Read Online Bhowani Junction by John Masters - Free Book Online Page A

bandanna stuck out of his pocket. Macaulay was looking at Victoria and stroking his moustache, and I suddenly thought, My God, that bastard wants to have ber in bed with him; and for the first time I realized that though Victoria would see more of me in this work, she would also see more of the young British officers.
    Mr Jones chattered on happily. He was so delighted to be talking to a lieutenant-colonel. He even joked with Savage and told him be should leave the military department to join the railway department, and Savage said he’d like to be an engine driver. Then Savage said he’d have to ask to be excused, and Mr Jones wrung his band again and told him to be sure and come and visit them at Number 4 Collett Road for a bottle of beer and a good talk. Victoria would show him the way, Mr Jones said.
    Victoria kept her face stiff until Savage and Macaulay walked away toward Mrs Williams and the other ladies. Then she turned on her father and said, ‘Pater! Why did you ask Colonel Savage to come to our house? If he does come it will only be to laugh at us.’ But Pater was looking after Savage and smiling in a pleased, happy way. He said to us, just as if Victoria hadn’t spoken, ‘Now there is a real English gentleman for you. No swank, you see, but he will always be treated like a gentleman, because he knows he is one.’
    Victoria said again, ‘Why did you go asking him to our house? I don’t want to see him there. He’s very rude. Working with him is going to be bad enough.’
    Pater looked at her, and he was surprised and rather hurt. He said, ‘Don’t speak like that about the colonel, Victoria. It is not right. I must go to the running room. Give me a kiss, girl’
    She bent forward to be kissed. Pater started to go, but he turned back at once and came close to me. He said, ‘And I can tell you something, Patrick. The colonel thinks Victoria is a good-looking girl.’
    I laughed, because of course Pater hadn’t seen how Savage really treated her when a lot of other people weren’t around. Ithought, if Pater’s trying to make me jealous he is talking through his hat.
    ‘Oh, yes, he does,’ Pater said. ‘I am old, but not as old as that. Besides, she is my girl, and I know. The other young fellow thinks the same. But I don’t like him. He is not a real gentleman.’
    I agreed with him there. Macaulay gave me the creeps.
    Pater stooped slowly under the couplings of a line of goods wagons, looked carefully up and down, and went away. His boots crunched fainter and fainter on the clinkers; then I heard Victoria swearing under her breath close beside me. ‘How does Pater claim to know Lieutenant Macaulay isn’t a real gentleman?’ she said. ‘Macaulay hardly spoke a word. As for Colonel Savage——’
    We walked over to Mrs Williams. Just then a lot of our servants came up through the yards, carrying the big tea urn from the Institute, and charcoal, milk jugs, water chatties, cups, saucers, everything. To impress on Colonel Savage that we were all anxious to help him, I said, ‘The urn is lent by permission of the Institute Committee, of course.’ Savage nodded his head thoughtfully. He watched the servants preparing the charcoal fire at the side of the hut. Then he turned to Mrs Williams and said, ‘This is really very kind of all of you, Mrs Williams, very kind indeed.’ He flashed her another of those brilliant hot smiles.
    Violet Williams simpered and put her hand up to her back hair. ‘It is nothing, Colonel, a pleasure,’ she said.
    Savage said, ‘I can assure you that our sick—and we’re bound to have some—will appreciate it very much.’
    I was as astonished as Mrs Williams. She said, ‘Oh, but this is for the British officers, Colonel Savage.’ Savage knew that perfectly well.
    But he said, ‘Well, you know, they’ll appreciate your kindness, but I don’t allow them to have any tea at a time like this unless the men are having some too, and you couldn’t possibly cater for