Ruth Prawer Jhabvala - Heat and Dust

Harry said "I know he's in all sorts of trouble. It's been going on for years. Financial troubles — Khatm is bankrupt and then all that business with Sandy and the Cabobpurs who've been complaining right and left and trying to bring a case about her dowry. And of course that makes him more stubborn to fight back though he can't really afford to. Simla has been getting very acrimonious lately, and I know he's had some rather difficult interviews with Major Minnies. I halt it when Major Minnies comes here." He flushed and seemed reluctant to continue; but he did: "Because afterwards he's always so upset.' You'll see now when he comes up. He usually takes it out on me — don't think I'm complaining, I'm not, I'm glad if that makes him feel better. Because I can see how hurt he is. He's terribly terribly sensitive, Olivia, and of course being talked to like that by Major Minnies — being threatened — "

"How dare they!" cried Olivia.

" You see, the truth is he's only a very little prince and they don't have to be all that careful with him the way they'd have to be for instance with the Cabobpur family. And he feels it terribly. He knows what he is compared with the others. You should see old Cabobpur: he's just a gross swine, there's nothing royal about him. Whereas of course he is — "

"Yes."

They heard his voice, his unmistakable step on the stain.

Both waited. He burst in without knocking — which was unusual: at other times he showed the most courteous diffidence in entering his guest's suite. But now of course he was greatly upset. He strode in and went straight to the window and sat there, smouldering.

He said" I shall see the Viceroy himself. There is no point in talking with Major Minnies or anyone like that. It is like talking with — servants. I do not talk with servants." His nostrils flared. "Next time he comes here I shall refuse to see him. And I shall tear up any letters he dares to write to me and send the pieces back to him." He turned on Harry: "You can take them back to him. You can fling them in his face and say here is your answer. But I suppose you would not like to do it. " He turned his fierce gaze on Harry who looked down. Olivia also did not like to look at the Nawab just then.

"I suppose you are afraid to do it. You are afraid of Major Minnies and other creatures of that nature. Answer! Don't sit there like a dumb stone, answer! Oh both of you are the same, you and Major Minnies. I don't know why you stay here with me. You want to be with him and other English people. You feel only for them, nothing for me at all. "

"You know that's not true." Harry did his best to sound calm, reasonable.

It only infuriated the Nawab the more. He turned to Olivia: "Now he is playing the Englishman with me. So cool and quiet and never losing his temper. He is playing Major Minnies with me. How different from these terrible orientals. Olivia, do you also hate and despise orientals? Of course you do. And you are right I think. Because we are very stupid people with feelings that we. let others trample on and hurt to their hearts content. English people are so lucky — they have no feelings at all. Look at him," he said, pointing at Harry. "He has been with me so many years but what does he care for me? You see, he does not even try to answer me." He sat by the window; his profile was outlined against gardens and sky, like the portrait of a: ruler painted against the background of his own dominions. "And you, " he said to Olivia. "You also care nothing for me. "

"No? Then why am I here?"

"You have come to visit Harry. You want to be with him. And I'm very grateful to you that you are so nice to him because without you he would be most bored and lonely here. His health also is not good." He got up and came over to Harry and touched his shoulder with affection.

Harry said "I can't bear this."

"I know you can't. I'm an unbearable person. Major Minnies is right. "

"That's not what I meant."

"But it is true."

He went out and Olivia followed him. As he walked down the stairs, she called his name which she had never used before. He stood still and looked up at her in surprise.

She went running towards him, and as they 'met on the stairs, she was not at all sure what she was going to say. Afterwards, thinking about it, it seemed to her that she had not intended to tell him about her pregnancy. But that is what she did. She had to tell him in a low voice and he could not react much as they were in the middle of the Palace with servants and followers on every landing and who knew what ladies lurking behind curtains.

After that it wouldn't have been fair not to tell Douglas as well, and she did so that same night.

Next day she was waiting for Douglas, and also for: Major Minnies whom they had invited to dine; but at about eight o'clock Douglas sent a peon from the office to say they would both be late. Something had happened again though he did not say what. Olivia sat waiting on the verandah. She had been waiting all day — not for Douglas but for a message from the Palace. None came. She did not know what had happened: they were supposed to have left for Mussorie, but she could not believe that they would do so without seeing or communicating with her in some way first. She made up her mind that, if they had left, she would go too. She would tell Douglas that she could not stand the heat and must leave for the mountains immediately. Sitting there, alone and waiting in vain, she realised that it would not be possible for her to stay.

But when Douglas and their guest at last came, she did her best to overcome her disturbed state of mind and play the role expected of her. She sat at the dining table between white candles — her dress was white too, white lace — and chatted to them about a champagne party on the Cam she and Marcia had once attended where one of the boats had overturned. All the time she felt the two men to be as tense and disturbed as herself. When she left them to their brandy and cigars, she could hear them speaking together in worried tones; and when they came to join her on the front verandah, both were grave. She pleaded "Won't you tell me what happened?"

They did so reluctantly (Major Minnies said it was a pity to spoil their mood). Of course the Nawab was involved again. His gang of dacoits, instead of confining themselves to the territories around Khatm, had strayed into the province under Mr: Crawford's jurisdiction. They had raided a village some five miles out of Satipur and had got away with cash and jewellery. No one had been killed but several villagers, who had tried to conceal their valuables, had been roughly handled. One woman had had her nose cut off. As soon as the villagers' report reached Satipur, Mr. Crawford and Douglas had informed Major Minnies who had at once driven over to the Palace. The Nawab had refused to receive him.

Olivia said "But they've gone to Mussourie." She added carefully "Harry told me: I saw him yesterday."

"They were to have gone but the usual thing happened: the Begum changed her mind, “ Major Minnies said. "I don't know what it was this time — I think someone heard an owl which is of course very inauspicious before a journey — so they all had to unpack again. "

Olivia laughed — ostensibly at the superstition. She was gay with relief; they were still there, they had not left.

Major Minnies said "I wasn't altogether surprised when he wouldn't see me: because unfortunately we had had rather a lively scene just yesterday. He got… quite excited."

"Dashed impudence," Douglas said with heat. "I hope Simla isn't going to dilly-dally any further with him."

"No it rather looks as if they won't. The wheels of Simla grind slowly but they grind exceedingly small. I'm afraid it was putting my case to him in these terms that got him so worked up."