too. And so he copies him as far as he can go. On the top of a native dhoti, mysteriously wound about him, the Babu sports an English shirt, with no attempt to conceal the lower ends, which an Englishman always modestly leaves to your imagination. Add to this a fair length of brown leg, gorgeous parti-coloured socks— ometimes held up by suspenders—and patent leather shoes, and, as Ermyntrude said as to the result, she never could have believed it. When the Babu takes a fancy to the tall silk hat—he has already developed a weakness for the preposterous round stiff collar—the effect will be complete.
We didn't quite know whether we were disappointed or not with Bombay as we drove through the streets to the hotel. It was a bit too Continental and not quite Eastern enough for my taste; but, as Lady Manifold said, we must reserve our final judgment, as we hadn't yet seen the railway-station and Malabar Hill, both of which we had been told were beautiful.
That Bombay Hotel was certainly a revelation. They had put Ermyntrude in a tent on the roof to start with.
'Oh, miss!' said Ermyntrude when she descended after having seen it, 'it gives me quite a turn to think of sleeping there. Supposing—oh, miss!'
Ermyntrude's left hand felt about for the region of her heart, and speech failed her. I tried to reassure her.
'But oh, miss, on the roof! on the roof!' she groaned despairingly, recovering her garrulity.
