34 2 A Sportswoman in India 



rather have a Bible." Unfortunately, there was none 

 in the room ; however, a Prayer Book was presented 

 to them to keep them quiet. 



Our tea party was soon interrupted by the little boy, 

 who read aloud in stentorian tones the Lord's Prayer. 

 "Kneel down/* he said reprovingly to his sister, 

 proceeding with the Confession, which he begged us 

 to repeat after him. But mine hostess had borne 

 enough, and she removed the pair though, to do 

 them justice, they were perfectly serious and reverent. 



Later on the little boy had some chicken for supper. 

 c< Oh, mother," he said, c< what a beautiful grave this 

 chicken will have ! " " Where ? " In my body." 

 I asked the little girl where her other brothers were. 

 " Tom's at school, and Arthur's in Paradise ; he's flying 

 about with wings like a vulture." 



It is a vast mistake to imagine that Society in India 

 has a whit deeper shades than London Society. Life in 

 India, lived in the light of a thousand eyes, is above- 

 board ; London is a well-arranged kala jagah (dark 

 corner), and the play is conducted under the rose. 



In trifling matters, such as women indulging in 

 cigarettes, a practice as harmless as it is common, no 

 Anglo-Indian would think it worth while to utter the 

 sentiment of a certain lady in town : " As I am neither 

 fast nor fashionable^ I do not smoke" Foreigners must 

 be amused at our insular prejudices in this case 

 against a digestive and a sedative, which conduces to 

 a quiet half-hour, and is therefore worth encouraging 

 in an age of which it is complained that life moves too 



