Hekepthisunrequitedattachmentbyhimasmenkeepawell-smokedpipe——forcomfort’ssake,andbecauseithadgrowndearintheusingItbroughthimhappilythroughtheSimlaseason。
HannasydewasnotlovelyTherewasacrudityinhismanners,andaroughnessinthewayinwhichhehelpedaladyontoherhorse,thatdidnotattracttheothersextohimEvenifhehadcastaboutfortheirfavor,whichhedidnotHekepthiswoundedheartalltohimselfforawhile。
ThentroublecametohimAllwhogotoSimla,knowtheslopefromtheTelegraphtothePublicWorksOfficeHannasydewasloafingupthehill,oneSeptembermorningbetweencallinghours,whena’rickshawcamedowninahurry,andinthe’rickshawsattheliving,breathingimageofthegirlwhohadmadehimsohappilyunhappy。
HannasydeleanedagainsttherailingandgaspedHewantedtorundownhillafterthe’rickshaw,butthatwasimpossible;sohewentforwardwithmostofhisbloodinhistemplesItwasimpossible,formanyreasons,thatthewomaninthe’rickshawcouldbethegirlhehadknownShewas,hediscoveredlater,thewifeofamanfromDindigul,orCoimbatore,orsomeout-of-the-wayplace,andshehadcomeuptoSimlaearlyintheseasonforthegoodofherhealth。
ShewasgoingbacktoDindigul,orwhereveritwas,attheendoftheseason;andinalllikelihoodwouldneverreturntoSimlaagain,herproperHill-stationbeingOotacamundThatnight,Hannasyde,rawandsavagefromtherakingupofalloldfeelings,tookcounselwithhimselfforonemeasuredhourWhathedecideduponwasthis;
andyoumustdecideforyourselfhowmuchgenuineaffectionfortheoldlove,andhowmuchaverynaturalinclinationtogoabroadandenjoyhimself,affectedthedecisionMrsLandys-HaggertwouldneverinallhumanlikelihoodcrosshispathagainSowhateverhediddidn’tmuchmatterShewasmarvellouslylikethegirlwho“tookadeepinterest“andtherestoftheformulaAllthingsconsidered,itwouldbepleasanttomaketheacquaintanceofMrs。
Landys-Haggert,andforalittletime——onlyaverylittletime——tomakebelievethathewaswithAliceChisaneagainEveryoneismoreorlessmadononepointHannasyde’sparticularmonomaniawashisoldlove,AliceChisane。
HemadeithisbusinesstogetintroducedtoMrsHaggert,andtheintroductionprosperedHealsomadeithisbusinesstoseeasmuchashecouldofthatladyWhenamanisinearnestastointerviews,thefacilitieswhichSimlaoffersarestartlingTherearegarden-parties,andtennis-parties,andpicnics,andluncheonsatAnnandale,andrifle-matches,anddinnersandballs;besidesridesandwalks,whicharemattersofprivatearrangement。
Hannasydehadstartedwiththeintentionofseeingalikeness,andheendedbydoingmuchmoreHewantedtobedeceived,hemeanttobedeceived,andhedeceivedhimselfverythoroughlyNotonlywerethefaceandfigure,thefaceandfigureofAliceChisane,butthevoiceandlowertoneswereexactlythesame,andsoweretheturnsofspeech;andthelittlemannerisms,thateverywomanhas,ofgaitandgesticulation,wereabsolutelyandidenticallythesameTheturnoftheheadwasthesame;thetiredlookintheeyesattheendofalongwalkwasthesame;thesloopandwrenchoverthesaddletoholdinapullinghorsewasthesame;andonce,mostmarvellousofall,MrsLandys-Haggertsingingtoherselfinthenextroom,whileHannasydewaswaitingtotakeherforaride,hummed,notefornote,withathroatyquiverofthevoiceinthesecondline:——“PoorWanderingOne!”exactlyasAliceChisanehadhummeditforHannasydeintheduskofanEnglishdrawing-roomIntheactualwomanherself——inthesoulofher——therewasnottheleastlikeness;sheandAliceChisanebeingcastindifferentmouldsButallthatHannasydewantedtoknowandseeandthinkabout,wasthismaddeningandperplexinglikenessoffaceandvoiceandmannerHewasbentonmakingafoolofhimselfthatway;andhewasinnosortdisappointed。
Openandobviousdevotionfromanysortofmanisalwayspleasanttoanysortofwoman;butMrsLandys-Haggert,beingawomanoftheworld,couldmakenothingofHannasyde’sadmiration。
Hewouldtakeanyamountoftrouble——hewasaselfishmanhabitually——tomeetandforestall,ifpossible,herwishes。
Anythingshetoldhimtodowaslaw;andhewas,therecouldbenodoubtingit,fondofhercompanysolongasshetalkedtohim,andkeptontalkingabouttrivialitiesButwhenshelaunchedintoexpressionofherpersonalviewsandherwrongs,thosesmallsocialdifferencesthatmakethespiceofSimlalife,HannasydewasneitherpleasednorinterestedHedidn’twanttoknowanythingaboutMrs。
Landys-Haggert,orherexperiencesinthepast——shehadtravellednearlyallovertheworld,andcouldtalkcleverly——hewantedthelikenessofAliceChisanebeforehiseyesandhervoiceinhisears。
Anythingoutsidethat,remindinghimofanotherpersonalityjarred,andheshowedthatitdid。
UnderthenewPostOffice,oneevening,MrsLandys-Haggertturnedonhim,andspokehermindshortlyandwithoutwarning“Mr。
Hannasyde。”saidshe,“willyoubegoodenoughtoexplainwhyyouhaveappointedyourselfmyspecialcavalierservente?Idon’tunderstanditButIamperfectlycertain,somehoworother,thatyoudon’tcaretheleastlittlebitintheworldforME。”Thisseemstosupport,bytheway,thetheorythatnomancanactortellliestoawomanwithoutbeingfoundoutHannasydewastakenoffhisguardHisdefenceneverwasastrongone,becausehewasalwaysthinkingofhimself,andheblurtedout,beforeheknewwhathewassaying,thisinexpedientanswer:——“NomoreIdo。”
Thequeernessofthesituationandthereply,madeMrsLandys-
HaggertlaughThenitallcameout;andattheendofHannasyde’slucidexplanation,MrsHaggertsaid,withtheleastlittletouchofscorninhervoice:——“SoI’mtoactasthelay-figureforyoutohangtheragsofyourtatteredaffectionson,amI?”
Hannasydedidn’tseewhatanswerwasrequired,andhedevotedhimselfgenerallyandvaguelytothepraiseofAliceChisane,whichwasunsatisfactoryNowitistobethoroughlymadeclearthatMrs。
HaggerthadnottheshadowofaghostofaninterestinHannasyde。
Onlyonlynowomanlikesbeingmadelovethroughinsteadofto——speciallyonbehalfofamustydivinityoffouryears’standing。
HannasydedidnotseethathehadmadeanyveryparticularexhibitionofhimselfHewasgladtofindasympatheticsoulinthearidwastesofSimla。
Whentheseasonended,HannasydewentdowntohisownplaceandMrs。
Haggerttohers“Itwaslikemakinglovetoaghost。”saidHannasydetohimself,“anditdoesn’tmatter;andnowI’llgettomywork。”ButhefoundhimselfthinkingsteadilyoftheHaggert-
Chisaneghost;andhecouldnotbecertainwhetheritwasHaggertorChisanethatmadeupthegreaterpartoftheprettyphantom……
Hegotunderstandingamonthlater。
ApeculiarpointofthispeculiarcountryisthewayinwhichaheartlessGovernmenttransfersmenfromoneendoftheEmpiretotheotherYoucanneverbesureofgettingridofafriendoranenemytillheorshediesTherewasacaseonce——butthat’sanotherstory。
Haggert’sDepartmentorderedhimupfromDindigultotheFrontierattwodays’notice,andhewentthrough,losingmoneyateverystep,fromDindigultohisstationHedroppedMrsHaggertatLucknow,tostaywithsomefriendsthere,totakepartinabigballattheChutterMunzil,andtocomeonwhenhehadmadethenewhomealittlecomfortableLucknowwasHannasyde’sstation,andMrs。
HaggertstayedaweekthereHannasydewenttomeetherAndthetraincamein,hediscoveredwhichhehadbeenthinkingofforthepastmonthTheunwisdomofhisconductalsostruckhimTheLucknowweek,withtwodances,andanunlimitedquantityofridestogether,clinchedmatters;andHannasydefoundhimselfpacingthiscircleofthought:——HeadoredAliceChisane——atleastheHAD
adoredherANDheadmiredMrsLandys-HaggertbecauseshewaslikeAliceChisaneBUTMrsLandys-HaggertwasnotintheleastlikeAliceChisane,beingathousandtimesmoreadorableNOWAliceChisanewas“thebrideofanother。”andsowasMrsLandys-Haggert,andagoodandhonestwifetooTHEREFORE,he,Hannasyde,was。
herehecalledhimselfseveralhardnames,andwishedthathehadbeenwiseinthebeginning。
WhetherMrsLandys-Haggertsawwhatwasgoingoninhismind,shealoneknowsHeseemedtotakeanunqualifiedinterestineverythingconnectedwithherself,asdistinguishedfromtheAlice-
Chisanelikeness,andhesaidoneortwothingswhich,ifAliceChisanehadbeenstillbetrothedtohim,couldscarcelyhavebeenexcused,evenonthegroundsofthelikenessButMrsHaggertturnedtheremarksaside,andspentalongtimeinmakingHannasydeseewhatacomfortandapleasureshehadbeentohimbecauseofherstrangeresemblancetohisoldloveHannasydegroanedinhissaddleandsaid,“Yes,indeed。”andbusiedhimselfwithpreparationsforherdeparturetotheFrontier,feelingverysmallandmiserable。
ThelastdayofherstayatLucknowcame,andHannasydesawheroffattheRailwayStationShewasverygratefulforhiskindnessandthetroublehehadtaken,andsmiledpleasantlyandsympatheticallyasonewhoknewtheAlice-ChisanereasonofthatkindnessAndHannasydeabusedthecoolieswiththeluggage,andhustledthepeopleontheplatform,andprayedthattheroofmightfallinandslayhim。
Asthetrainwentoutslowly,MrsLandys-Haggertleanedoutofthewindowtosaygoodbye:——“Onsecondthoughtsaurevoir,Mr。
HannasydeIgoHomeintheSpring,andperhapsImaymeetyouinTown。”
Hannasydeshookhands,andsaidveryearnestlyandadoringly:——“I
hopetoHeavenIshallneverseeyourfaceagain!”
AndMrsHaggertunderstood。
WRESSLEYOFTHEFOREIGNOFFICE。
Iclosedanddrewformylove’ssake,Thatnowisfalsetome,AndIslewtheRieverofTarrantMoss,AndsetDumenyfree。
Andevertheygivemepraiseandgold,AndeverImoanmyloss,ForIstrucktheblowformyfalselove’ssake,AndnotforthemenattheMoss。
TarrantMoss。
Oneofthemanycursesofourlifeouthereisthewantofatmosphereinthepainter’ssenseTherearenohalf-tintsworthnoticingMenstandoutallcrudeandraw,withnothingtotonethemdown,andnothingtoscalethemagainstTheydotheirwork,andgrowtothinkthatthereisnothingbuttheirwork,andnothingliketheirwork,andthattheyaretherealpivotsonwhichtheadministrationturnsHereisaninstanceofthisfeelingAhalf-
casteclerkwasrulingformsinaPayOfficeHesaidtome:——“DoyouknowwhatwouldhappenifIaddedortookawayonesinglelineonthissheet?”Then,withtheairofaconspirator:——“ItwoulddisorganizethewholeoftheTreasurypaymentsthroughoutthewholeofthePresidencyCircle!Thinkofthat?”
Ifmenhadnotthisdelusionastotheultra-importanceoftheirownparticularemployments,IsupposethattheywouldsitdownandkillthemselvesButtheirweaknessiswearisome,particularlywhenthelistenerknowsthathehimselfcommitsexactlythesamesin。
EventheSecretariatbelievesthatitdoesgoodwhenitasksanover-drivenExecutiveOfficertotakecensusofwheat-weevilsthroughadistrictoffivethousandsquaremiles。
TherewasamanonceintheForeignOffice——amanwhohadgrownmiddle-agedinthedepartment,andwascommonlysaid,byirreverentjuniors,tobeabletorepeatAitchison’s“TreatiesandSunnuds“
backwards,inhissleepWhathedidwithhisstoredknowledgeonlytheSecretaryknew;andhe,naturally,wouldnotpublishthenewsabroadThisman’snamewasWressley,anditwastheShibboleth,inthosedays,tosay:——“WressleyknowsmoreabouttheCentralIndianStatesthananylivingman。”Ifyoudidnotsaythis,youwereconsideredoneofmeanundertanding。
Now-a-days,themanwhosaysthatheknowstheraveloftheinter-
tribalcomplicationsacrosstheBorderisofmoreuse;butinWressley’stime,muchattentionwaspaidtotheCentralIndianStatesTheywerecalled“foci“and“factors。”andallmannerofimposingnames。
AndherethecurseofAnglo-IndianlifefellheavilyWhenWressleylifteduphisvoice,andspokeaboutsuch-and-suchasuccessiontosuch-and-suchathrone,theForeignOfficeweresilent,andHeadsofDepartmentsrepeatedthelasttwoorthreewordsofWressley’ssentences,andtacked“yes,yes。”onthem,andknewthattheywere“assistingtheEmpiretograpplewithseriouspoliticalcontingencies。”Inmostbigundertakings,oneortwomendotheworkwhiletherestsitnearandtalktilltheripedecorationsbegintofall。
Wressleywastheworking-memberoftheForeignOfficefirm,and,tokeephimuptohisdutieswhenheshowedsignsofflagging,hewasmademuchofbyhissuperiorsandtoldwhatafinefellowhewas。
Hedidnotrequirecoaxing,becausehewasoftoughbuild,butwhathereceivedconfirmedhiminthebeliefthattherewasnoonequitesoabsolutelyandimperativelynecessarytothestabilityofIndiaasWressleyoftheForeignOfficeTheremightbeothergoodmen,buttheknown,honoredandtrustedmanamongmenwasWressleyoftheForeignOfficeWehadaViceroyinthosedayswhoknewexactlywhento“gentle“afractiousbigmanandtoheartenupacollar-
galledlittleone,andsokeepallhisteamlevelHeconveyedtoWressleytheimpressionwhichIhavejustsetdown;andeventoughmenareapttobedisorganizedbyaViceroy’spraiseTherewasacaseonce——butthatisanotherstory。