Page:Twenty-one Days in India.djvu/219

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ONE DAY IN INDIA.
207

Travelling M.P. will take the opportunity to jot down a few hasty notes on Aryan characteristics for the Twentieth Century before being placed under the table. The Baboo will subsequently be told off to sit on the Member's head. During this function the Baboo will deliver some sesquipedalian reflections in the rodomontade mood. The Shikarry will then dawdle over a twelve-foot-tiger story, while Mrs. Lollipop tells a fib and makes tea; and Ali Baba (unless his heart be too full of mulled claret) will make a joke. The company will break up at this point, after receiving a plenary dispensation from the Archdeacon.

Under such influences Ali Baba may become serious; he may learn from the wisdom of age and be cheered by the sallies of youth. But little Mrs. Lollipop can hardly be called one of the Sallies of his youth. Sally Lollipop rose upon the horizon of his middle age. She boiled up, pure blanc-mange and roses, over the dark brim of life's afternoon, a blushing sunrise, though late in dawning, and most cheerful. Sometimes after spending an afternoon with her, Ali Baba feels so cheered that