Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order,
lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the
strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge. It was therefore
something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from
the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
"Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice. "Why, I
expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a
dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully
like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
"Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile,
coming forward from the writing-table where she sat. "This is a joy, you
are my first visitor from home!"
"And you, my first welcome to my native land."
"It was only this morning I heard from Charlie that you were on your
way. But did you not meet my husband? He drove off meaning to meet the
_Bokhara_."
"Then Mr. Rayner and I must have missed each other. I'm sorry! We got in
earlier than was expected, and I, with one of my fellow-passengers,
drove at once to the Club, where I deposited my baggage and had
breakfast; then I came on here."
"Oh, but you must come and stay with us. Everybody stays with everybody
here, you know. And you see what great spaces we have----"
"Yes, they are most satisfactory. I've often seen them in my dreams,"
said the young man, bending forward, his face all aglow. "You cannot
imagine the excitement, the exaltation, I felt when our steamer all at
once stood still, and I looked out in the first flush of the dawn and
saw the amber sands and the long straggling arms of the eastern town. I
kept saying: 'This is India, the home of my mother, the wonderful land
where my father came to begin his life-work, to find love and an early
grave!'"
Hester's attitude as she listened to these eager words would have proved
wholly sympathetic had there not crept into her mind the recollection of
her husband's warning. Should she break the ice at once and give a
timely caution to her old friend and comrade that he must not label
himself as belonging to the community said to be so despised? No, she
could not, she decided; besides, surely Alfred's prejudices were like a
gossamer thread which would at once snap in the presence of this
strong-natured man.
"You and my husband must meet at once," she said eagerly. "Our peon can
fetch your luggage; you needn't even go back to the Club. We'll have
tiffin and a long chat."
"I only wish I could stay, but I've promised to lunch at the Club with
my _ami de voyage_; and then, by the way, I believe I'm inveigled into
an engagement for the afternoon. The Brigadier-General, whom I met at
the Club, asked me to a garden party at his house this afternoon----"
"Oh, yes, we're going to Mrs. Glanton's party. You'll meet Alfred there.
Then surely we'll be allowed to take possession of you, and we'll drive
home to dinner together."
"Thanks, that will be delightful! I find that for three days I'm still a
free man. I'm posted to Puranapore, if you know such a place. My
knowledge of it dates only from this morning. My chief-to-be very
considerately wrote suggesting that I should tarry a few days in
Madras."
"That's good. I have heard of Puranapore. Alfred has some clients
there."
"I've no doubt Mr. Rayner will be able to tell me much that I want to
know."
"Of course he will. He's been two years here, you know, and is quite an
old Indian now. You and I are 'griffins,' as they call new-comers here.
Alfred will be delighted to tell you all he can, I'm sure."
Soon they passed to that topic so near to the heart of
Anglo-Indians--the home across the sea--and to the centre of it all to
the girl, the ivy-clad Pinkthorpe Rectory set amid its green fields and
hedges where the sun smiled but never scorched as in this eastern land.
Mark Cheveril was able to give her the latest news, for he had paid a
brief farewell visit to it before he sailed.
"I'm thinking of what a delightful picture I shall be able to make of
you basking in the sunshine as I saw you when I came in. It will go into
my letter which I promised to write to your mother by the first mail,"
said Mark, as he rose to go. "Then we are to meet at this said Mrs.
Glanton's?"
"'This said Mrs. Glanton's,' forsooth!" laughed Hester, raising her
eyebrows. "I assure you she is a very formidable leader of society here.
Alfred has the greatest admiration for her, thinks her a perfect model
for new-comers like me. But I fear I shall never attain to her splendid
manners," she added, with a little sigh.
Mark Cheveril, as his eye rested on the fair young wife, involuntarily
hoped that she would not model herself on any Mrs. Glanton, however much
her husband might wish it, but would remain the bright girlish presence
that had graced her happy English home.
They were standing in the verandah now. The hired bandy which had been
waiting under a tree was called, and the visitor drove off to keep his
appointment at the Club.
The little cloud of the morning had been chased away from Hester's heart
by the spell of the revived comradeship. To be sure, no managing hostess
had intervened between these two to foster any warmer feelings than good
fellowship. But Hester's loyalty was well developed, and her husband's
sneering words of the morning still haunted her. Should she have
ventured to sound the warning note, struck no doubt from her husband's
larger experience, and would it have been wiser to do so even before he
began his life in the East? She had friendship enough to do so. Had they
not ridden together along leafy Worcestershire lanes and talked of many
things? But there was a glance in Mark Cheveril's serene hazel eye, an
innate courtesy about his whole deportment which made her divine that he
would receive any such warning with gentle disdain. In fact, she
decided, she must warn Alfred to beware of broaching the subject.
Mr. Rayner only returned from the High Court in time to join his wife on
their drive to the garden party. She told him of Mark Cheveril's
arrival, and of his already having found his way to Clive's Road; of the
prospect of their meeting him now and of his returning with them; but
she observed that her husband listened absently to the news. His
preoccupation regarding the coming entertainment caused her some
surprise. Social functions of the kind in the home county had never
created the desire to make an impression which seemed to lurk under
Alfred's excitement over his handsome new landau and the well-matched
pair of Australian horses with their couple of smart syces.
The queue of carriages was already far stretching on the leafy road
which skirted the Glanton's compound when Mr. and Mrs. Rayner's landau
took its place there; but at last it came to their turn to alight and
follow the stream of guests along the broad crimson strip to the spot
where the hostess had elected to receive them.
Hester's eye was charmed by the picture suddenly unfolded to her on the
wide flat lawn of the spreading compound, bordered by its glades of
dense shrubberies intersected by winding walks. The mellow light of the
late afternoon sun tinged all the landscape, turning to gold the
graceful over-hanging palms, revealing glimpses of the green waters of
the tank which sparkled like jets of emerald, and etherealising the
Indian garden for the first time to the eyes of all new-comers.
The long hot months were over, and, freshened by the recent rains,
Madras was again considered suitable for the highest officials. The
civil and military element was well represented. Red coats mingled
picturesquely with the smart feminine toilettes just emerged from the
latest box from home. The groups on the lawn vied with the bright
schemes of colour in the flower beds which the gardeners had been
labouring over for days with much repotting and many libations from
earthenware chatties.
Mr. and Mrs. Rayner soon perceived the ample form of their hostess.
Their names were announced by a white-robed peon. Mrs. Glanton received
the young bride graciously, and seemed gratified by her evident
appreciation of the bright scene.
"This promises to be a charming gathering," remarked Alfred Rayner,
shaking hands with his hostess.
"Yes, I thought it would prove a nice preface to the gaieties of the
season. The Brigadier wanted a succession of dinner-parties first, but
you understand, Mr. Rayner, the question of who will meet and mix
cordially is always a thorny business, and after all the fatigue of
entertaining, one often gets a hornet's nest about one's ears. So
disagreeable to have people sulking at one for fancied slights,
especially so early in the season."
Hester's face wore a slightly puzzled expression, but her husband
answered vivaciously:
"That is so, Mrs. Glanton. In fact, only this morning I was explaining
to my wife the Scylla and Charybdis of these social disabilities."
"Ah, I see you are wise, Mr. Rayner," returned the hostess, with a
responsive smile. "One cannot learn one's lessons too early, one avoids
shoals of quicksands later on. Oh, the tales I could tell! And now you
will understand how pleased I am to have gathered Madras together for
what I call my neutral party. I felt sure I was striking the right key."
"A very minor key, I should say, mother," said the daughter of the
house, strolling up and lowering her parasol, then greeting the guests.
"Ah, my dear Mrs. Rayner," said Mrs. Glanton, "I am so glad that you and
dear Clarice are friends. She has all the experience of her first season
to share with you, and you, my dear, have your home complexion;" and she
lightly tapped Hester's sleeve with her fan as she moved aside to greet
new relays of guests.
Clarice Glanton had been reckoned the chief beauty of Madras during the
last season. She had undeniably well-cut features and a graceful
carriage, but though no older than the young wife, she lacked that
indefinable air of youth which made Hester's chief charm. There was
certainly no symptom of the "close friendship" between the two, and the
girl's thin lips curled with a faint cynical smile as she heard her
mother's remark. It had been her intention to pass on, being on the
outlook for a guest who had not yet appeared, but now she felt it
incumbent upon her to exchange a few words.
"I'm afraid you'll feel dreadfully bored, Mrs. Rayner," she said in her
staccato voice. "The seats are full, the sets for Badminton, archery,
and croquet made up for the moment. But there will be some movement
soon. You are devoted to croquet, I recollect," she added, turning to
Mr. Rayner; then her attention was attracted by a tall young man
advancing along the crimson strip.
"Ah, this must be the gentleman my father met fresh from the steamer
this morning and invited to join our party, charging me to entertain him
too," remarked Clarice, her sharp eyes scanning the coming handsome
figure with its easy grace.
"Oh, Alfred, here he is,--here is Mark Cheveril," exclaimed Hester
eagerly.
"Then you know him, Mrs. Rayner? Cheveril, yes, that is his name.
Wherever has my mother disappeared to? I suppose I must act as hostess."
With a more gracious smile than she had previously bestowed on Hester,
she went forward to meet the guest. After a brief interchange of polite
words, on Miss Glanton's side marked by studied graciousness, Mark
turned to greet again his old friend with a bright smile; while, with an
air of nonchalance which surprised his wife, Alfred Rayner came forward
to introduce himself, reminding Mark that they were old school
acquaintances.
"In the dear old Hacket days, of course! How could I have forgotten that
it was then your name was familiar to me! I remember your face
perfectly. You are very little changed except that you were then in
'jackets.'"
"And you in Etons. I certainly shouldn't have recognised you, Cheveril,
though I do remember some--of your talk." "Too well," he was going to
add, but bit his lip and glanced at his wife.
"I expect I talked a good deal of nonsense," responded Mark with a
laugh, secretly wondering what of his childish prattle still lingered in
the mind of this sharp-looking man with his impassive face, who was
saying now with rather a patronising smile:
"Well, I suppose we all live and learn." Then he added, with a neat
bow: "Glad to hear you are to be our guest at Clive's Road to-night. We
shall have an opportunity of talking over things new and old."
Miss Glanton, in her rôle of brevet-hostess, did not mean to permit more
talk between two male guests, especially as she was desirous of
monopolising one of them.
"May I introduce, Major Ryde, Mrs. Rayner?" she said, as a
dapper-looking officer appeared, evidently with the intention of joining
Miss Glanton. Divining Hester's disappointment on being separated from
her friend, she added with a smile:
"Believe me, Mrs. Rayner, Major Ryde is as useful to the new-comer as a
well-stocked 'Lady's Companion' to a housewife. He knows everybody and
everything about everybody. I used to call him the young woman's best
companion last season, did I not, Major Ryde?"
"I believe, Miss Glanton, you did me that honour last season, but I
should put emphasis on the 'last,'" replied the major with a reproachful
air. Then turning to his new charge, he piloted her towards the
refreshment tent, which seemed to be the centre of popularity at the
moment, to judge from the echoes of gay laughter and talk mingling with
the jangle of tea cups and wine glasses which met them as they drew
near.
"Now, Mrs. Rayner, seeing the creature comforts have been served, I must
try to live up to Miss Glanton's character of me if you will put me to
the test," said Major Ryde politely, as they left the tent. "I see there
is no chance of entering the croquet lists at this moment." He glanced
towards the lawn where more than one game was now in progress, elderly
couples poising their mallets with an air of enjoyment, the crack of the
boxwood balls sounding in the clear air as they were skilfully driven to
their goal.
Hester had been an adept at the game on the home-lawns, but she did not
feel inclined to enter the lists at the moment.
"Suppose we have a stroll among the shrubberies," suggested her
companion.
It was among those very winding green paths that Hester had been hoping
to be permitted to wander in company with her husband and her old
friend, and to have the pleasure of seeing them welding together. But
that would come later. She turned with gracious courtesy to respond to
the amiable effort on the part of her escort and assure him that she had
been longing to explore those green labyrinths.
"What a pretty effect all these gay uniforms give to a garden-party. I
have seen nothing like this at home, and I don't think there were any
uniforms at the only party I've been to since I came to Madras."
"Mrs. Teapes? You are right, Mrs. Rayner. I commend your discernment.
That was a judge's house. In fact it is only at Government House, or on
occasions when His Excellency or the Commander-in-Chief honours the
gathering, that it is _de rigueur_ to don our war-paint. Glad you think
it so attractive! The younger men are getting lazy and prefer mufti when
they can get off with it. I confess I think a well-made man never looks
better than in full dress. Ah, here comes our Commander-in-Chief!
Perhaps you'd like to wait and have a look at him before we begin our
walk."
Hester saw an elderly man of gracious presence advance along the crimson
strip to greet the hostess, his refined face lit up by a smile of
singular sweetness. He was followed by his suite.
"Very glad the Chief has put in an appearance," continued the major,
"Mrs. Glanton will be gratified. Very good of him to come, he is a weary
man often--has seen much service. There is the Brigadier coming to greet
him."
"What a fine pair of soldiers they look!" said Hester.
"They are all that," assented Major Ryde warmly. "Glad we've got a man
for a Brigadier at last, instead of the little spinning-top we had, who
couldn't get on his horse without his syce's back for a foot-stool, and
even when mounted, was so scared by his frisky mare's paces when the
band began to play that he had her ears stopped with cotton wool!"
Hester laughed, but inwardly commented that there was more than one
officer of the spinning-top order as she glanced at her rotund
companion. They had now reached the shady walks which she had longed to
penetrate, and not being given to repartee of the sort which fitted her
companion's topics, the conversation threatened to languish.
"Your friend Clarice is a smart girl, Mrs. Rayner," he remarked, as he
caught sight of a pair of strollers on a path alongside, separated by
thick shrubs. "But, to my mind, she rather overdoes it at times. See how
she's captured that 'griffin'? I can see her leading him about there,"
said the major, as he glanced maliciously through the tangled creepers.
"But don't you think people must learn to talk pleasantly about
everything--and nothing--when they have a great deal of entertaining to
do like Miss Glanton? They seem so hospitable and invite everybody."
"That's just what they do--invite 'everybody'! It's Mrs. Glanton's
patent method of making herself popular. She loves the voice of the
majority. Very pretty in you, however, to set it down to kindness and
that sort of thing--wish we had more of the bloom of charity among us,
but I fear it wears off like the lovely English bloom"; and the major
cast an admiring glance on the fair face of his companion.
As the talk rolled on, Hester began to think that Major Ryde's remarks
were more outspoken and personal than she had been used to think quite
in good taste, though she could not help feeling half amused by the
smart running commentary with which he enlarged on his fellow guests, as
soon as they were out of hearing.
It was therefore with true pleasure that she perceived at a little
distance a lady to whom she had drawn more than to any other since her
coming to Madras.
"Oh, yes, that's Mrs. Fellowes, from the sepoy cantonment at
Royapooram," assented Major Ryde, showing in his tone the contempt he
affected for the Native Infantry.
Hester's smile had already beckoned the older lady. The major,
perceiving that his _tête-à-tête_ was now interrupted, descried another
companion and politely withdrew.