinkofyoungIndia?\"askedOrde。
\"Curious,verycurious-andcallow。\"
\"Andyet,\"thecivilianreplied,\"onecanscarcelyhelpsympathizingwithhimforhismereyouth’ssake。TheyoungoratorsoftheOxfordUnionarrivedatthesameconclusionsandshoweddoubtlessjustthesameenthusiasm。IftherewereanypoliticalanalogybetweenIndiaandEngland,ifthethousandracesofthisEmpirewereone,iftherewereanychanceevenoftheirlearningtospeakonelanguage,if,inshort,IndiawereaUtopiaofthedebating-room,andnotarealland,thiskindoftalkmightbeworthlisteningto,butitisallbasedonfalseanalogyandignoranceofthefacts。\"
\"Butheisanativeandknowsthefacts。\"
\"HeisasortofEnglishschoolboy,butmarriedthreeyears,andthefatheroftwoweaklings,andknowslessthanmostEnglishschoolboys。Yousawallheisandknows,andsuchideasashehasacquiredaredirectlyhostiletothemostcherishedconvictionsofthevastmajorityofthepeople。\"
\"Butwhatdoeshemeanbysayingheisastudentofamissioncollege?IsheaChristian?\"
\"Hemeantjustwhathesaid,andheisnotaChristian,noreverwillhebe。GoodpeopleinAmerica,ScotlandandEngland,mostofwhomwouldneverdreamofcollegiateeducationfortheirownsons,arepinchingthemselvestobestowitinpurewasteonIndianyouths。Theirschemeisanoblique,subterraneanattackonheathenism;thetheorybeingthatwiththejamofseculareducation,leadingtoaUniversitydegree,thepillofmoralorreligiousinstructionmayhecoaxeddowntheheathengullet。\"
\"Butdoesitsucceed;dotheymakeconverts?\"
\"Theymakenoconverts,forthesubtleOrientalswallowsthejamandrejectsthepill;butthemereexampleofthesober,righteous,andgodlylivesoftheprincipalsandprofessorswhoaremostexcellentanddevotedmen,musthaveacertainmoralvalue。Yet,asLordLansdownepointedouttheotherday,themarketisdangerouslyoverstockedwithgraduatesofourUniversitieswholookforemploymentintheadministration。Animmensenumberareemployed,butyearbyyearthecollegemillsgrindoutincreasinglistsofyouthsforedoomedtofailureanddisappointment,andmeanwhile,trade。manufactures。andtheindustrialartsareneglected,andinfactregardedwithcontemptbyournewliterarymandarinsinposse。\"
\"Butouryoungfriendsaidhewantedsteam-enginesandfactories,\"saidPagett。
\"Yes,hewouldliketodirectsuchconcerns。Hewantstobeginatthetop,formanuallaborisheldtobediscreditable,andhewouldneverdefilehishandsbytheapprenticeshipwhichthearchitects,engineers,andmanufacturersofEnglandcheerfullyundergo;andhewouldbeaghasttolearnthattheleadingnamesofindustrialenterpriseinEnglandbelongedagenerationortwosince,ornowbelong,tomenwhowroughtwiththeirownhands。And,thoughhetalksgliblyofmanufacturers,herefusestoseethattheIndianmanufacturerofthefuturewillbethedespisedworkmanofthepresent。Itwasproposed,forexample,afewweeksago,thatacertainmunicipalityinthisprovinceshouldestablishanelementarytechnicalschoolforthesonsofworkmen。ThestressoftheoppositiontotheplancamefromapleaderwhoowedallhehadtoacollegeeducationbestowedonhimgratisbyGovernmentandmissions。YouwouldhavefanciedsomefineoldcrustedTorysquireofthelastgenerationwasspeaking。’Thesepeople,’hesaid,’wantnoeducation,fortheylearntheirtradesfromtheirfathers,andtoteachaworkman’ssontheelementsofmathematicsandphysicalsciencewouldgivehimideasabovehisbusiness。Theymustbekeptintheirplace,anditwasidletoimaginethattherewasanyscienceinwoodorironwork。’Andhecarriedhispoint。
ButtheIndianworkmanwillriseinthesocialscaleinspiteofthenewliterarycaste。\"
\"InEnglandwehavescarcelybeguntorealizethatthereisanindustrialclassinthiscountry,yet,Isuppose,theexampleofmen,likeEdwardsforinstance,musttell,\"saidPagett,thoughtfully。
\"Thatyoushouldn’tknowmuchaboutitisnaturalenough,fortherearebutfewsourcesofinformation。Indiainthis,asinotherrespects,islikeabadlykeptledger-notwrittenuptodate。AndmenlikeEdwardsare,inreality,missionaries,whobypreceptandexampleareteachingmorelessonsthantheyknow。Onlyafew,however,oftheircrowdsofsubordinatesseemtocaretotrytoemulatethem,andaimatindividualadvancement;therestdropintotheancientIndiancastegr(’ove。\"
\"Howdoyoumean?\"askedhe,\"Well,itisfoundthatthenewrailwayandfactoryworkmen,thefitter,thesmith,theengine-driver,andtherestarealreadyformingseparatehereditarycastes。YoumaynoticethisdownatJamalpurinBengal,oneoftheoldestrailwaycentres;andatotherplaces,andinotherindustries,theyarefollowingthesameinexorableIndianlaw。\"
\"Whichmeans?\"queriedPagett。
\"Itmeansthattherootedhabitofthepeopleistogatherinsmallself-contained,self-sufficingfamilygroupswithnothoughtorcareforanyinterestsbuttheirown-ahabitwhichisscarcelycompatiblewiththerightacceptationoftheelectiveprinciple。\"
\"Yetyoumustadmit,Orde,thatthoughouryoungfriendwasnotabletoexpoundtbefaiththatisinhim,yourIndianarmyistoobig。\"
\"Notnearlybigenoughforitsmainpurpose。And,asasideissue,therearecertainpowerfulminoritiesoffightingfolkwhoseinterestsanAsiaticGovernmentisboundtoconsider。ArmsisasmuchameansoflivelihoodascivilemployunderGovernmentandlaw。AnditwouldbeaheavystrainonBritishbayonetstoholddownSikhs,Jats,Bilochis,Rohillas,Rajputs,Bhils,Dogras,Pahtans,andGurkbastoabidebythedecisionsofanumericalmajorityopposedtotheirinterests。Leavethe’numericalmajority’
toitselfwithouttheBritishbayonets-aflockofsheepmightasreasonablyhopetomanageatroopofcollies。\"
\"ThiscomplaintaboutexcessivegrowthofthearmyisakintoanothercontentionoftheCongressparty。TheyprotestagainstthemalversationofthewholeofthemoneysraisedbyadditionaltaxesasaFamineInsuranceFundtootherpurposes。YoumustbeawarethatthisspecialFamineFundhasallbeenspentonfrontierroadsanddefencesandstrategicrailwayschemesasaprotectionagainstRussia。\"
\"Buttherewasneveraspecialfaminefundraisedbyspecialtaxationandputbyasinabox。Nosaneadministratorwoulddreamofsuchathing。Inatimeofprosperityafinanceminister,rejoicinginamargin,proposedtoannuallyapplyamillionandahalftotheconstructionofrailwaysandcanalsfortheprotectionofdistrictsliabletoscarcity,andtothereductionoftheannualloansforpublicworks。Buttimeswerenotalwaysprosperous,andthefinanceministerhadtochoosewhetherbewouldbanguptheinsuranceschemeforayearorimposefreshtaxation。Whenafarmerhasn’tgotthelittlesurplushehopedtohaveforbuyinganewwagonanddrainingalow-lyingfieldcorner,youdon’taccusehimofmalversation,ifhespendswhathehasonthenecessaryworkoftherestofhisfarm。\"
Aclatterofhoofswasheard,andOrdelookedupwithvexation,buthisbrowclearedasahorsemanhaltedundertheporch。
\"HelIn,Orde!justlookedintoaskifyouarecomingtopoloonTuesday:wewantyoubadlytohelptocrumpleuptheKrabBokbarteam。\"
OrdeexplainedthathehadtogooutintotheDistrict,andwhilethevisitorcomplainedthatthoughgoodmenwouldn’tplay,dufferswerealwayskeen,andthathissidewouldprobalnybebeaten,Pagettrosetolookathismount,ared,latheredBilochmare,withacuriouslyre-likeincurvingoftheears。\"Quitealittlethoroughbredinallotherrespects,\"saidtheM。P。,andOrdepresentedMr。ReginaldBurke,ManageroftheSiadandSialkoteBanktohisfriend。
\"Yes,she’sasgoodastheymake’em,andshe’sallthefemaleI
possessandspoiledinconsequence,aren’tyou,oldgirl?\"saidBurke,pattingthemare’sglossyneckasshebackedandplunged。
\"Mr。Pagett,\"saidOrde,\"hasbeenaskingmeabouttheCongress。
Whatisyouropinion?\"BurketurnedtotheM。P。withafranksmile。
\"Well,ifit’sallthesametoyou,sir,Ishouldsay,DamntheCongress,butthenI’mnopolitician,butonlyabusinessman。\"
\"Youfinditatiresomesubject?\"
\"Yes,it’sallthat,andworsethanthat,forthiskindofagitationisanythingbutwholesomeforthecountry。\"
\"Howdoyoumean?\"
\"Itwouldbealongjobtoexplain,andSaraherewon’tstand,butyouknowhowsensitivecapitalis,andhowtimidinvestorsare。
Allthissortofrotislikelytofrightenthem,andwecan’taffordtofrightenthem。ThepassengersaboardanOceansteamerdon’tfeelreassuredwhentheship’swayisstopped,andtheyheartheworkmen’shammerstinkeringattheenginesdownbelow。TheoldArk’sgoingonallrightassheis,andonlywantsquietandroomtomove。Them’smysentiments,andthoseofsomeotherpeoplewhohavetodowithmoneyandbusiness。\"
\"Thenyouareathick-and-thinsupporteroftheGovernmentasitis。\"
\"Why,no!TheIndianGovernmentismuchtootimidwithitsmoney-likeanoldmaidenauntofmine-alwaysinafunkaboutherinvestments。Theydon’tspendhalfenoughonrailwaysforinstance,andtheyareslowinageneralway,andoughttobemadetositupinallthatconcernstheencouragementofprivateenterprise,andcoaxingoutintousethemillionsofcapitalthatliedormantinthecountry。\"
Themarewasdancingwithimpatience,andBurkewasevidentlyanxioustobeoff,sothemenwishedhimgood-bye。
\"WhoisyourgenialfriendwhocondemnsbothCongressandGovernmentinabreath?\"askedPagett,withanamusedsmile。
\"JustnowheisReggieBurke,keeneronpolothanonanythingelse,butifyougototheSindandSialkoteBankto-morrowyouwouldfindMr。ReginaldBurkeaverycapablemanofbusiness,knownandlikedbyanimmenseconstituencyNorthandSouthofthis。\"
\"DoyouthinkheisrightabouttheGovernment’swantofenterpnse?\"
\"Ishouldhesitatetosay。BetterconsultthemerchantsandchambersofcommerceinCawnpore,Madras,Bombay,andCalcutta。Butthoughthesebodieswouldlike,asReggieputsit,tomakeGovernmentsitup,itisanelementaryconsiderationingoverningacountrylikeIndia,whichmustbeadministeredforthebenefitofthepeopleatlarge,thatthecounselsofthosewhoresorttoitforthesakeofmakingmoneyshouldbejudiciouslyweighedandnotallowedtooverpowertherest。Theyarewelcomeguestshere,asamatterofcourse,butithasbeenfoundbesttorestraintheirinfluence。Thustherightsofplantationlaborers,factoryoperatives,andthelike,havebeenprotected,andthecapitalist,eagertogeton,hasnotalwaysregardedGovernmentactionwithfavor。Itisquiteconceivablethatunderanelectivesystemthecommercialcommunitiesofthegreattownsmightfindmeanstosecuremajoritiesonlaborquestionsandonfinancialmatters。\"
\"Theywouldactatleastwithintelligenceandconsideration。\"
\"Intelligence,yes;butastoconsideration,whoatthepresentmomentmostbitterlyresentsthetendersolicitudeofLancashireforthewelfareandprotectionoftheIndianfactoryoperative?
Englishandnativecapitalistsrunningcottonmillsandfactories。\"
\"ButisthesolicitudeofLancashireinthismatterentirelydisinterested?\"
\"Itisnobusinessofminetosay。ImerelyindicateanexampleofhowapowerfulcommercialinterestmighthamperaGovernmentintentinthefirstplaceonthelargerinterestsofhumanity。\"
Ordebrokeofftolistenamoment。\"There’sDr。Lathroptalkingtomywifeinthedrawing-room,\"saidhe。
\"Surelynot;that’salady’svoice,andifmyearsdon’tdeceiveme,anAmerican。\"
\"Exactly,Dr。EvaMcCreeryLathrop,chiefofthenewWomen’sHospitalhere,andaverygoodfellowforbye。Good-morning,Doctor,\"hesaid,asagracefulfigurecameoutontheveranda,\"youseemtobeintrouble。IhopeMrs。Ordewasabletohelpyou。\"
\"Yourwifeisrealkindandgood,]alwayscometoherwhenI’minafixbutIfearit’smorethancomfortingIwant。\"
\"Youworktoohardandwearyourselfout,\"saidOrde,kindly。
\"Letmeintroducemyfriend,Mr。Pagett,justfreshfromhome,andanxioustolearnhisIndia。Youcouldtellhimsomethingofthatmoreimportanthalfofwhichameremanknowssolittle。\"
\"PerhapsIcouldifI’danyhearttodoit,butI’mintrouble,I’velostacase,acasethatwasdoingwell,throughnothingintheworldbutinattentiononthepartofanurseIhadbeguntotrust。AndwhenIspokeonlyasmallpieceofmymindshecollapsedinawhiningheaponthefloor。Itishopeless。\"
Themenweresilent,fortheblueeyesoftheladydoctorweredim。
Recoveringherselfshelookedupwithasmile,halfsad,halfhumorous,\"AndIaminawhiningheap,too;butwhatphaseofIndianlifeareyouparticularlyinterestedin,sir?\"
\"Mr。Pagettintendstostudythepoliticalaspectofthingsandthepossibilityofbestowingelectoralinstitutionsonthepeople。\"
\"Wouldn’titbeasmuchtothepurposetobestowpoint-lacecollarsonthem?Theyneedmanythingsmoreurgentlythanvotes。Whyit’slikegivingabread-pillforabrokenleg。\"
\"Er-Idon’tquitefollow,\"saidPagett,uneasily。
\"Well,what’sthematterwiththiscountryisnotintheleastpolitical,butanallroundentanglementofphysical,social,andmoralevilsandcorruptions,allmoreorlessduetotheunnaturaltreatmentofwomen。Youcan’tgatherfigsfromthistles,andsolongasthesystemofinfantmarriage,theprohibitionoftheremarriageofwidows,thelifelongimprisonmentofwivesandmothersinaworsethanpenalconfinement,andthewithholdingfromthemofanykindofeducationortreatmentasrationalbeingscontinues,thecountrycan’tadvanceastep。Halfofitismorallydead,andworsethandead,andthat’sjustthehalffromwhichwehavearighttolookforthebestimpulses。It’srightherewherethetroubleis,andnotinanypoliticalconsiderationswhatsoever。\"
\"Butdotheymarrysoearly?\"saidPagett,vaguely。
\"Theaverageageisseven,butthousandsaremarriedstillearlier。
Oneresultisthatgirlsoftwelveandthirteenhavetobeartheburdenofwifehoodandmotherhood,and,asmightbeexpected,therateofmortalitybothformothersandchildrenisterrible。
Pauperism,domesticunhappiness,andalowstateofhealthareonlyafewoftheconsequencesofthis。Then,when,asfrequentlyhappens,theboy-husbanddiesprematurely,hiswidowiscondemnedtoworsethandeath。Shemaynotre-marry,mustliveasecludedanddespisedlife,alifesounnaturalthatshesometimespreferssuicide;moreoftenshegoesastray。Youdon’tknowinEnglandwhatsuchwordsas’infant-marriage,baby-wife,girl-mother,andvirgin-widow’mean;buttheymeanunspeakablehorrorshere。\"
\"Well,buttheadvancedpoliticalpartyherewillsurelymakeittheirbusinesstoadvocatesocialreformsaswellaspoliticalones,\"
saidPagett。
\"Verysurelytheywilldonosuchthing,\"saidtheladydoctor,emphatically。\"IwishIcouldmakeyouunderstand。Why,evenofthefundsdevotedtotheMarchionessofDufferin’sorganizationformedicalaidtothewomenofIndia,itwassaidinprintandinspeech,thattheywouldbebetterspentonmorecollegescholarshipsformen。Andinalltheadvancedparties’talk-Godforgivethem——andinalltheirprogrammes,theycarefullyavoidallsuchsubjects。Theywilltalkabouttheprotectionofthecow,forthat’sanancientsuperstition——theycanallunderstandthat;buttheprotectionofthewomenisanewanddangerousidea。\"SheturnedtoPagettimpulsively:
\"YouareamemberoftheEnglishParliament。Canyoudonothing?Thefoundationsoftheirlifearerotten-utterlyandbestiallyrotten。IcouldtellyourwifethingsthatIcouldn’ttellyou。Iknowthelife——theinnerlifethatbelongstothenative,andI
knownothingelse;andbelievemeyoumightaswelltrytogrowgolden-rodinamushroom-pitastomakeanythingofapeoplethatarebornandrearedasthese——thesethings’re。Thementalkoftheirrightsandprivileges。Ihaveseenthewomenthatbeartheseverymen,andagain-mayGodforgivethemen!\"
Pagett’seyesopenedwithalargewonder。Dr。Lathroprosetempestuously。
\"Imustbeofftolecture,\"saidshe,\"andI’msorrythatIcan’tshowyoumyhospitals;butyouhadbetterbelieve,sir,thatit’smorenecessaryforIndiathanalltheelectionsincreation。\"
\"That’sawomanwithamission,andnomistake,\"saidPagett,afterapause。
\"Yes;shebelievesinherwork,andsodoI,\"saidOrde。\"I’veanotionthatintheenditwillbefoundthatthemosthelpfulworkdoneforIndiainthisgenerationwaswroughtbyLadyDufferinindrawingattention-whatworkthatwas,bytheway,evenwithherhusband’sgreatnametobackittotheneedsofwomenhere。Ineffect,nativehabitsandbeliefsareanorganizedconspiracyagainstthelawsofhealthandhappylife——butthereissomedawningofhopenow。\"
\"Howd’youaccountforthegeneralindifferencc,then?\"
\"Isupposeit’sdueinparttotheirfatalismandtheirutterindifferencetoallhumansuffering。HowmuchdoyouimaginethegreatprovinceofthePun-jabwithovertwentymillionpeopleandhalfascorerichtownshascontributedtothemaintenanceofcivildispensarieslastyear?Aboutseventhousandrupees。\"
\"That’ssevenhundredpounds,\"saidPagett,quickly。
\"Iwishitwas,\"repliedOrde;\"butanyway,it’sanabsurdlyinadequatesum,andshowsoneoftheblanksidesofOrientalcharacter。\"
Pagettwassilentforalongtime。Thequestionofdirectandpersonalpaindidnotliewithinhisresearches。Hepreferredtodiscusstheweightiermattersofthelaw,andcontentedhimselfwithmurmuring:\"They’lldobetterlateron。\"Then,witharush,returningtohisfirstthought:
\"But,mydearOrde,ifit’smerelyaclassmovementofalocalandtemporarycharacter,howd’youaccountforBradlaugh,whoisatleastamanofsensetakingitup?\"
\"IknownothingofthechampionoftheNewBrahminsbutwhatI
seeinthepapers。Isupposethereissomethingtemptinginbeinghailedbyalargeassemblageastherepresentativeoftheaspirationsoftwohundredandfiftymillionsofpeople。Suchamanlooks’throughalltheroaringandthewreaths,’anddoesnotreflectthatitisafalseperspective,which,asamatteroffact,hidestherealcomplexandmanifoldIndiafromhisgaze。Hecanscarcelybeexpectedtodistinguishbetweentheambitionsofanewoligarchyandtherealwantsofthepeopleofwhomheknowsnothing。Butit’sstrangethataprofessedRadicalshouldcometobethechosenadvocateofamovementwhichhasforitsaimtherevivalofanancienttyranny。ShowshowevenRadicalismcanfallintoacademicgroovesandmisstheessentialtruthsofitsowncreed。Believeme,Pagett,todealwithIndiayouwantfirst-handknowledgeandexperience。Iwishhewouldcomeandlivehereforacoupleofyearsorso。\"
\"Isnotthisratheranadhminemstyleofargument?\"
\"Can’thelpitinacaselikethis。Indeed,Iamnotsureyououghtnottogofurtherandweighthewholecharacterandqualityandupbringingoftheman。YoumustadmitthatthemonumentalcomplacencywithwhichhetrottedouthisingeniouslittleConstitutionforIndiashowedastrangewantofimaginationandthesenseofhumor。\"
\"No,Idon’tquiteadmitit,\"saidPagett。
\"Well,youknowhimandIdon’t,butthat’showitstrikesastranger。\"Heturnedonhisheelandpacedtheverandathoughtfully。\"And,afterall,theburdenoftheactual,dailyunromantictoilfallsontheshouldersofthemenouthere,andnotonhisown。Heenjoysalltheprivilegesofrecommendationwithoutresponsibility,andwe-well,perhaps,whenyou’veseenalittlemoreofIndiayou’llunderstand。Tobeginwith,ourdeathrate’sfivetimeshigherthanyours-Ispeaknowforthebrutalbureaucrat——andweworkontherefuseofworked-outcitiesandexhaustedcivilizations,amongthebonesofthedead。\"
Pagettlaughed。\"That’sanepigrammaticwayofputtingit,Orde。\"
\"Isit?Let’ssee,\"saidtheDeputyCommissionerofAmara,stridingintothesunshinetowardahalf-nakedgardenerpottingroses。Hetooktheman’shoe,andwenttoarain-scarpedbankatthebottomofthegarden。
\"Comehere,Pagett,\"hesaid,andcutatthesun-bakedsoil。AfterthreestrokesthererolledfromunderthebladeofthehoethehalfofaclankingskeletonthatsettledatPagett’sfeetinanunseemlyjumbleofbones。TheM。P。drewback。
\"Ourhousesarebuiltoncemeteries,\"saidOrde。\"Therearescoresofthousandsofgraveswithintenmiles。\"
Pagettwascontemplatingtheskullwiththeawedfascinationofamanwhohasbutlittletodowiththedead。\"India’saverycuriousplace,\"saidhe,afterapause。
\"Ah?You’llknowallaboutitinthreemonths。Comeintolunch,\"
saidOrde。