IwishIcoulddescribethescenethatfollowedItwasoutoftheordinaryandmostimproperMissKittyfittedherarrowswithimmensedeliberation，sothateveryonemightseewhatshewasdoingShewasaperfectshot；andher46-poundbowsuitedhertoanicetyShepinnedthewoodenlegsofthetargetwithgreatcarefoursuccessivetimesShepinnedthewoodentopofthetargetonce，andalltheladieslookedateachotherThenshebegansomefancyshootingatthewhite，which，ifyouhitit，countsexactlyonepointSheputfivearrowsintothewhiteItwaswonderfularchery；but，seeingthatherbusinesswastomake“golds“andwinthebracelet，Barr-Saggottturnedadelicategreenlikeyoungwater-grassNext，sheshotoverthetargettwice，thenwidetothelefttwice——alwayswiththesamedeliberation——whileachillyhushfelloverthecompany，andMrsBeightontookoutherhandkerchiefThenKittyshotatthegroundinfrontofthetarget，andsplitseveralarrowsThenshemadeared——orsevenpoints——justtoshowwhatshecoulddoifsheliked，andfinishedupheramazingperformancewithsomemorefancyshootingatthetarget-supportsHereisherscoreasitwaspickedoff：——
　　GoldRedBlueBlackWhiteTotalHitsTotalScoreMissBeighton11005721
　　Barr-Saggottlookedasifthelastfewarrowheadshadbeendrivenintohislegsinsteadofthetarget’s，andthedeepstillnesswasbrokenbyalittlesnubby，mottled，half-growngirlsayinginashrillvoiceoftriumph：“ThenI’VEwon！”
　　MrsBeightondidherbesttobearup；butsheweptinthepresenceofthepeopleNotrainingcouldhelpherthroughsuchadisappointmentKittyunstrungherbowwithaviciousjerk，andwentbacktoherplace，whileBarr-Saggottwastryingtopretendthatheenjoyedsnappingthebraceletonthesnubbygirl’sraw，redwristItwasanawkwardscene——mostawkwardEveryonetriedtodepartinabodyandleaveKittytothemercyofherMamma。
　　ButCubbontookherawayinstead，and——therestisn’tworthprinting。
　　HISCHANCEINLIFE。
　　Thenapileofheadsbelaid——
　　Thirtythousandheapedonhigh——
　　AlltopleasetheKafirmaid，WheretheOxusripplesby。
　　GrimlyspakeAtullaKhan：——
　　“LovehathmadethisthingaMan。”
　　Oatta’sStory。
　　IfyougostraightawayfromLeveesandGovernmentHouseLists，pastTrades’Balls——farbeyondeverythingandeverybodyyoueverknewinyourrespectablelife——youcross，intime，theBorderlinewherethelastdropofWhitebloodendsandthefulltideofBlacksetsinItwouldbeeasiertotalktoanewmadeDuchessonthespurofthemomentthantotheBorderlinefolkwithoutviolatingsomeoftheirconventionsorhurtingtheirfeelingsTheBlackandtheWhitemixveryquaintlyintheirwaysSometimestheWhiteshowsinspurtsoffierce，childishpride——whichisPrideofRaceruncrooked——andsometimestheBlackinstillfiercerabasementandhumility，halfheathenishcustomsandstrange，unaccountableimpulsestocrimeOneofthesedays，thispeople——understandtheyarefarlowerthantheclasswhenceDerozio，themanwhoimitatedByron，sprung——willturnoutawriterorapoet；andthenweshallknowhowtheyliveandwhattheyfeelInthemeantime，anystoriesaboutthemcannotbeabsolutelycorrectinfactorinference。
　　MissVezziscamefromacrosstheBorderlinetolookaftersomechildrenwhobelongedtoaladyuntilaregularlyordainednursecouldcomeoutTheladysaidMissVezziswasabad，dirtynurseandinattentiveItneverstruckherthatMissVezzishadherownlifetoleadandherownaffairstoworryover，andthattheseaffairswerethemostimportantthingsintheworldtoMissVezzis。
　　VeryfewmistressesadmitthissortofreasoningMissVezziswasasblackasaboot，andtoourstandardoftaste，hideouslyugly。
　　Sheworecotton-printgownsandbulgedshoes；andwhenshelosthertemperwiththechildren，sheabusedtheminthelanguageoftheBorderline——whichispartEnglish，partPortuguese，andpartNativeShewasnotattractive；butshehadherpride，andshepreferredbeingcalled“MissVezzis。”
　　EverySundayshedressedherselfwonderfullyandwenttoseeherMamma，wholived，forthemostpart，onanoldcanechairinagreasytussur-silkdressing-gownandabigrabbit-warrenofahousefullofVezzises，Pereiras，Ribieras，LisboasandGansalveses，andafloatingpopulationofloafers；besidesfragmentsoftheday’sbazar，garlic，staleincense，clothesthrownonthefloor，petticoatshungonstringsforscreens，oldbottles，pewtercrucifixes，driedimmortelles，pariahpuppies，plasterimagesoftheVirgin，andhatswithoutcrownsMissVezzisdrewtwentyrupeesamonthforactingasnurse，andshesquabbledweeklywithherMammaastothepercentagetobegiventowardshousekeeping。
　　Whenthequarrelwasover，MicheleD’CruzeusedtoshambleacrossthelowmudwallofthecompoundandmakelovetoMissVezzisafterthefashionoftheBorderline，whichishedgedaboutwithmuchceremonyMichelewasapoor，sicklyweedandveryblack；buthehadhisprideHewouldnotbeseensmokingahuqaforanything；
　　andhelookeddownonnativesasonlyamanwithseven-eighthsnativebloodinhisveinscanTheVezzisFamilyhadtheirpridetooTheytracedtheirdescentfromamythicalplate-layerwhohadworkedontheSoneBridgewhenrailwayswerenewinIndia，andtheyvaluedtheirEnglishoriginMichelewasaTelegraphSignalleronRs35amonthThefactthathewasinGovernmentemploymadeMrsVezzislenienttotheshortcomingsofhisancestors。
　　Therewasacompromisinglegend——DomAnnathetailorbroughtitfromPoonani——thatablackJewofCochinhadoncemarriedintotheD’Cruzefamily；whileitwasanopensecretthatanuncleofMrs。
　　D’Cruzewasatthatverytimedoingmenialwork，connectedwithcooking，foraClubinSouthernIndia！HesentMrsD’Cruzesevenrupeeseightannasamonth；butshefeltthedisgracetothefamilyverykeenlyallthesame。
　　However，inthecourseofafewSundays，MrsVezzisbroughtherselftooverlooktheseblemishesandgaveherconsenttothemarriageofherdaughterwithMichele，onconditionthatMicheleshouldhaveatleastfiftyrupeesamonthtostartmarriedlifeuponThiswonderfulprudencemusthavebeenalingeringtouchofthemythicalplate-layer’sYorkshireblood；foracrosstheBorderlinepeopletakeaprideinmarryingwhentheyplease——notwhentheycan。
　　Havingregardtohisdepartmentalprospects，MissVezzismightaswellhaveaskedMicheletogoawayandcomebackwiththeMooninhispocketButMichelewasdeeplyinlovewithMissVezzis，andthathelpedhimtoendureHeaccompaniedMissVezzistoMassoneSunday，andafterMass，walkinghomethroughthehotstaledustwithherhandinhis，hesworebyseveralSaints，whosenameswouldnotinterestyou，nevertoforgetMissVezzis；andshesworebyherHonorandtheSaints——theoathrunsrathercuriously；“InnomineSanctissimae——“whateverthenameoftheshe-Saintisandsoforth，endingwithakissontheforehead，akissontheleftcheek，andakissonthemouth——nevertoforgetMichele。
　　NextweekMichelewastransferred，andMissVezzisdroppedtearsuponthewindow-sashofthe“Intermediate“compartmentashelefttheStation。
　　Ifyoulookatthetelegraph-mapofIndiayouwillseealonglineskirtingthecoastfromBackergungetoMadrasMichelewasorderedtoTibasu，alittleSub-officeone-thirddownthisline，tosendmessagesonfromBerhampurtoChicacola，andtothinkofMissVezzisandhischancesofgettingfiftyrupeesamonthoutofofficehoursHehadthenoiseoftheBayofBengalandaBengaliBabuforcompany；nothingmoreHesentfoolishletters，withcrossestuckedinsidetheflapsoftheenvelopes，toMissVezzis。
　　WhenhehadbeenatTibasufornearlythreeweekshischancecame。
　　NeverforgetthatunlesstheoutwardandvisiblesignsofOurAuthorityarealwaysbeforeanativeheisasincapableasachildofunderstandingwhatauthoritymeans，orwhereisthedangerofdisobeyingitTibasuwasaforgottenlittleplacewithafewOrissaMohamedansinitThese，hearingnothingoftheCollector-
　　Sahibforsometime，andheartilydespisingtheHinduSub-Judge，arrangedtostartalittleMohurrumriotoftheirownButtheHindusturnedoutandbroketheirheads；when，findinglawlessnesspleasant，HindusandMahomedanstogetherraisedanaimlesssortofDonnybrookjusttoseehowfartheycouldgoTheylootedeachother’sshops，andpaidoffprivategrudgesintheregularwayItwasanastylittleriot，butnotworthputtinginthenewspapers。
　　Michelewasworkinginhisofficewhenheheardthesoundthatamanneverforgetsallhislife——the“ah-yah“ofanangrycrowd。
　　[Whenthatsounddropsaboutthreetones，andchangestoathick，droningut，themanwhohearsithadbettergoawayifheisalone。]TheNativePoliceInspectorraninandtoldMichelethatthetownwasinanuproarandcomingtowrecktheTelegraphOffice。
　　TheBabuputonhiscapandquietlydroppedoutofthewindow；
　　whilethePoliceInspector，afraid，butobeyingtheoldrace-
　　instinctwhichrecognizesadropofWhitebloodasfarasitcanbediluted，said：——“WhatordersdoestheSahibgive？”
　　The“Sahib“decidedMicheleThoughhorriblyfrightened，hefeltthat，forthehour，he，themanwiththeCochinJewandthemenialuncleinhispedigree，wastheonlyrepresentativeofEnglishauthorityintheplaceThenhethoughtofMissVezzisandthefiftyrupees，andtookthesituationonhimselfThereweresevennativepolicemeninTibasu，andfourcrazysmooth-boremusketsamongthemAllthemenweregraywithfear，butnotbeyondleadingMicheledroppedthekeyofthetelegraphinstrument，andwentout，attheheadofhisarmy，tomeetthemobAstheshoutingcrewcameroundacorneroftheroad，hedroppedandfired；themenbehindhimloosinginstinctivelyatthesametime。
　　Thewholecrowd——curstothebackbone——yelledandran；leavingonemandead，andanotherdyingintheroadMichelewassweatingwithfear，buthekepthisweaknessunder，andwentdownintothetown，pastthehousewheretheSub-JudgehadbarricadedhimselfThestreetswereemptyTibasuwasmorefrightenedthanMichele，forthemobhadbeentakenattherighttime。
　　MichelereturnedtotheTelegraph-Office，andsentamessagetoChicacolaaskingforhelpBeforeananswercame，hereceivedadeputationoftheeldersofTibasu，tellinghimthattheSub-Judgesaidhisactionsgenerallywere“unconstitional。”andtryingtobullyhimButtheheartofMicheleD’Cruzewasbigandwhiteinhisbreast，becauseofhisloveforMissVezzis，thenurse-girl，andbecausehehadtastedforthefirsttimeResponsibilityandSuccessThosetwomakeanintoxicatingdrink，andhaveruinedmorementhaneverhasWhiskeyMicheleansweredthattheSub-
　　Judgemightsaywhathepleased，but，untiltheAssistantCollectorcame，theTelegraphSignallerwastheGovernmentofIndiainTibasu，andtheeldersofthetownwouldbeheldaccountableforfurtherriotingThentheybowedtheirheadsandsaid：“Showmercy！”orwordstothateffect，andwentbackingreatfear；eachaccusingtheotherofhavingbeguntherioting。
　　Earlyinthedawn，afteranight’spatrolwithhissevenpolicemen，Michelewentdowntheroad，musketinhand，tomeettheAssistantCollector，whohadriddenintoquellTibasuBut，inthepresenceofthisyoungEnglishman，Michelefelthimselfslippingbackmoreandmoreintothenative，andthetaleoftheTibasuRiotsended，withthestrainontheteller，inanhystericaloutburstoftears，bredbysorrowthathehadkilledaman，shamethathecouldnotfeelasupliftedashehadfeltthroughthenight，andchildishangerthathistonguecouldnotdojusticetohisgreatdeedsItwastheWhitedropinMichele’sveinsdyingout，thoughhedidnotknowit。
　　ButtheEnglishmanunderstood；and，afterhehadschooledthosemenofTibasu，andhadconferredwiththeSub-Judgetillthatexcellentofficialturnedgreen，hefoundtimetodraughtanofficialletterdescribingtheconductofMicheleWhichletterfilteredthroughtheProperChannels，andendedinthetransferofMicheleup-
　　countryoncemore，ontheImperialsalaryofsixty-sixrupeesamonth。
　　SoheandMissVezzisweremarriedwithgreatstateandancientry；
　　andnowthereareseverallittleD’CruzessprawlingabouttheverandahsoftheCentralTelegraphOffice。
　　But，ifthewholerevenueoftheDepartmentheservesweretobehisrewardMichelecouldnever，neverrepeatwhathedidatTibasuforthesakeofMissVezzisthenurse-girl。
　　Whichprovesthat，whenamandoesgoodworkoutofallproportiontohispay，insevencasesoutofninethereisawomanatthebackofthevirtue。
　　Thetwoexceptionsmusthavesufferedfromsunstroke。
　　WATCHESOFTHENIGHT。
　　WhatisintheBrahmin’sbooksthatisintheBrahmin’sheart。
　　NeitheryounorIknewtherewassomuchevilintheworld。
　　HinduProverb。
　　Thisbeganinapracticaljoke；butithasgonefarenoughnow，andisgettingserious。
　　Platte，theSubaltern，beingpoor，hadaWaterburywatchandaplainleatherguard。