The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-11-24

end OF the long room. Too polite to
speak any other language than Eng
lsh in Lynn's presence, he frowned
sullenly at Rundhia and refused q
cocktail:
"Your Bengali didn't bring my
tonic"
Sorry" said Rundhia. ''He was
attending to Mrs. Harding. He
hasn't forgotten it."
Then came Norwood. Hot night
though it was, he was in full mess
uniform, not whites. Shorter than
Rundhia; but five feet eleven inches
is, after all, plenty, If it's built right
and properly carried. Rundhia's six
feet one, and almost perfect fea-
lures, somehow weren't so notice.
able after Norwood came into the
room. Norwood had red hair and
one of those bits of moustaches that
draw attention to the line of his
lips. His red shell jacket gloved a
vigorous torso. There was nothing
meek about him; nothing arrogant.
He was British gentleman in uni
form, as unselfconscious as visitor
at the zoo.
He recognized Lynn instantly. His
expression changed to let her know
he recognized her. But he was i'm
perturbable. Nothing surprised him.
The palace chamberlain presented
him to the Maharajah and the Ma
haranee. He was gracious to them.
The Maharanee introduced him to
Lynn. He studied her. He smiled.
He said:
''How do you do. We have met,
I believe. ! am very curious. Don't
tell me. It might spoil the fun of
finding out. Am / to sit next to you
at dinner? I was always lucky"
Then he walked up and shook
hands with Rundhia: PLEASED"
eyes. Nice to meet you."
It suggested the well-oiled motion
of machine-guns getting ready. They
were enemies, at sight, as charmed
to meet each other as match and
powder barrel. Lynn knew it in
stantly.
Then Aunty arrived. After that,
there was nothing to do but to listen
to Aunty's distant condescensions.
She was wonderful. Even Rundhia
admired her spunk. Dressed in a
formal evening gown on purpose to
make Lynn feel ashamed of her.
self, tapped and strapped by the doc
tor until she could hardly move, in
torture from the twisted ankle, she
proposed to dominate that compa-
ny. She did, until Norwood subdued
her. She wasn't used to being
snubbed by mere captains.
what do Engineer officers dor"
she demanded.
Nothing" he said, Except an
swer questions. Why? I might lend
you a man who can do things"
The Maharajah was interrupted
by the arrival of the Bengal doc
tor, followed by servant with a big
blue goblet on a tray. The Mahara-
jah swallowed the contents of the
goblet in one long draught and Nor
wood noticed that he became imme-
diately more at ease. But Norwood
was also watching Rundhia, who
left off dancing with Lynn and ac-
companied the Bengal to the door,
talking to him low-voiced.
Norwood promptly Communicated
Lynn.
eff were you," he said, "I'd
stick to champagne. The cocktails
taste phoney."
Lynn wasn't sure she liked him.
On the other hand, she wasn't sure
she didn't.
"Why were you rude to Aunty?"
"She was rude to me-" he an
swered.
"She had an accident today, so
she isn't herself"
''Who is? You, for instance? Prin-
cess? Cinderella on her night out?
Or rebel? You know what happens
to rebels, don't you, unless their
friends are reliable?"
A great gong doomed. It was as
ancient as the palace. It was the
bronze voice of memory.