A Bottle in the Smoke: A Tale of Anglo-Indian Life Page 2

  CHAPTER II.

  Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order,lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded thestrengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge. It was thereforesomething of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass fromthe surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.

  "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice. "Why, Iexpected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in adark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfullylike 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, youare 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 yourway. 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 inearlier than was expected, and I, with one of my fellow-passengers,drove at once to the Club, where I deposited my baggage and hadbreakfast; then I came on here."

  "Oh, but you must come and stay with us. Everybody stays with everybodyhere, 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 cannotimagine the excitement, the exaltation, I felt when our steamer all atonce stood still, and I looked out in the first flush of the dawn andsaw the amber sands and the long straggling arms of the eastern town. Ikept saying: 'This is India, the home of my mother, the wonderful landwhere my father came to begin his life-work, to find love and an earlygrave!'"

  Hester's attitude as she listened to these eager words would have provedwholly sympathetic had there not crept into her mind the recollection ofher husband's warning. Should she break the ice at once and give atimely caution to her old friend and comrade that he must not labelhimself as belonging to the community said to be so despised? No, shecould not, she decided; besides, surely Alfred's prejudices were like agossamer thread which would at once snap in the presence of thisstrong-natured man.

  "You and my husband must meet at once," she said eagerly. "Our peon canfetch your luggage; you needn't even go back to the Club. We'll havetiffin and a long chat."

  "I only wish I could stay, but I've promised to lunch at the Club withmy _ami de voyage_; and then, by the way, I believe I'm inveigled intoan engagement for the afternoon. The Brigadier-General, whom I met atthe 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 drivehome to dinner together."

  "Thanks, that will be delightful! I find that for three days I'm still afree man. I'm posted to Puranapore, if you know such a place. Myknowledge of it dates only from this morning. My chief-to-be veryconsiderately wrote suggesting that I should tarry a few days inMadras."

  "That's good. I have heard of Puranapore. Alfred has some clientsthere."

  "I've no doubt Mr. Rayner will be able to tell me much that I want toknow."

  "Of course he will. He's been two years here, you know, and is quite anold 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 ofAnglo-Indians--the home across the sea--and to the centre of it all tothe girl, the ivy-clad Pinkthorpe Rectory set amid its green fields andhedges 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 abrief farewell visit to it before he sailed.

  "I'm thinking of what a delightful picture I shall be able to make ofyou basking in the sunshine as I saw you when I came in. It will go intomy 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 hereyebrows. "I assure you she is a very formidable leader of society here.Alfred has the greatest admiration for her, thinks her a perfect modelfor new-comers like me. But I fear I shall never attain to her splendidmanners," she added, with a little sigh.

  Mark Cheveril, as his eye rested on the fair young wife, involuntarilyhoped that she would not model herself on any Mrs. Glanton, however muchher husband might wish it, but would remain the bright girlish presencethat had graced her happy English home.

  They were standing in the verandah now. The hired bandy which had beenwaiting under a tree was called, and the visitor drove off to keep hisappointment at the Club.

  The little cloud of the morning had been chased away from Hester's heartby the spell of the revived comradeship. To be sure, no managing hostesshad intervened between these two to foster any warmer feelings than goodfellowship. But Hester's loyalty was well developed, and her husband'ssneering words of the morning still haunted her. Should she haveventured to sound the warning note, struck no doubt from her husband'slarger experience, and would it have been wiser to do so even before hebegan his life in the East? She had friendship enough to do so. Had theynot ridden together along leafy Worcestershire lanes and talked of manythings? But there was a glance in Mark Cheveril's serene hazel eye, aninnate courtesy about his whole deportment which made her divine that hewould receive any such warning with gentle disdain. In fact, shedecided, she must warn Alfred to beware of broaching the subject.

  Mr. Rayner only returned from the High Court in time to join his wife ontheir drive to the garden party. She told him of Mark Cheveril'sarrival, and of his already having found his way to Clive's Road; of theprospect of their meeting him now and of his returning with them; butshe observed that her husband listened absently to the news. Hispreoccupation regarding the coming entertainment caused her somesurprise. Social functions of the kind in the home county had nevercreated the desire to make an impression which seemed to lurk underAlfred's excitement over his handsome new landau and the well-matchedpair of Australian horses with their couple of smart syces.

  The queue of carriages was already far stretching on the leafy roadwhich skirted the Glanton's compound when Mr. and Mrs. Rayner's landautook its place there; but at last it came to their turn to alight andfollow the stream of guests along the broad crimson strip to the spotwhere the hostess had elected to receive them.

  Hester's eye was charmed by the picture suddenly unfolded to her on thewide flat lawn of the spreading compound, bordered by its glades ofdense shrubberies intersected by winding walks. The mellow light of thelate afternoon sun tinged all the landscape, turning to gold thegraceful over-hanging palms, revealing glimpses of the green waters ofthe tank which sparkled like jets of emerald, and etherealising theIndian 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. Thecivil and military element was well represented. Red coats mingledpicturesquely with the smart feminine toilettes just emerged from thelatest box from home. The groups on the lawn vied with the brightschemes of colour in the flower beds which the gardeners had beenlabouring over for days with much repotting and many libations fromearthenware chatties.

  Mr. and Mrs. Rayner soon perceived the ample form of their hostess.Their names were announced by a white-robed peon. Mrs. Glanton receivedthe young bride graciously, and seemed gratified by her evidentappreciation 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 theseason. The Brigadier wanted a succession of dinner-parties first, butyou understand, Mr. Rayner, the question of who will meet and mixcordially is always
a thorny business, and after all the fatigue ofentertaining, one often gets a hornet's nest about one's ears. Sodisagreeable 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 husbandanswered vivaciously:

  "That is so, Mrs. Glanton. In fact, only this morning I was explainingto my wife the Scylla and Charybdis of these social disabilities."

  "Ah, I see you are wise, Mr. Rayner," returned the hostess, with aresponsive smile. "One cannot learn one's lessons too early, one avoidsshoals of quicksands later on. Oh, the tales I could tell! And now youwill understand how pleased I am to have gathered Madras together forwhat 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 thehouse, strolling up and lowering her parasol, then greeting the guests.

  "Ah, my dear Mrs. Rayner," said Mrs. Glanton, "I am so glad that you anddear Clarice are friends. She has all the experience of her first seasonto share with you, and you, my dear, have your home complexion;" and shelightly tapped Hester's sleeve with her fan as she moved aside to greetnew relays of guests.

  Clarice Glanton had been reckoned the chief beauty of Madras during thelast season. She had undeniably well-cut features and a gracefulcarriage, but though no older than the young wife, she lacked thatindefinable air of youth which made Hester's chief charm. There wascertainly no symptom of the "close friendship" between the two, and thegirl's thin lips curled with a faint cynical smile as she heard hermother's remark. It had been her intention to pass on, being on theoutlook for a guest who had not yet appeared, but now she felt itincumbent upon her to exchange a few words.

  "I'm afraid you'll feel dreadfully bored, Mrs. Rayner," she said in herstaccato voice. "The seats are full, the sets for Badminton, archery,and croquet made up for the moment. But there will be some movementsoon. You are devoted to croquet, I recollect," she added, turning toMr. Rayner; then her attention was attracted by a tall young manadvancing along the crimson strip.

  "Ah, this must be the gentleman my father met fresh from the steamerthis morning and invited to join our party, charging me to entertain himtoo," remarked Clarice, her sharp eyes scanning the coming handsomefigure with its easy grace.

  "Oh, Alfred, here he is,--here is Mark Cheveril," exclaimed Hestereagerly.

  "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 politewords, on Miss Glanton's side marked by studied graciousness, Markturned to greet again his old friend with a bright smile; while, with anair of nonchalance which surprised his wife, Alfred Rayner came forwardto introduce himself, reminding Mark that they were old schoolacquaintances.

  "In the dear old Hacket days, of course! How could I have forgotten thatit was then your name was familiar to me! I remember your faceperfectly. 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 toadd, but bit his lip and glanced at his wife.

  "I expect I talked a good deal of nonsense," responded Mark with alaugh, secretly wondering what of his childish prattle still lingered inthe mind of this sharp-looking man with his impassive face, who wassaying now with rather a patronising smile:

  "Well, I suppose we all live and learn." Then he added, with a neatbow: "Glad to hear you are to be our guest at Clive's Road to-night. Weshall have an opportunity of talking over things new and old."

  Miss Glanton, in her role of brevet-hostess, did not mean to permit moretalk between two male guests, especially as she was desirous ofmonopolising one of them.

  "May I introduce, Major Ryde, Mrs. Rayner?" she said, as adapper-looking officer appeared, evidently with the intention of joiningMiss Glanton. Divining Hester's disappointment on being separated fromher friend, she added with a smile:

  "Believe me, Mrs. Rayner, Major Ryde is as useful to the new-comer as awell-stocked 'Lady's Companion' to a housewife. He knows everybody andeverything about everybody. I used to call him the young woman's bestcompanion last season, did I not, Major Ryde?"

  "I believe, Miss Glanton, you did me that honour last season, but Ishould put emphasis on the 'last,'" replied the major with a reproachfulair. Then turning to his new charge, he piloted her towards therefreshment tent, which seemed to be the centre of popularity at themoment, to judge from the echoes of gay laughter and talk mingling withthe jangle of tea cups and wine glasses which met them as they drewnear.

  "Now, Mrs. Rayner, seeing the creature comforts have been served, I musttry to live up to Miss Glanton's character of me if you will put me tothe test," said Major Ryde politely, as they left the tent. "I see thereis no chance of entering the croquet lists at this moment." He glancedtowards the lawn where more than one game was now in progress, elderlycouples poising their mallets with an air of enjoyment, the crack of theboxwood balls sounding in the clear air as they were skilfully driven totheir goal.

  Hester had been an adept at the game on the home-lawns, but she did notfeel inclined to enter the lists at the moment.

  "Suppose we have a stroll among the shrubberies," suggested hercompanion.

  It was among those very winding green paths that Hester had been hopingto be permitted to wander in company with her husband and her oldfriend, and to have the pleasure of seeing them welding together. Butthat would come later. She turned with gracious courtesy to respond tothe amiable effort on the part of her escort and assure him that she hadbeen longing to explore those green labyrinths.

  "What a pretty effect all these gay uniforms give to a garden-party. Ihave seen nothing like this at home, and I don't think there were anyuniforms 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 onoccasions when His Excellency or the Commander-in-Chief honours thegathering, that it is _de rigueur_ to don our war-paint. Glad you thinkit so attractive! The younger men are getting lazy and prefer mufti whenthey can get off with it. I confess I think a well-made man never looksbetter 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 ourwalk."

  Hester saw an elderly man of gracious presence advance along the crimsonstrip to greet the hostess, his refined face lit up by a smile ofsingular 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 wearyman often--has seen much service. There is the Brigadier coming to greethim."

  "What a fine pair of soldiers they look!" said Hester.

  "They are all that," assented Major Ryde warmly. "Glad we've got a manfor a Brigadier at last, instead of the little spinning-top we had, whocouldn't get on his horse without his syce's back for a foot-stool, andeven when mounted, was so scared by his frisky mare's paces when theband began to play that he had her ears stopped with cotton wool!"

  Hester laughed, but inwardly commented that there was more than oneofficer of the spinning-top order as she glanced at her rotundcompanion. They had now reached the shady walks which she had longed topenetrate, and not being given to repartee of the sort which fitted hercompanion's topics, the conversation threatened to languish.

  "Your friend Clarice is a smart girl, Mrs. Rayner," he remarked, as hecaught sight of a pair of strollers on a path alongside, separated bythick shrubs. "But, to my mind, she rather overdoes it at times. See howshe'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 pleasant
ly abouteverything--and nothing--when they have a great deal of entertaining todo like Miss Glanton? They seem so hospitable and invite everybody."

  "That's just what they do--invite 'everybody'! It's Mrs. Glanton'spatent method of making herself popular. She loves the voice of themajority. Very pretty in you, however, to set it down to kindness andthat 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 majorcast an admiring glance on the fair face of his companion.

  As the talk rolled on, Hester began to think that Major Ryde's remarkswere more outspoken and personal than she had been used to think quitein good taste, though she could not help feeling half amused by thesmart running commentary with which he enlarged on his fellow guests, assoon as they were out of hearing.

  It was therefore with true pleasure that she perceived at a littledistance a lady to whom she had drawn more than to any other since hercoming to Madras.

  "Oh, yes, that's Mrs. Fellowes, from the sepoy cantonment atRoyapooram," assented Major Ryde, showing in his tone the contempt heaffected for the Native Infantry.

  Hester's smile had already beckoned the older lady. The major,perceiving that his _tete-a-tete_ was now interrupted, descried anothercompanion and politely withdrew.