A girl couldn't be in
love with a man and strive to break him.
Hodson had taken up the papers, and was again scanning them mistily.
"They were on the murdered messenger--he was killed, wasn't he, Barlow?"
"Yes."
"And has any native seen these papers, Captain?"
"No, I cut them from the soles of the sandals the messenger wore,
myself, Sir."
"That is all then, Captain; we have them back--I may say, thank God!"
He stood up and holding out his hand added, "Thank you, Captain. I
don't want to know anything about the matter--I'm too much machine now
to measure rainbows--fancy I should wear a strip of red-tape as a tie."
"If you will listen, Sir--there is another that I want to put right.
Your daughter did see the Gulab, but because she had brought me the
sandals. And you can take an officer's word for it that the Gulab is
not what Elizabeth believes."
"Captain, I have lived a long time in India, too long to be led away by
quick impressions, as unfortunately Elizabeth was. I've outlived my
prejudices. When the _mhowa_ tree blooms I can take glorious pleasure
from its gorgeous fragrant flowers and not quarrel with its leafless
limbs.
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