The Native Born or, The Rajah's People
lden hair, drew back a little to judge the general
she asked. "Missy look won
nly a close observer would have noticed that her eyes had the strained, concentrated
, after a moment. "You have done
missy wi
all only want you aga
he room, but an imperative gesture hastened her exit, and she
and then, turning in her chair, looked at t
to say, mother, say it," sh
ll, I must ask you not to interrupt me in the way you did just now before the-the what-do-y
enough English to understand more than is good for either of us, and whose discretion is on a par with that
in high, quavering tones that threatened tears
am only telling yo
you are not
le, began to play idly with the silver ornaments. "No, I suppose I am not respectful," she went on calmly. "I think we are too intimate for that, mother. We know each other too well, and have spoken about things too plai
what you mean," Mrs. Ca
Beatrice, when I thi
on calmly: "Let us put our personal grievances against each other aside, mother. Revenons a n
sight of his face nearly gave me a heart stroke. Of course you r
ary held u
not need to go into any details concerning ourselves or the past. I know quite well to what
ou ask why
e what harm h
tell the
ip into the white silk dress which
rid ourselves. It has chased us out of England and out of all possible parts of Europe; and, large th
g her florid face free f
ried. "You laugh at everything. You laugh even a
o that there are moments when I am thoroughly weary of it, and feel inclined to write
riously. "Do you really want the whole S
as I say, there are times when I should like to shriek the truth in the world's face,
he sort, I should take po
s all. It's the very futility of truth-telling which prevents me from experimenting in t
y over to her daughter's side. Her voice, when
me and respect me. I meant that one day they should. When I married they did-for a time at least. When the crash came, and-and all the shame, I just ran away from it. I couldn't have done anything else. Ever since then I have been trying to build things up elsewhere, and I had to have money for it. You can't blame me, Beatrice. You aren't any better. You always want to be first in your singing and your painting, you always want the best of what's going. You always want to be admired and successful in everythin
amond pendant round her white neck. "I know you and I know myself. As to my gratitude
go agai
can recollect, I've pulled us both out of as many s
hy I want you to
do w
rut tolerab
r. Travers gossipi
face, robbing it of its good-nature a
d if you
ow
e a way with men. You
laughed
er," she said cruelly. "A remark like that in Mrs. Carmichael's hearing, and
pped out. What I meant was, that I am sure you co
little feminine vanity in the glance-rather a cool judgi
I could," s
't y
make you v
s real peace since I saw Mr.
'll do m
pro
romise if yo
ew a deep si
you, you keep your promi
indifference which seemed to indicate more than an indifference-rather a stoic, smothered antipathy. When it was over, and Mrs. Cary had
s to her toilet. "If Mr. Travers meant to tell, he has probably done so a
st," returned Mrs. Cary,
n, handkerchief and gloves, every now and again casting the same curious, unloving glance at he
avenue," she said. "It's a d
repeated thoughtfully. "
I fancy." A dull flush m
imed, "I believe
the curtain bac
?" she remarked, with a faint irony from
r the ayah en
asks if missy drive with him to the Colone
er mother exch
"Tell Travers Sahib I shall be delighted.
disturbed calm Beatrice proceede
yet," she said. "Fate seems t
, Beatrice," the other
-a-tete. I dare say I shall manage. Good night!" She patted her mo
ear. Do your b
up to do my best?" Beatr
accompanying her with numerous wraps and shawls. Archibald Travers,
y horse is in a state of mind which does not allow for
his side, "and a drive through this lovely air is worth a few ri
ill and could not go, but I was not sure whether you would c
by all
sprang forward into the darkness. They swayed dangerously th
ughed with
e exclaimed, pulling he
ll you
danger," he said, w
the only flavoring which I have hitherto discovered
like a man
or myself," she returned. "That sort of thing does aw
ny shadows on the white road. Travers' horse shied violently, and for some minutes his work was cut out for him in pacifyin
miling to
ve!" he remar
at him. The light struck full on their faces, and they could re
it at the rate we a
twenty
repeated thoughtfully. "That i
whip across t
ch of you. I happen to know that I am taking in Miss Caruthers to
s!" she said, laughing. "I know
rd, you
ois he
in her a
I supp
. I dare say the arrangement cou
happen to be my arr
ulated, somewh
calmly. "On Miss Caruthers' right will be Mr. James, who from long custom never opens his m
alicious,"
t on: "I've confided to you my subtle underground plans-why, goodness knows. I'm not usually
r," she said. "Possibly that for
s she did not return his gaze, he was fr
der his breath, "I don't blame t
contract
suppose that i
y the way, are you real
ectly
grandmother's ideas if it comes off. All I fear is that the youth's impr
so. He did not
dden drawl, "your face is not one t
was the instinctive movement of a woman br
all
l you the other day, but there was no fitt
ou," she
hist
and didn't recognize each oth
arcely noticeable stiff
t shock we realized that to acknowledge a previous meeting was not to eithe
lly are plucky!" he burst o
king the bull by the horns because I must. Mr. Travers, I can't live in the same place with you and not know if yo
whether I am going to g
hat
that
se I g
ur enemy, so I don't mind admitting
may th
as though every one least concerned in the matter had made up their minds to track us down. At last mother thought of India, and of Marut in particular. My father held a small post somewhere about here before
hy you take al
wants to mix with the best. We couldn't do that in England, for the reasons I
h in something that
w what the world-particularly
u mean? Of course
. But I don't. I call you a jolly
ted animal who seeks cover where best he can. As to my being extraordinary, I do not see that you have any reason
," he interp
saying nothing. Her silence
ut his watch wit
my tongue. I don't know that I ever intended doing anything else. I am not responsible to society, and in any case, no direct blame for the past can attach itself to you. As it is, after your confidence,
he said withou
dition-" he went on,
ing for tha
ed good-
me very we
en," she
agree to the condition, you needn't. I shan't on that account go round gossiping about your affairs. At the
e right," she
and with my plans. I confess privately to you I have one or two irons in the fire up at Marut, and that it is
what
carried out. I have every reason to believe that considerable mineral treasure lies buried under the native Bazaar in Marut, but I can do nothing unless s
might as well go on," s
something else-I want t
ht be joking. His face had indeed undergone a change, but there wa
re difficult? There is Staff
on partly belied. "I believe she is fond of him and he of her in a Platonic sort of fashion which
ed for an instant to be p
his name constantly since I have been here. People talk of
among the natives he is one. In reality, he is an ordinary mortal blessed with an extraordinary influence. I believe he is a capt
h-
playfellow," Trave
u are afra
fair idea that Stafford and I will have to be content with the back seats in Lois' affections. You see, they were great
Staff
n at her with
n elsewhere. I thought h
ry
ank
good family, worthy character, a trifle slo
lk as t
One can do anything with an honest, pig-headed man like that if only one takes him the right way. He
heir destination, and he pu
do you say
solutely away, and all he could see was a grave prof
" he r
ich led up to the brightly ligh
then," she sai
her hand wi
he case is just this: we're partners, you and I, with some good cards between
ell," she
and flinging the reins to the waitin
tafford," he remarked casually as he helped her t