vast concourse of humanity; and members of the Local Municipal Board
vied with one another in paying him the respect due to his official
position.

In the intervals of duty, he tramped jungle places for game, alone or in
company with gentlemen from the neighbourhood; and, at the week-end,
prepared to spend Sunday with his wife at Muktiarbad.

CHAPTER VI

THE LEADING LADY

Meanwhile, Joyce at the Bara Koti, partially regained her confidence in
life, and tried to make the best of her surroundings.

The house stood imposingly in extensive grounds which had been
artistically laid out by successive officials, in lawns, flower-bed,
ornamental shrubberies, and a kitchen garden, all of which were
maintained by four _malis_ and a regiment of coolies. A dense hedge of
cactus separated the grounds from the roadway, with graceful bamboo
clumps at intervals for shade; and a rustic gate led to the carriage
drive, an avenue bordered by goldmohur trees.

The building, which was one-storeyed, was of solid masonry, the floor
being well raised upon arches. Wide pillared verandahs ran on every
side, and the roof was of concrete supported by iron joists. The rooms
were lofty and spacious, with high doors and many windows, furnished
with glass shutters and Venetian blinds; and were designed to fulfil the
requirements of married officials of important position in the
Government, who were expected to maintain a dignified state and
entertain in a style to correspond. In a word, it was Government House
on a minor scale, with a lordly status to keep up in the Station and
District.

For his wife's sake, Meredith had endeavoured to make his home as
attractive as possible so as to save inevitable comparisons between her
present and past circumstances.

However, there were drawbacks which even he could not avoid: the lack of
the most ordinary conveniences of daily life, such as electric lights
and fans, water pipes, telephones, and English shops; and of them all,
it was to be feared that the last might yet prove the most to be
deplored.

The bathrooms, which were numerous, had no hot and cold water laid on;
nor were there any but kerosene lamps to give light; and in lieu of
electric fans, _punkhas_ with gathered frills were worked by means of a
rope through a hole in the wall. Kurta, Moja, Juti, and Paji, were the
four Hindu coolies employed in summer to keep the frill perpetually
waving in whichever room it pleased the sahibs t