JustwhenTodswasinthebloomofhispower，theSupremeLegislaturewerehackingoutaBill，fortheSub-MontaneTracts，arevisionofthethenAct，smallerthanthePunjabLandBill，butaffectingafewhundredthousandpeoplenonethelessTheLegalMemberhadbuilt，andbolstered，andembroidered，andamendedthatBill，tillitlookedbeautifulonpaperThentheCouncilbegantosettlewhattheycalledthe“minordetails。”AsifanyEnglishmanlegislatingfornativesknowsenoughtoknowwhicharetheminorandwhicharethemajorpoints，fromthenativepointofview，ofanymeasure！ThatBillwasatriumphof“safeguardingtheinterestsofthetenant。”Oneclauseprovidedthatlandshouldnotbeleasedonlongertermsthanfiveyearsatastretch；because，ifthelandlordhadatenantbounddownfor，say，twentyyears，hewouldsqueezetheverylifeoutofhimThenotionwastokeepupastreamofindependentcultivatorsintheSub-MontaneTracts；andethnologicallyandpoliticallythenotionwascorrectTheonlydrawbackwasthatitwasaltogetherwrongAnative’slifeinIndiaimpliesthelifeofhissonWherefore，youcannotlegislateforonegenerationatatimeYoumustconsiderthenextfromthenativepointofviewCuriouslyenough，thenativenowandthen，andinNorthernIndiamoreparticularly，hatesbeingover-protectedagainsthimselfTherewasaNagavillageonce，wheretheylivedondeadANDburiedCommissariatmulesButthatisanotherstory。
　　Formanyreasons，tobeexplainedlater，thepeopleconcernedobjectedtotheBillTheNativeMemberinCouncilknewasmuchaboutPunjabisasheknewaboutCharingCrossHehadsaidinCalcuttathat“theBillwasentirelyinaccordwiththedesiresofthatlargeandimportantclass，thecultivators；“andsoon，andsoonTheLegalMember’sknowledgeofnativeswaslimitedtoEnglish-
　　speakingDurbaris，andhisownredchaprassis，theSub-MontaneTractsconcernednooneinparticular，theDeputyCommissionerswereagooddealtoodriventomakerepresentations，andthemeasurewasonewhichdealtwithsmalllandholdersonlyNevertheless，theLegalMemberprayedthatitmightbecorrect，forhewasanervouslyconscientiousmanHedidnotknowthatnomancantellwhatnativesthinkunlesshemixeswiththemwiththevarnishoffAndnotalwaysthenButhedidthebestheknewAndthemeasurecameuptotheSupremeCouncilforthefinaltouches，whileTodspatrolledtheBurraSimlaBazarinhismorningrides，andplayedwiththemonkeybelongingtoDittaMull，thebunnia，andlistened，asachildlistenstoallthestraytalkaboutthisnewfreakoftheLatSahib’s。
　　Onedaytherewasadinner-party，atthehouseofTods’Mamma，andtheLegalMembercameTodswasinbed，buthekeptawaketillheheardtheburstsoflaughterfromthemenoverthecoffeeThenhepaddledoutinhislittleredflanneldressing-gownandhisnight-
　　suit，andtookrefugebythesideofhisfather，knowingthathewouldnotbesentback“Seethemiseriesofhavingafamily！”
　　saidTods’father，givingTodsthreeprunes，somewaterinaglassthathadbeenusedforclaret，andtellinghimtositstillTodssuckedtheprunesslowly，knowingthathewouldhavetogowhentheywerefinished，andsippedthepinkwaterlikeamanoftheworld，ashelistenedtotheconversationPresently，theLegalMember，talking“shop。”totheHeadofaDepartment，mentionedhisBillbyitsfullname——“TheSub-MontaneTractsRyotwariRevisedEnactment。”
　　Todscaughttheonenativeword，andliftinguphissmallvoicesaid：——
　　“Oh，IknowALLaboutthat！Hasitbeenmurramuttedyet，CouncillorSahib？”
　　“Howmuch？”saidtheLegalMember。
　　“Murramutted——mended——Puttheek，youknow——madenicetopleaseDittaMull！”
　　TheLegalMemberlefthisplaceandmovedupnexttoTods。
　　“WhatdoyouknowaboutRyotwari，littleman？”hesaid。
　　“I’mnotalittleman，I’mTods，andIknowALLaboutitDittaMull，andChogaLall，andAmirNath，and——oh，lakhsofmyfriendstellmeaboutitinthebazarswhenItalktothem。”
　　“Oh，theydo——dothey？Whatdotheysay，Tods？”
　　Todstuckedhisfeetunderhisredflanneldressing-gownandsaid：——
　　“Imustfink。”
　　TheLegalMemberwaitedpatientlyThenTods，withinfinitecompassion：
　　“Youdon’tspeakmytalk，doyou，CouncillorSahib？”
　　“No；IamsorrytosayIdonot。”saidtheLegal’Member。
　　“Verywell。”saidTods“ImustfinkinEnglish。”
　　Hespentaminuteputtinghisideasinorder，andbeganveryslowly，translatinginhismindfromthevernaculartoEnglish，asmanyAnglo-IndianchildrendoYoumustrememberthattheLegalMemberhelpedhimonbyquestionswhenhehalted，forTodswasnotequaltothesustainedflightoforatorythatfollows。
　　“DittaMullsays：——’Thisthingisthetalkofachild，andwasmadeupbyfools。’ButIdon’tthinkyouareafool，CouncillorSahib。”
　　saidTodds，hastily“YoucaughtmygoatThisiswhatDittaMullsays：——’Iamnotafool，andwhyshouldtheSirkarsayIamachild？
　　IcanseeifthelandisgoodandifthelandlordisgoodIfIamafool，thesinisuponmyownheadForfiveyearsItakemygroundforwhichIhavesavedmoney，andawifeItaketoo，andalittlesonisborn。’DittaMullhasonedaughternow，butheSAYS
　　hewillhaveason，soonAndhesays：’Attheendoffiveyears，bythisnewbundobust，ImustgoIfIdonotgo，Imustgetfreshsealsandtakkus-stampsonthepapers，perhapsinthemiddleoftheharvest，andtogotothelaw-courtsonceiswisdom，buttogotwiceisJehannum。’ThatisQUITEtrue。”explainedTods，gravely“AllmyfriendssaysoAndDittaMullsays：——’Alwaysfreshtakkusandpayingmoneytovakilsandchaprassisandlaw-courtseveryfiveyearsorelsethelandlordmakesmegoWhydoIwanttogo？AmI
　　fool？IfIamafoolanddonotknow，afterfortyyears，goodlandwhenIseeit，letmedie！ButifthenewbundobustsaysforFIFTEENyears，thenitisgoodandwiseMylittlesonisaman，andIamburnt，andhetakesthegroundoranotherground，payingonlyonceforthetakkus-stampsonthepapers，andhislittlesonisborn，andattheendoffifteenyearsisamantooButwhatprofitisthereinfiveyearsandfreshpapers？Nothingbutdikh，trouble，dikhWearenotyoungmenwhotaketheselands，butoldones——notjais，buttradesmenwithalittlemoney——andforfifteenyearsweshallhavepeaceNorarewechildrenthattheSirkarshouldtreatusso。”
　　HereTodsstoppedshort，forthewholetablewerelisteningTheLegalMembersaidtoTods：“Isthatall？”
　　“AllIcanremember。”saidTods“ButyoushouldseeDittaMull’sbigmonkeyIt’sjustlikeaCouncillorSahib。”
　　“Tods！Gotobed。”saidhisfather。
　　Todsgathereduphisdressing-gowntailanddeparted。
　　TheLegalMemberbroughthishanddownonthetablewithacrash——
　　“ByJove！”saidtheLegalMember，“IbelievetheboyisrightTheshorttenureIStheweakpoint。”
　　Heleftearly，thinkingoverwhatTodshadsaidNow，itwasobviouslyimpossiblefortheLegalMembertoplaywithabunnia’smonkey，bywayofgettingunderstanding；buthedidbetterHemadeinquiries，alwaysbearinginmindthefactthattherealnative——notthehybrid，University-trainedmule——isastimidasacolt，and，littlebylittle，hecoaxedsomeofthemenwhomthemeasureconcernedmostintimatelytogiveintheirviews，whichsquaredverycloselywithTods’evidence。
　　SotheBillwasamendedinthatclause；andtheLegalMemberwasfilledwithanuneasysuspicionthatNativeMembersrepresentverylittleexcepttheOrderstheycarryontheirbosomsButheputthethoughtfromhimasilliberalHewasamostLiberalMan。
　　AfteratimethenewsspreadthroughthebazarsthatTodshadgottheBillrecastinthetenureclause，andifTods’Mammahadnotinterfered，TodswouldhavemadehimselfsickonthebasketsoffruitandpistachionutsandCabuligrapesandalmondsthatcrowdedtheverandahTillhewentHome，TodsrankedsomefewdegreesbeforetheViceroyinpopularestimationButforthelittlelifeofhimTodscouldnotunderstandwhy。
　　IntheLegalMember’sprivate-paper-boxstillliestheroughdraftoftheSub-MontaneTractsRyotwariRevisedEnactment；and，oppositethetwenty-secondclause，pencilledinbluechalk，andsignedbytheLegalMember，arethewords“Tods’Amendment。”
　　INTHEPRIDEOFHISYOUTH。
　　“Stoppedinthestraightwhentheracewashisown！
　　Lookathimcuttingit——curtothebone！”
　　“Askeretheyoungsterberatedandchidden，Whatdidhecarryandhowwasheridden？
　　Maybetheyusedhimtoomuchatthestart；
　　MaybeFate’sweight-clothsarebreakinghisheart。”
　　Life’sHandicap。
　　WhenIwastellingyouofthejokethatTheWormplayedoffontheSeniorSubaltern，Ipromisedasomewhatsimilartale，butwithallthejestleftoutThisisthattale：
　　DickyHattwaskidnappedinhisearly，earlyyouth——neitherbylandlady’sdaughter，housemaid，barmaid，norcook，butbyagirlsonearlyofhisowncastethatonlyawomancouldhavesaidshewasjusttheleastlittlebitintheworldbelowitThishappenedamonthbeforehecameouttoIndia，andfivedaysafterhisone-and-
　　twentiethbirthdayThegirlwasnineteen——sixyearsolderthanDickyinthethingsofthisworld，thatistosay——and，forthetime，twiceasfoolishashe。
　　Excepting，always，fallingoffahorsethereisnothingmorefatallyeasythanmarriagebeforetheRegistrarTheceremonycostslessthanfiftyshillings，andisremarkablylikewalkingintoapawn-
　　shopAfterthedeclarationsofresidencehavebeenputin，fourminuteswillcovertherestoftheproceedings——fees，attestation，andallThentheRegistrarslidestheblotting-padoverthenames，andsaysgrimly，withhispenbetweenhisteeth：——“Nowyou’remanandwife；“andthecouplewalkoutintothestreet，feelingasifsomethingwerehorriblyillegalsomewhere。
　　Butthatceremonyholdsandcandragamantohisundoingjustasthoroughlyasthe“longasyebothshalllive“cursefromthealtar-
　　rails，withthebridesmaidsgigglingbehind，and“TheVoicethatbreathedo’erEden“liftingtheroofoffInthismannerwasDickyHattkidnapped，andheconsidereditvastlyfine，forhehadreceivedanappointmentinIndiawhichcarriedamagnificentsalaryfromtheHomepointofviewThemarriagewastobekeptsecretforayearThenMrsDickyHattwastocomeoutandtherestoflifewastobeagloriousgoldenmistThatwashowtheysketcheditundertheAddisonRoadStationlamps；and，afteroneshortmonth，cameGravesendandDickysteamingouttohisnewlife，andthegirlcryinginathirty-shillingsaweekbed-and-livingroom，inabackstreetoffMontpelierSquareneartheKnightsbridgeBarracks。
　　ButthecountrythatDickycametowasahardland，where“men“
　　oftwenty-onewerereckonedverysmallboysindeed，andlifewasexpensiveThesalarythatloomedsolargesixthousandmilesawaydidnotgofarParticularlywhenDickydivideditbytwo，andremittedmorethanthefairhalf，at1-6，toMontpelierSquareOnehundredandthirty-fiverupeesoutofthreehundredandthirtyisnotmuchtoliveon；butitwasabsurdtosupposethatMrsHattcouldexistforeveronthe20poundsheldbackbyDicky，fromhisoutfitallowanceDickysawthis，andremittedatonce；alwaysrememberingthatRs700weretobepaid，twelvemonthslater，forafirst-classpassageoutforaladyWhenyouaddtothesetriflingdetailsthenaturalinstinctsofaboybeginninganewlifeinanewcountryandlongingtogoaboutandenjoyhimself，andthenecessityforgrapplingwithstrangework——which，properlyspeaking，shouldtakeupaboy’sundividedattention——youwillseethatDickystartedhandicappedHesawithimselfforabreathortwo；buthedidnotguessthefullbeautyofhisfuture。
　　Asthehotweatherbegan，theshacklessettledonhimandateintohisfleshFirstwouldcomeletters——big，crossed，sevensheetletters——fromhiswife，tellinghimhowshelongedtoseehim，andwhataHeavenuponearthwouldbetheirpropertywhentheymet。
　　ThensomeboyofthechummerywhereinDickylodgedwouldpoundonthedoorofhisbarelittleroom，andtellhimtocomeoutandlookatapony——theverythingtosuithimDickycouldnotaffordponiesHehadtoexplainthisDickycouldnotaffordlivinginthechummery，modestasitwasHehadtoexplainthisbeforehemovedtoasingleroomnexttheofficewhereheworkedallday。
　　Hekepthouseonagreenoil-clothtable-cover，onechair，onecharpoy，onephotograph，onetooth-glass，verystrongandthick，aseven-
　　rupeeeight-annafilter，andmessingbycontractatthirty-sevenrupeesamonthWhichlastitemwasextortionHehadnopunkah，forapunkahcostsfifteenrupeesamonth；buthesleptontheroofoftheofficewithallhiswife’slettersunderhispillowNowandagainhewasaskedouttodinnerwherehegotbothapunkahandaniceddrinkButthiswasseldom，forpeopleobjectedtorecognizingaboywhohadevidentlytheinstinctsofaScotchtallow-chandler，andwholivedinsuchanastyfashionDickycouldnotsubscribetoanyamusement，sohefoundnoamusementexceptthepleasureofturningoverhisBank-bookandreadingwhatitsaidabout“loansonapprovedsecurity。”ThatcostnothingHeremittedthroughaBombayBank，bytheway，andtheStationknewnothingofhisprivateaffairs。