Bathurst laughed.
I am enjoying myself in my way, Doctor.
Who is that very pretty woman standing up in the next carriage but one? Isobel asked.
She comes from an out station, the Doctor repeated; she is the wife of the Collector there, but I think she likes Cawnpore better than Boorgum; her name is Rose.
Is that her husband talking to her?
No; that is a man in the Artillery here, I think.
Yes, the Major said, that is Harrowby, a good looking fellow, and quite a ladies man.
Do you mean a man ladies like, uncle, or who likes the society of ladies?
Both in his case, I should fancy, the Major said; I believe he is considered one of the best looking men in the service.
I dont see why he should be liked for that, Isobel said. As far as I have seen, good looking men are not so pleasant as others. I suppose it is because they are conscious of their own good looks, and therefore do not take the trouble of being amusing. We had one very good looking man on board ship, and he was the dullest man to talk to on board. No, Doctor, I wont have any names mentioned, but I am right, am I not?
He was a dull specimen, certainly, the Doctor said, but I think you are a little too sweeping.
I dont mean all good looking men, of course, but men who what I call go in for being good looking. I dont know whether you know what I mean. What are you smiling at, Mr. Wilson?
I was thinking of two or three men I know to whom your description applies, Miss Hannay; but I must be goingthey are just going to start the next race, and mine is the one after, so I must go and get ready. You wish me success, dont you?
I wish you all the success you deserve. I cant say more than that, can I?
I am afraid that is saying very little, he laughed. I dont expect to win, but I do hope I shall beat Richards, because he is so cock sure he will beat me.
This wish was not gratified. The first and second horses made a close race of it; behind them by ten or twelve lengths came the other horses in a clump, Wilson and Richards singling themselves out in the last hundred yards and making a desperate race for the third place, for which they made a dead heat, amid great laughter from their comrades.
That is excellent, Major Hannay said; you wont see anything more amusing than that today, girls. The third horse simply saved his stake, so that as they will of course divide, they will have paid twenty-five rupees each for the pleasure of riding, and the point which of their tats is the fastest remains unsettled.
Well, they beat a good many of them, Major Hannay, Miss Hunter said; so they did not do so badly after all.
Oh, no, they did not do so badly; but it will be a long time before they get over the chaff about their desperate struggle for the third place.
The next two races attracted but slight attention from the occupants of the carriage. Most of their acquaintances in the station came up one after the other for a chat. There were many fresh introductions, and there was so much conversation and laughter that the girls had little time to attend to what was going on around them. Wilson and Richards both sauntered up after changing, and were the subject of much chaff as to their brilliant riding at the finish. Both were firm in the belief that the judges finding was wrong, and each maintained stoutly he had beaten the other by a good head.
The race for Arabs turned out a very exciting one; the Rajah of Bithoors horse was the favorite, on the strength of its performances elsewhere; but Protheros horse was also well supported, especially in the regiment, for the Adjutant was a first class rider, and was in great request at all the principal meetings in Oude and the Northwest Provinces, while it was known that the Rajahs horse would be ridden by a native. The latter was dressed in strict racing costume, and had at the last races at Cawnpore won two or three cups for the Rajah.
But the general opinion among the officers of the station was that Protheros coolness and nerve would tell. His Arab was certainly a fast one, and had won the previous year, both at Cawnpore and Lucknow; but the Rajahs new purchase had gained so high a reputation in the Western Presidency as fully to justify the odds of two to one laid on it, while four to one were offered against Prothero, and from eight to twenty to one against any other competitor.
Prothero had stopped to have a chat at the Hunters carriage as he walked towards the dressing tent.
Our hopes are all centered in you, Mr. Prothero, Mr. Hunter said. Miss Hannay has been wagering gloves in a frightfully reckless way.
I should advise you to hedge if you can, Miss Hannay, he said. I think there is no doubt that Mameluke is a good deal faster than Seila. I fancy he is pounds better. I only beat Vincents horse by a head last year, and Mameluke gave him seven pounds, and beat him by three lengths at Poona. So I should strongly advise you to hedge your bets if you can.
What does he mean by hedge, uncle?
To hedge is to bet the other way, so that one bet cancels the other.
Oh, I shant do that, she said; I have enough money to pay my bets if I lose.
Do you mean to say you mean to pay your bets if you lose, Miss Hannay? the Doctor asked incredulously.
Of course I do, she said indignantly. You dont suppose I intend to take the gloves if I win, and not to pay if I lose?
It is not altogether an uncommon practice among ladies, the Doctor said, when they bet against gentlemen. I believe that when they wager against each other, which they do not often do, they are strictly honest, but that otherwise their memories are apt to fail them altogether.
That is a libel, Mrs. Hunter, is it not?
Not altogether, I think. Of course many ladies do pay their bets when they lose, but others certainly do not.
Then I call it very mean, Isobel said earnestly. Why, it is as bad as asking anyone to make you a present of so many pairs of gloves in case a certain horse wins.
It comes a good deal to the same thing, Mrs. Hunter admitted, but to a certain extent it is a recognized custom; it is a sort of tribute that is exacted at race time, just as in France every lady expects a present from every gentleman of her acquaintance on New Years Day.
I wouldnt bet if I didnt mean to pay honestly, Isobel said. And if Mr. Prothero doesnt win, my debts will all be honorably discharged.
There was a hush of expectation in the crowd when the ten horses whose numbers were up went down to the starting point, a quarter of a mile from the stand. They were to pass it, make the circuit, and finish there, the race being two miles. The interest of the natives was enlisted by the fact that Nana Sahib was running a horse, while the hopes of the occupants of the inclosure rested principally on Seila.
The flag fell to a good start; but when the horses came along Isobel saw with surprise that the dark blue of the Rajah and the Adjutants scarlet and white were both in the rear of the group. Soon afterwards the scarlet seemed to be making its way through the horses, and was speedily leading them.
Prothero is making the running with a vengeance, the Major said. That is not like his usual tactics, Doctor.
I fancy he knows what he is doing, the Doctor replied. He saw that Mamelukes rider was going to make a waiting race of it, and as the horse has certainly the turn of speed on him, he is trying other tactics. They are passing the mile post now, and Prothero is twelve or fourteen lengths ahead. There, Mameluke is going through his horses; his rider is beginning to get nervous at the lead Prothero has got, and he cant stand it any longer. He ought to have waited for another half mile. You will see, Prothero will win after all. Seila can stay, there is no doubt about that.
A roar of satisfaction rose from the mass of natives on the other side of the inclosure as Mameluke was seen to leave the group of horses and gradually to gain upon Seila.
Oh, he will catch him, uncle! Isobel said, tearing her handkerchief in her excitement.
The Major was watching the horses through his field glass.
Never mind his catching him, he said; Prothero is riding quietly and steadily. Seila is doing nearly her best, but he is not hurrying her, while the fool on Mameluke is bustling the horse as if he had only a hundred yards further to go.
The horses were nearing the point at which they had started, when a shout from the crowd proclaimed that the blue jacket had come up to and passed the scarlet. Slowly it forged ahead until it was two lengths in advance, for a few strides their relative positions remained unaltered, then there was a shout from the carriages; scarlet was coming up again. Mamelukes rider glanced over his shoulder, and began to use the whip. For a few strides the horse widened the gap again, but Prothero still sat quiet and unmoved. Just as they reached the end of the line of carriages, Seila again began to close up.
Seila wins! Seila wins! the officers shouted.
But it seemed to Isobel that this was well nigh impossible, but foot by foot the mare came up, and as they passed the Hunters carriage her head was in advance.
In spite of the desperate efforts of the rider of Mameluke, another hundred yards and they passed the winning post, Seila a length ahead.
CHAPTER VII
The exultation of the officers of the 103d over Seilas victory was great. They had all backed her, relying upon Protheros riding, but although his success was generally popular among the Europeans at the station, many had lost considerable sums by their confidence in Mamelukes speed.
Isobel sat down feeling quite faint from the excitement.
I did not think I could have been so excited over a race between two horses, she said to Mrs. Hunter; it was not the bets, I never even thought about themit was just because I wanted to see Mr. Protheros horse win. I never understood before why people should take such an interest in horse racing, but I quite understand now.
What is your size, Miss Hannay? Wilson asked.
Oh, I dont care anything about the gloves, Mr. Wilson; I am sorry I bet now.
You neednt feel any compunction in taking them from me or from any of us, Miss Hannay; we have all won over Seila; the regiment will have to give a ball on the strength of it. I only put on a hundred rupees, and so have won four hundred, but most of them have won ever so much more than that; and all I have lost is four pair of gloves to you, and four to Mrs. Doolan, and four to Mrs. Protheroa dozen in all. Which do you take, white or cream, and what is your size?
Six and a half, cream.
All right, Miss Hannay. The Nana must have lost a good lot of money; he has been backing his horse with everyone who would lay against it. However, it wont make any difference to him, and it is always a satisfaction when the loss comes on someone to whom it doesnt matter a bit. I think the regiment ought to give a dinner to Prothero, Major; it was entirely his riding that did it; he hustled that nigger on Mameluke splendidly. If the fellow had waited till within half a mile of home he would have won to a certainty; I never saw anything better.
Well, Miss Hannay, what do you think of a horse race? Bathurst, who had only remained a few minutes at the carriage, asked, as he strolled up again. You said yesterday that you had never seen one.
I am a little ashamed to say I was very much excited over it, Mr. Bathurst. You have not lost, I hope? You are looking and she stopped.
Shaky? he said. Yes; I feel shaky. I had not a penny on the race, for though the Doctor made me put into a sweep last night at the club, I drew a blank; but the shouting and excitement at the finish seemed to take my breath away, and I felt quite faint.
That is just how I felt; I did not know men felt like that. They dont generally seem to know what nerves are.
I wish I didnt; it is a great nuisance. The Doctor tries to persuade me that it is the effect of overwork, but I have always been so from a child, and I cant get over it.
You dont look nervous, Mr. Bathurst.
No; when a man is a fair size, and looks bronzed and healthy, no one will give him credit for being nervous. I would give a very great deal if I could get over it.
I dont see that it matters much one way or the other, Mr. Bathurst.
I can assure you that it does. I regard it as being a most serious misfortune.
Isobel was a little surprised at the earnestness with which he spoke.
I should not have thought that, she said quietly; but I can understand that it is disagreeable for a man to feel nervous, simply, I suppose, because it is regarded as a feminine quality; but I think a good many men are nervous. We had several entertainments on board the ship coming out, and it was funny to see how many great strong men broke down, especially those who had to make speeches.
I am not nervous in that way, Bathurst said, with a laugh. My pet horror is noise; thunder prostrates me completely, and in fact all noises, especially any sharp, sudden sound, affect me. I really find it a great nuisance. I fancy a woman with nerves considers herself as a martyr, and deserving of all pity and sympathy. It is almost a fashionable complaint, and she is a little proud of it; but a man ought to have his nerves in good order, and as much as that is expected of him unless he is a feeble little body. There is the bell for the next race.
Are you going to bet on this race again, Miss Hannay? Wilson said, coming up.
No, Mr. Wilson. I have done my first and last bit of gambling. I dont think it is nice, ladies betting, after all, and if there were a hospital here I should order you to send the money the gloves will cost you to it as conscience money, and then perhaps you might follow my example with your winnings.
My conscience is not moved in any way, he laughed; when it is I will look out for a deserving charity. Well, if you wont bet I must see if I can make a small investment somewhere else.
I shall see you at the ball, of course? Isobel said, turning to Mr. Bathurst, as Wilson left the carriage.
No, I think not. Balls are altogether out of my line, and as there is always a superabundance of men at such affairs here, there is no sense of duty about it.
What is your line, Mr. Bathurst?
I am afraid I have none, Miss Hannay. The fact is, there is really more work to be done than one can get through. When you get to know the natives well you cannot help liking them and longing to do them some good if they would but let you, but it is so difficult to get them to take up new ideas. Their religion, with all its customs and ceremonies, seems designed expressly to bar out all improvements. Except in the case of abolishing Suttee, we have scarcely weaned them from one of their observances; and even now, in spite of our efforts, widows occasionally immolate themselves, and that with the general approval.
I wish I had an army of ten thousand English ladies all speaking the language well to go about among the women and make friends with them; there would be more good done in that way than by all the officials in India. They might not be able to emancipate themselves from all their restrictions, but they might influence their children, and in time pave the way for a moral revolution. But it is ridiculous, he said, breaking off suddenly, my talking like this here, but you see it is what you call my line, my hobby, if you like; but when one sees this hard working, patient, gentle people making their lot so much harder than it need be by their customs and observances one longs to force them even against their own will to burst their bonds.