He will lend us a boat. 'Twill be vastly annoying if we
do not reach home before dark."
The men just succeeded in reaching the ghat, on the left bank of the
river about a mile below Chandernagore, before the boat sank. When the
party had landed, Mrs. Merriman sent her jamadar up to the house to ask
for the loan of a boat, or for shelter while one was being obtained from
Chandernagore.
"Tell the Sahib 'tis the bibi of an English sahib," she said. "He will
not refuse to do English ladies a service."
The jamadar shortly returned, followed by a tall dark-featured European
in white clothes. He bowed and smiled pleasantly when he came down to the
ghat, and addressed Mrs. Merriman in French.
"I am happy to be of service, Madam. Alas! I have no boat at hand, but I
shall send instantly to Chandernagore for one. Meanwhile, if you will
have the goodness to come to my house, my wife will be proud to offer you
refreshments, and we shall do our best to entertain you until the boat
arrives.
"Permit me, Madam."
He offered his left hand to assist the lady up the steps.
"I had the mischance to injure my right hand the other day," he
explained. "It is needful to keep it from the air."
It was thrust into the pocket of his coat.
"The Frenchman is vastly polite," said Mrs. Merriman to her daughter, as
they preceded him up the path to the house. "But there, that is the way
with their nation."
"Hush, mamma!" said Phyllis, "he may understand English.
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