taxationWhenafarmerhasn’tgotthelittlesurplusheI]opedtohaveforbuyinganewwagonanddrainingalow-lyingfieldcorner，youdon’taccusehimofm~versation，ifhespendswhathehasonthenecessaryworkoftherestofhisfarm。”
Aclatterofhoofswasheard，andOrdelookedupwithvexation，buthisbrowclearedasahorsemanhaltedundertheporch。
“HelIn，Orde！justlookedintoaskifyouarecomingtopoloonTuesday：
wewantyoubadlytohelptocrumpleuptheKrabBokbarteam。”
OrdeexplainedthathehadtogooutintotheDistrict，andwhilethevisitorcomplainedthatthoughgoodmenwouldn’tplay，dufferswerealwayskeen，andthathissidewouldprobalnybebeaten，Pagettrosetolookathisn~ount，ared，latheredBilochmare，withacuriouslyre4ikeincurvingoftheears“Quitealittlethoroughbredinallotherrespects。”saidtheM。P。，andOrdepresentedMrReginaldBurke，ManageroftheSiadandSialkoteBanktohisfriend。
“Yes，she’sasgoodastheymake’em，andshe’sallthefemaleI
possessandspoiledinconsequence，aren’tyou，oldgirl？”saidBurke，pattingthemare’sglossyneckasshebackedandplunged。
“MrPagett。”saidOrde，“hasbeenaskingmeabouttheCongress。
Whatisyouropinion？”BurketurnedtotheMPwithafranksmile。
“Well，ifit’sallthesametoyou，sir，Ishouldsay，DamntheCongress，butthenI’mnopolitician，butonlyabusinessman。”
“Youfinditatiresomesubject？”
“Yes，it’sallthat，andworsethanthat，forthiskindofagitationisanythingbutwholesomeforthecountry。”
“Howdoyoumean？”
“Itwouldbealongjobtoexplain，andSaraherewon’tstand，butyouknowhowsensitiveca~italis，andhowtimidinvestorsareAllthissortofrotislikelytofrightenthem，andwecan’taffordtofrightenthemThepassengersaboardanOceansteamerdon’tfeelreassuredwhentheship’swayisstopped，andtheyheartheworkmen’shammerstinkeringattheenginesdownbelowTheoldArk’sgoingonallrightassheis，andonlywantsquietandroomtomoveThem’smysentiments，andthoseofsomeotherpeoplewhohavetodowithmoneyandbusiness。”
“Thenyouareathick-and-thinsupporteroftheGovernmentasitis。”
“Why，no！TheIndianGovernmentismuchtootimidwithitsmoney-likeanoldmaidenauntofmine-alwaysinafunkaboutherinvestmentsTheydon’tspendhalfenoughonrailwaysforinstance，andtheyareslowinageneralway，andoughttobemadetositupinallthatconcernstheencouragementofprivateenterprise，andcoaxingoutintousethemillionsofcapitalthatliedormantinthecountry。”
Themarewasdancingwithimpatience，andBurkewasevidentlyanxioustobeoff，sothemenwishedhimgood-bye。
“WhoisyourgenialfriendwhocondemnsbothCongressandGovernmentinabreath？”askedPagett，withanamusedsmile。
“JustnowheisReggieBurke，keeneronpolothanonanythingelse，butifyougototheSindandSialkoteBankto-morrowyouwouldfindMrReginald264
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Burkeaverycapablemanofbusiness，knownandlikedbyanimmenseconstituencyNorthandSouthofthis。”
“DoyouthinkheisrightabouttheGovernment’swantofenterpnse？”
“IshouldhesitatetosayBetterconsultthemerchantsandchambersofcommerceinCawnpore，Madras，Bombay，andCalcuttaButthoughthesebodieswouldlike，asReggieputsit，tomakeGovernmentsitup，itisanelementaryconsiderationingoverningacountrylikeIndia，whichmustbeadministeredforthebenefitofthepeopleatlarge，thatthecounselsofthosewhoresorttoitforthesakeofmakingmoneyshouldbejudiciouslyweighedandnotallowedtooverpowertherestTheyarewelcomeguestshere，asamatterofcourse，butithasbeenfoundbesttorestraintheirinfluenceThustherightsofplantationlaborers，factoryoperatives，andthelike，havebeenprotected，andthecapitalist，eagertogeton，hasnotalwaysregardedGovernmentactionwithfavorItisquiteconceivablethatunderanelectivesystemthecommercialcommunitiesofthegreattownsmightfindmeanstosecuremajoritiesonlaborquestionsandonfinancialmatters。”
“Theywouldactatleastwithintelligenceandconsideration。”
“Intelligence，yes；butastoconsideration，whoatthepresentmomentmostbitterlyresentsthetendersolicitudeofLancashireforthewelfareandprotectionoftheIndianfactoryoperative？
Englishandnativecapitalistsrunningcottonmillsandfactories。”
“ButisthesolicitudeofLancashireinthismatterentirelydisinterested？”
“Itisnob~~sinessofminetosayI
merelyindicateanexampleofhowapowerfulcommercialinterestmighthamperaGovernmentintentinthefirstplaceonthelargerinterestsofhumanity。”
Ordebrokeofftolistenamoment“There’sDrLathroptalkingtomywifeinthedrawing-room。”saidhe。
“Surelynot；that’salady’svoice，andifmyearsdon’tdeceiveme，anAmerican。”
“Exactly，DrEvaMcCreeryLa。throp，chiefofthenewWomen’sHos~pitalhere，andaverygoodfellowforbyeGood-morning，Doctor。”hesaid，asagracefulfigurecameoutontheveranda，“youseemtobeintroubleIhopeMrsOrdewasabletohelpyou。”
“Yourwifeisrealkindandgood，]alwayscometoherwhenI’minafixbutIfearit’smorethancomforting~want。”
“Youworktoohardandwearyourselfout。”saidOrde，kindly。
“Letmeintroducemyfriend，Mr。
Pagett，justfreshfromhome，andanxioustolearnhisIndiaYoucouldtellhimsomethingofthatmoreimportanthalfofwhichameremanknowssolittle。”
“PerhapsIcouldifI’danyhearttodoit，butI’mintrouble，I’velostacase，acasethatwasdoingwell，throughnothingintheworldbutinattentiononthepartofanurseIhadbeguntotrustAndwhenIspokeonlyasmallpieceofmymindshecollapsedinawhiningheaponthefloorItishopeless。”
Themenweresilent，fortheblueeyesoftheladydoctorweredim。
Recoveringherselfshelookedupwithasmile，halfsad，halfhumorous，“AndI
THEENLIGHTENMENTSOFPAGETT，M。P。
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aminawhiningheap，too；butwhatphaseofIndianlifeareyouparticularlyinterestedin，sir？”
“MrPagettintendstostudythep0liticalaspectofthingsandthepossibilityofbestowingelectoralinstitutionsonthepeople。”
“Wouldn’titbeasmuchtothepurposetobestowpoint-lacecollarsonthem？TheyneedmanythingsmoreurgentlythanvotesWhyit’slikegivingabread-pillforabrokenleg。”
“Er-Idon’tquitefollow。”saidPagett，uneasily。
“Well，what’sthematterwiththiscountryisnotintheleastpolitical，butanallroundentanglementofphysical，social，andmoralevilsandcorruptions，allmoreorlessduetotheunnaturaltreatmentofwomenYoucan’tgatherfigsfromthistles，andsolongasthesystemofinfantmarriage，theprohibitionoftheremarriageofwidows，thelifelongimprisonmentofwivesandmothersinaworsethanpenalconfinement，andthewithholdingfromthemofanykindofeducationortreatmentasrationalbeingscontinues，thecountrycan’tadvanceastepHalfofitismorallydead，andworsethandead，andthat’sjustthehalffromwhichwehavearighttolookforthebestimpulsesIt’srightherewherethetroubleis，andnotinanypoliticalcon~iderationswhatsoever。”
“Butdotheymarrysoearly？”saidPagett，vaguely。
“Theaverageageisseven，butthousandsaremarriedstillearlier。
Oneresultisthatgirlsoftwelveandthirteenhavetobeartheburdenofwifehoodandmotherhood，and，asmightbeexpected，therateofmortalitybothformothersandchildrenisterriblePauperism，domesticunhappiness，andalowstateofhealthareonlyafewoftheconsequencesofthisThen，when，asfrequentlyhappens，theboy-husbanddiesprematurely，hiswidowiscondemnedtoworsethandeath。
Shemaynotre-marry，mustliveasecludedanddespisedlife，alifesounnaturalthatshesometimespreferssuicide；moreoftenshegoesastrayYoudon’tknowinEnglandwhatsuchwordsas’infant-marriage，baby-wife，girl-mother，andvirgin-widow’mean；buttheymeanunspeakablehorrorshere。”
“Well，buttheadvancedpoliticalpartyherewillsurelymakeittheirbusinesstoadvocatesocialreformsaswellaspoliticalones。”saidPagett。
“Verysurelytheywilldonosuchthing。”saidtheladydoctor，emphatically“Iu~ishIcouldmakeyouunderstandWhy，evenofthefundsdevotedtotheMarchionessofDufferin’sorganizationformedicalaidtothewomenofIndia，itwassaidinprintandinspeech，thattheywouldbebetterspentonmorecollegescholarshipsformenAndinalltheadvancedparties’
talk-Godforg~vethem-andinalltheirprogrammes，theycarefullyavoidallsuchsubjectsTheywilltalkabouttheprotectionofthecow，forthat’sanancientsuperstition-theycanallunderstandthat；buttheprotectionofthewomenisanewanddangerousidea。”SheturnedtoPagettimpulsively：
“YouareamemberoftheEnglishParliamentCanyoudonothing？Thefoundationsoftheirlifearerotten-utterlyandbestiallyrottenIcouldtellyourwifethingsthatIcouldn’ttellyouI
knowthebf~theinnerlife266
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thatbelongstothenative，andIknownothingelse；andbelievemeyoumightaswelltrytogrowgolden-rodinamushroom-pitastomakeanythingofapeoplethatarebornandrearedasthes~thesethings’reThe’mentalkoftheirrightsandprivilegesI
haveseenthewomenthatbeartheseverymen，andagain-mayGodforgivethemen！”
Pagett’seyesopenedwithalargewonderDrLathroprosetempestuously。
“Imustbeofftolecture。”saidshe，“andI’msorrythatIcan’tshowyoumyhospitals；butyouhadbetterbelieve，sir，thatit’smorenecessaryforIndiathanalltheelectionsincreation。”
“That’sawomanwithamission，andnomistake。”saidPagett，afterapause。
“Yes；shebelievesinherwork，andsodoI。”saidOrde“I’veanotionthatintheenditwillbefoundthatthemosthelpfulworkdoneforIndiainthisgenerationwaswroughtbyLadyDufferinindrawingattention-whatworkthatwas，bytheway，evenwithherhusband’sgreatnametobackittotheneedsofwomenhereIneffect，nativehabitsandbeliefsareanorganizedconspiracyagainstthelawsofhealthandhappyhf~butthereissomedawningofhopenow。”
“Howd’youaccountforthegeneral~differencc，then？”
“Isupposeit’sdueinparttotheirfatalismandtheirutterindifferencetoallhumansuffering。
HowmuchdoyouimaginethegreatprovinceofthePun-jabwithovertwentymillionpeopleandhalfascorerichtownshascontributedtothemainten~nceofcivildispensarieslastyear？Aboutseventhousandrupees。”
“That’ssevenhundredpounds。”saidPagett，quickly。
“Iwishitwas。”repliedOrde；“butanyway，it’sanabsurdlyinadequatesum，andshowsoneoftheblanksidesofOrientalcharacter。”
PagettwassilentforalongtimeThequestionofdirectandpersonalpaindidnotliewithinhisresearchesHepreferredtodiscusstheweightiermattersofthelaw，andcontentedhimselfwithmurmuring：“They’lldobetterlateron。”Then，witharush，returningtohisfirstthought：
“But，mydearOrde，ifit’smerelyaclassmovementofalocalandtemporarycharacter，howd’
youaccountforBradlaugh，whoisatleastamanofsensetakingitup？”
“IknownothingofthechampionoftheNewBrahminsbutwhatI
seeinthepapersIsupposethereissomethingtemptinginbeinghailedbyalargeassemblageastherepresentativeoftheaspirationsoftwohundredandfiftymillionsofpeopleSuchamanlooks’throughalltheroaringandthewreaths，’anddoesnotreflectthatitisafalseperspective，which，asamatteroffact，hidestherealcomplexandmanifoldIndiafromhisgazeHecanscarcelybeexpectedtodistinguishbetweentheambitionsofanewoligarchyandtherealwantsofthepeopleofwhomheknowsnothingButit’sstrangethataprofessedRadicalshouldcometobethechosenadvocateofamovementwhichhasforitsaimtherevivalofanancienttyrannyShowshowevenRadicalismcanfallintoacademicgroovesandmisstheessentialtruthsofTHEENLIGHTENMENTSOFPAGETT，M。P
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itsowncreedBelieveme，Pagett，todealwithIndiayouwantfirst-handknowledgeandexperienceIwishhewouldcomeandlivehereforacoupleofyearsorso。”
“Isnotthisratheranadho~’inemstyleofargument？”
“Can’thelpitinacaselikethisIndeed，IamnotsureyououghtnottogofurtherandweighthewholecharacterandqualityandupbringingofthemanYoumustadmitthatthemonumentalcomplacencywithwhichhetrottedouthisingeniouslittleConstitutionforIndiashowedastrangewantofimaginationandthesenseofhumor。”
“No，Idon’tquiteadmitit。”saidPagett。
“Well，youknowhimandIdon’t，butthat’showitstrikesastranger。”Heturnedonhisheelandpacedtheverandathoughtfully“And，afterall，theburdenoftheactual，dailyunromantictoilfallsontheshouldersofthemenouthere，andnotonhisownHeenjoysalltheprivilegesofrecommendationwithoutresponsibility，andwe-well，perhaps，whenyou’veseenalittlemoreofIndiayou’llunderstandTobeginwith，ourdeathrate’sfivetimeshigherthanyours-Ispeaknowforthebrutalbureaucrat-andweworkontherefuseofworked-outcitiesandexhaustedcivilizations，amongthebonesofthedead。”
Pagettlaughed“That’sanepigrammaticwayofputtingit，Orde。”
“Isit？Let’ssee。”saidtheDeputyCommissionerofAmara，stridingintothesunshinetowardahalf-nakedgardenerpottingrosesHetooktheman’shoe，andwenttoarain-scarpedbankatthebottomofthegarden。
“Comehere，Pagett。”hesaid，andcutatthesun-bakedsoilAfterthreestrokesthererolledfromunderthebladeofthehoethehalfofaclankingskeletonthatsettledatPagett’sfeetinanunseemlyjumbleofbonesTheM。Pdrewback。
“Ourhousesarebuiltoncemeteries。”saidOrde“Therearescoresofthousandsofgraveswithintenmiles。”
Pagettwascontemplatingtheskullwiththeawedfascinationofamanwhohasbutlittletodowiththedead“India’saverycuriousplace。”saidhe，afterapause。
“Ah？You’llknowallaboutitinthreemonthsComeintolunch。”
saidOrde。