Olivia in India | Page 7

watching
the lights of the town and hearing a faint echo of the life there, I
realized with something of a shock that it was Hallow-e'en. Does that
convey nothing to your mind? To me it brings back memories of cold,
fast-shortening days, and myself jumping long-legged over
cabbage-stalks in the kitchen-garden, chanting--

"This is the nicht o' Hallow-e'en When a' the witches will be seen--"
in fearful hope of seeing a witch, not mounted on a broomstick, but on
the respectable household cat, changed for that night into a flying fury;
finally, along with my brothers, being captured, washed, and dressed,
to join with other spirits worse than ourselves in "dooking" for apples
and eating mashed potatoes in momentary expectation of swallowing a
threepenny-bit or a thimble. To-night, far from the other spirits, far
from the chill winds and the cabbage-stalks, I have been watching the
sunset on the desert making the world a glory of rose and gold and
amethyst. Now it is dark; the lights are lit all over the ship; the floor of
heaven is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold...
"In such a night did young Lorenzo ..."
_Nov. 2, 11.30 a.m_.
Our fellow-passengers derive much amusement from the way we sit
and scribble, and one man asked me if I were writing a book! All this
time I haven't mentioned the Port Said letters. We got them before we
left the ship, and, determined for once to show myself a well-balanced,
sensible young person, I took mine to the cabin and locked them firmly
in a trunk, telling myself how nice it would be to read them in peace on
my return. The spirit was willing, but--I found I must rush down to take
just a peep to see if everyone was well, and the game ended with me
sitting uncomfortably on the knobby edge of Mrs. Albert Murray's
bunk, breathlessly tearing open envelopes.
They were all delightful, and I have read them many times. I have
yours beside me now, and to make it like a real talk I shall answer each
point as it comes.
You say the sun hasn't shone since I left.
Are you by any chance paying me a compliment? Or are you merely
stating a fact? As Pet Marjorie would say, I am primmed up with
majestic pride because of the compliments I receive. One lady, whose
baby I held for a little this morning, told me I had such a sweet,

unspoiled disposition! But what really pleased me and made me feel
inches taller was that Captain Gordon told someone who told me that
he thought I had great stability of character. It is odd how one loves to
be told one has what one hasn't! I, who have no more stability of
character than a pussy-cat, felt warm with gratitude. Only--I should like
to make my exit now before he discovers how mistaken he is!
Yes, I wish you were sitting by my side racing through the waves.
Indeed, I wish all my dear people were here.
Are you really feeling lonely, you popular young man of many
engagements? Lonely and dissatisfied are your words. But why? Why?
Surely no one ever had less reason to feel dissatisfied. There are very
many people, my friend, who wouldn't mind being you. And yet you
aren't thankful! Not thankful for the interesting life you have, the plays
you see, the dinners you eat, the charming women you talk to, the balls
you dance at, the clubs you frequent--though what a man does at his
clubs beyond escaping for a brief season from his womenkind I never
quite know. Think how nice to be a man and not have to look pleased
when one is really bored to extinction! If you are bored you have only
to slip away to your most comfortable rooms. Did I tell you how much
I liked your rooms that day Margie and I went to tea with you? or were
we too busy talking about other things? Now don't be like Peter. He
was grumbling about something and I told him to go away and count
his blessings. He went obediently, and returned triumphant. "I've done
it!" he said, "and I've six things to be thankful for and nine to be
unthankful for--"
One thing for which I think you might feel "unthankful" is your
lamentable lack of near relations. It is hard to be quite alone in the
world; for, I agree, aunts don't count for much. Weighed in the balance
they are generally found woefully wanting.
I remember once, when we were laughing over some escapade of our
childhood you said you had no very pleasant recollection of your
childish days, that you didn't look forward to holidays and that your
happiest