Heat and Dust Read Online Free PDF Page B

wasn’t much of anything, just a few pieces of ugly furniture and even those were dusty.
    Olivia sat by Mrs. Saunders’ bedside and listened to her tell about her illness which was something to do with her womb. It had never got right after the baby’s death – this was the only mention of the baby’s death, for the rest it was all about the bad after-effects on Mrs. Saunders’ health. While she talked, Olivia had the unworthy thought that the Saunders really were not – were not – well, no one ever said this outright but they were just not the sort of people usually found in the Indian services. Olivia was by no means a snob but she was aesthetic and the details Mrs. Saunders gave about her illness were not; also Mrs. Saunders’ accent – how could one help noticing with her droning on and on? – was not that of a too highly educated person. . . .
    I’m base, base, Olivia scolded herself – but at that moment she had a shock for Mrs. Saunders gave a loud shout: turning round, Olivia saw that one of the slovenly servants had come in, wearing slovenly shoes. It was these latter that had upset his mistress – and of course it was a mark of disrespect for a servant to enter a room with shoes on, Douglas would never have allowed it to happen in their house. But Olivia was amazed and frightened by the strength of Mrs. Saunders’ reaction. She had sat up in bed and was shouting like a madwoman. She called the servant a dirty name too. The servant was frightened and ran away. Mrs. Saunders sank her head down on her pillow in exhaustion, but her outburst was not over yet. She seemed to feel the need to express or perhapsjustify herself; she may have been ashamed of the dirty word that had escaped her. She said that these servants really were devils and that they could drive anyone crazy; that it was not stupidity on their part – on the contrary, they were clever enough when it suited their purposes – but it was all done deliberately to torment their masters. She gave examples of their thieving, drinking, and other bad habits. She told Olivia about the filth in which they lived inside their quarters – but of course what could one expect, everything was like that, everywhere the same – the whole town, the lanes and bazaars, and had Olivia ever looked inside one of their heathen temples? Mrs. Saunders groaned and she covered her face with her hands and then Olivia saw that tears came oozing through her fingers and her chest inside her nightgown was heaving with heavy sobs. She brought out “I’ve asked him – over and over – I’ve said: Willie, let’s go. ”
    Olivia stroked Mrs. Saunders’ pillow and now her tears were flowing too, in pity for someone so unhappy.
    What a relief, after that, to be with bright, brisk Beth Crawford! She had come to invite Olivia to accompany her to Khatm, to pay a call on the Nawab’s mother. Olivia loved visiting the Palace again, even though this time they were ushered straight into the ladies’ quarters. These were also very elegant, though more in Indian style with floor-level divans covered in rich textures, and little mirrors in enamelled frames. Three good European chairs had been arranged in the centre: these were for Mrs. Crawford and Olivia, and for the Begum herself. There were some other, mostly elderly ladies and they reclined on the divans spread on the floor. The younger ladies floated around in diaphanous silks and served sherbet and other refreshments from a succession oftrays carried in by servants.
    Olivia could do nothing but sit perched up on her chair. Conversation was impossible since she did not know a word of the language. The Begum did try to speak a few words of English to her – only at once to laugh at herself for pronouncing them so badly. She was a woman in her fifties who would have been handsome except for a large wart on her cheek. She was