Olivia in India

Olivia in India

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Title: Olivia in India
Author: O. Douglas
Release Date: February 1, 2004 [EBook #10899]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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OLIVIA IN INDIA
O. DOUGLAS
"_When one discovers a happy look it is one's duty to tell one's friends about it_."
JAMES DOUGLAS in The Star.

OLIVIA IN INDIA. By O. DOUGLAS
"Happy books are not very plentiful, and when one discovers a happy book it is one's duty to tell one's friends about it, so that it makes them happy too. My happy book is called 'Olivia.' It is by a certain young woman who calls herself O. Douglas, though I suspect that it's a pen-name.... Olivia can write the most fascinating letters you ever read."--JAMES DOUGLAS in the Star. "Extremely interesting. To have read this book is to have met an extremely likeable personality in the author."--Glasgow Herald.
PENNY PLAIN. By O. DOUGLAS
"Penny Plain" is a story of life in a little town on the banks of the Tweed. Jean Jardine, the heroine--who looks after her brothers in their queer old house, "The Rigs," and is in turn looked after by the old servant, Mrs. McCosh (from Glasgow), and Peter, the fox-terrier--describes herself and her life as "penny plain," but with the coming of Pamela Reston and her brother (who was what Mrs. McCosh called "a Lord--no less"), everything is changed. There is love in the book and laughter. "A very able and delightful book."--The Times. "A delicious novel ... a triumphant success."--"A MAN OF KENT" in the British Weekly.
THE SETONS. By O. DOUGLAS
"Portrayed with the humour and insight of a deep affection."--The Times. "Elizabeth is a delightful creature who radiates the pages."--Glasgow Herald. "To the reading public at large it will prove a sheer delight."--Glasgow Times. "Full of charm."--Spectator. "A delightful romance."--Aberdeen Journal.

OLIVIA IN INDIA
BY
O. DOUGLAS
AUTHOR OF "THE SETONS" "PENNY PLAIN" ETC.
1912

CONTENTS

PART I THROUGH THE GATES OF THE EAST

PART II FLESHPOTS OF CALCUTTA

PART III THE SUNBURNED EARTH

PART IV THE LAND OF REGRETS

THROUGH THE GATES OF THE EAST

_S.S. Scotia, Oct_. 19, 19--.
... This is a line to send off with the pilot. There is nothing to say except "Good-bye" again.
We have had luncheon, and I have been poking things out of my cabin trunk, and furtively surveying one--there are two, but the other seems to be lost at present--of my cabin companions. She has fair hair and a blue motor-veil, and looks quiet and subdued, but then, I dare say, so do I.
I hope you are thinking of your friend going down to the sea in a ship.
I feel, somehow, very small and lonely.
OLIVIA.
_S.S. Scotia, Oct_. 21. (In pencil.)
... Whatever you do, whatever folly you commit, never, never be tempted to take a sea voyage. It is quite the nastiest thing you can take--I have had three days of it now, so I know.
When I wrote to you on Saturday I had an uneasy feeling that in the near future all would not be well with me, but I went in to dinner and afterwards walked up and down the deck trying to feel brave. Sunday morning dawned rain-washed and tempestuous, and the way the ship heaved was not encouraging, but I rose, or rather I descended from my perch--did I tell you I had an upper berth?--and walked with an undulating motion towards my bath. Some people would have remained in bed, or at least gone unbathed, but, as I say, I rose--mark, please, the rugged grandeur of the Scots character--and such is the force of example the fair-haired girl rose also. Before I go any further I must tell you about this girl. Her name is Hilton, Geraldine Hilton, but as that is too long a name and already we are great friends, I call her G. She is very pretty, with the kind of prettiness that becomes more so the more you look--and if you don't know what I mean I can't stop to explain--with masses of yellow hair, such blue eyes and pink cheeks and white teeth that I am convinced I am sharing a cabin with the original Hans Andersen's Snow Queen. She is very big and most healthy, and delightful to look at; even sea-sickness does not make her look plain, and that, you will admit, is a severe test; and what is more, her nature is as healthy and sweet as her face. You will laugh and say it is like me to know all about anyone in three days,