The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-11-24
cast nnD We5T
BY TALBOT MUNDY
erAlBoT MUNDY-WNv SERVICE

"Picnicl" exclaimed the Mahara-
nee. "No formality. Lynn, dear,
lead the way. We will all follow"
So the Maharajah came last, to
the servants horror, and it was
Lynn who contrived the seating.
Norwood's luck suffered fiat tire.
He found himself between the Ma
haranee and Aunty. Rundhia and
Lynn sat opposite; the Maharajah
at one end of the table, the Maha-
rance at the other.
The Maharajah only pretended to
eat. In theory, he had abandoned
caste restrictions, but in practice,
he lacked the Maharanee's courage.
He wilted under Aunty Harding's
barrage of remarks. Her vigor de-
pressed him. Aunty had no patience
with weddings:
you're a hypochondriac," she
told him.
The Maharajah sighed. II am a
victim of public duty. Affairs Of
state impose sedentary life that
has ruined my health. But / have
found that Rundhia's physician I'M
derstands my ailment."
The physician reappeared in the
doorway, nervous, unself-assertive.
He came behind Aunty's chair and
whispered to her. Norwood couldn't
hear what he said, but he saw him
lay two pellets on plate at Aunty's
right hand.
drugs! No thank you!"
"What are they?" asked the Ma
harajah.
Exactly the same that your High
ness has been taking for your
nerves." said the physician.
81 have iron nerves." said Aunty.
The physician smiled. He sepa-
rated the two pellets with fork
and held the plate toward the Ma
harajah.
"Set her the example," he sug-
gested.
"My monotonous life consists Of
nothing else than setting good ex-
amples," said the Maharajah. IF
it won't hurt me, it won't hurt you"
He reached for pellet.
Norwood noticed that the doctor
moved the plate so that the Maha-
rajah's fingers closed on the one
that had been nearer Aunty. If it
was trick it was smooth. Rundhia
was paying rather witty attention to
Lynn; he was making her laugh.
Gas compliment, but against my
better Judgment" said Aunty. She
swallowed the other pellet.
"Thank you," said the Bengal.
'sThank you, madam. That relieves
my anxiety. You should not be
here. You should be in bed. There
is no knowing what peoples nerves
may do to them when they have suf-
fered bodily shock such as you re-
ceived this afternoon"
He bowed himself out.
Aunty used her napkin suddenly.
Norwood watched her. He was just
in time to prevent her falling from
the chair. Everyone, including the
Maharajah, jumped up. Lynn ran
to her. The servants formed a
scrimmage around Lynn and Aunty.
The Maharajah scolded the Maha-
rance soto voce.
Rundhia sent a servant running
for the doctor. The other servants
picked up Aunty and carried her
into the next room, where she
groaned on couch and nearly faint
ed from humiliation. Rundhia met
the doctor at the door. Norwood,
watching them, pretended not to,
wasn't certain whether they spoke.
The doctor nodded, put on his most
judicial professional air, felt Aunty's
pulse and shrugged his shoulders.
"She has a temperature. It is
impossible to say, but / think she
is only suffering from nervous ex-
haustion and perhaps, too, from
mental disturbance" He turned
again to the Maharanee: II advise
that Miss Lynn Harding should be
moved into the palace, so that Mrs.
Harding may be quiet"
(TO BE CONTINUED