Caldwell-Sahib could not conceal from himself that his heart was beating with strangely quickened throbs. This sight of the woman who had saved his life and for weeks had filled his thoughts now brought to him an overwhelming consciousness that his bachelor dreams were at an end, that his hour had come, the happiest of a man"s life; for when a man sees for the first time the light of love in the eyes of the woman whom he loves, that is the happiest hour of life. She came nearer. He could hear her voice, low in Hindustani, addressing a young native girl at her side.
For a blissful moment he watched her approach, saw the grace of her carriage, the pretty bend of her head as she talked with the girl, the slender, strong hands which had ministered to him and saved his life. He saw also, in antic.i.p.ation, the light in her eyes and the blush upon her cheek when she should see him.
He stammered a good-morning. Strange how his lips seemed to tremble!
She glanced up.
With unrecognizing eyes turned upon him, slightly bowing a greeting in return, she pa.s.sed on.
As Caldwell-Sahib stared stupidly after her, he heard the girl say: "That was the Inspector-Sahib whose life you saved when he had the cholera," for apparently the girl was astonished at the lady"s uninterested manner in the presence of such an important official.
Caldwell-Sahib did not hear the lady"s reply, as she and the young Hindu girl pa.s.sed on.
"Oh, is that he? I had forgotten about him. I had such a good laugh afterwards at the surprised expression on his face when he saw me in his house the morning he regained consciousness that I ought to have remembered him. We must turn here, my dear, for I must get back to my work at once."
So the two turned down a side street which led to the doctor"s office where at least thirty dirty, but well-remembered and beloved native patients were waiting for the tender treatments daily administered by the missionary"s skillful hands.
The Englishman still stared.
X
The Cost
Yes, that is a Bible. Oh, yes, I speak English. I"ve spoken it ever since I was a young girl. Nearly every Parsi, you know, learns to speak English as soon as possible. We admire English people in a great many ways and try to emulate them in some things, although we are proud enough to think that we are superior to them in some others.
Yes, I"m a Parsi--that is--I"m a Parsi in race but not in religion.
This Bible shows you what I am in belief. Yes, I"m a Christian, but not one of long standing, for I was baptized only one year ago.
You"re an American, aren"t you? I thought so, for in many ways you are like my dear Miss Miller. Won"t you have this pillow at your back? Even second-cla.s.s carriages are not any too comfortable. If you will let me pull that leather bag out a little from under the seat so that you can put your feet upon it, you will rest more easily. A second-cla.s.s carriage is a luxury for me nowadays, since I became a Christian. I really can"t afford to travel any other way than third, but I"ve been a little ill the last few weeks and Miss Miller insisted upon my coming second this time. You look so much like Miss Miller that you must excuse me, if I have stared at you a little impolitely since we left Grand Avenue Station.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "You are an American, aren"t you?"]
Oh, an American is privileged to do that, you know, to watch us closely, for he is here to see a new people and to find out all he can about them. I don"t mind that at all. We really expect it. We have so many Americans in Bombay that I have got quite used to it and don"t notice it any more. At first I used to get embarra.s.sed and think that they were looking at me, but I soon found out that it was only my clothes and my manners that they were interested in and that they couldn"t distinguish me from any other Parsi lady; we were only a sort of curiosity to them. It wasn"t exactly flattering to find it out, but still it made one feel more comfortable on the streets.
Oh, I"ve got quite accustomed to it now, I a.s.sure you. But you do resemble Miss Miller, if you don"t mind my saying so; only she wears her hair quite plain and always dresses in gray.
She is my teacher.
Here we are at A----. I"m just selfish enough to hope that no other lady will want to get into this compartment. Since each of us has a whole seat to herself we can be pretty comfortable.
There is an unusual crowd of third-cla.s.s pa.s.sengers to-day, though there are always crowds here for that matter. I don"t see where they get the money for all the travelling they do. Since so many pilgrimages are required in their religion the people seem to work very hard for a long time and then spend every anna that they have saved on a pilgrimage somewhere. But to-day is a special feast day at N----. That is another reason why Miss Miller insisted upon my coming second cla.s.s this time, for the third was terribly crowded when we came down this noon. She is so good! She left her work just to come down and see me off, because I have been ill.
No, thank you. I don"t care for a cup of tea now, for I shall reach my destination in time for tea. Oh, yes, the tea at these stations is quite safe. But I would not take the milk if I were you, for Miss Miller never does.
Oh, yes. We stop here about ten minutes. You"ll have plenty of time to drink it and the man will come back with his tray and get your cup before the train starts. It is two annas a cup. Don"t you want a piece of cake with it? Here, boy!
Yes, some of the stations have very good food.
The new pa.s.sengers are nearly all located now and no one seems to be going to get in with us. I am so glad! Now we can be nice and comfortable.
Yes, they do keep the plants nicely watered and well taken care of at these stations. If they were not so dreadfully noisy and confused at train times, they would be pretty enough places to live in.
There goes the bell! Here comes your boy. I"ll hand it to him.
Two annas. That"s right. I suppose it is hard for you to get accustomed to our money; I believe it is quite different from yours, is it not?
Oh, is that some of your American money? How interesting! It is worth about three-quarters of a rupee, you say? I am so glad to have seen it. What do you call it?
A quarter! See, I"ll use that word in speaking to Miss Miller some time. Won"t that surprise her! She will wonder where I have learned it.
Now we are off and there isn"t another station for half an hour at least. Isn"t that nice? Now we can rest. Wouldn"t you rather lie down?
That is very kind of you, for I do feel just like talking this afternoon. This little trip is a holiday for me, you see, and has quite excited me, almost as much as it would my little girl. But I expect that she is excited, too, this afternoon, for she knows I am coming to see her.
One little girl. I am a widow and have been so for several years.
She is in school down here at A----. And since I"ve been ill, Miss Miller had me come down to see her for a rest.
Indeed, I"ll be glad to tell you about myself, especially about my becoming a Christian, if you would like to hear, for I love to tell that story. You Christians in America are so good to send teachers to us!
You are not a Christian! But I thought all Americans were Christians!
Don"t you believe in G.o.d?
You suppose there is a G.o.d but you"ve never thought much about it!
How strange! Don"t you believe in Christ?
No? Why, how can that be possible when He has done so much for you people in America and is doing so much for us here?
Do I believe in Christ? Why, of course I do. Do you think I would be here, a penniless woman, going to see my daughter, kept in school by charity, if I did not believe in Jesus Christ; if I did not know Him personally and if I had not confessed my belief before my family and friends?
I can"t understand why you do not believe in Christ, unless--yes, it must be so--you have been too busy to think about Him and you have not really needed His help yet. You never have had any trouble and felt all alone in the big world, without any one to help you, have you? Until that time comes I suppose people are too busy having a good time to think about religion. I have noticed that here in my teaching among my own people, but I did not suppose it was so in America, for I thought everybody believed there. Here I have seen that when people are kept quiet for a time because of sickness or sorrow, when they have time to think and when earthly friends cannot help, then Christ most easily makes Himself known to them. I know this is so for I have proved it myself. And I know Christ!
Yes, it does make me very happy!
Oh, I had forgotten this station. But we will stop here only a few minutes and as it is a small station I don"t think any one else will get on. Here comes a gentleman to the window.
Thank you. An orange would taste good and refresh me. Although this is our cold season, it does get pretty warm in the middle of the day.
Your husband? You are taking a trip around the world for pleasure.
What interesting things you must have seen! Your husband is a lecturer. Oh, I see, and he is taking pictures with his camera for his lectures, I suppose. He is going to take that boy with his pan of sweets. See?
There is the bell! He got the picture just in time.
Shall I go on with my story? But, please, don"t let me tire you.