Page:An American Girl in India.djvu/155

 Yet when I got into the Mofussil, which I soon discovered meant much what we should call the country as opposed to the town, I found everybody sprinkling the conversation with such an array of Hindustani words that I simply had to ask what they meant if I didn't want to be out of things altogether. 'We'll drive down to the club, if you like afterwards,' said Berengaria, as we sat down to tea in the veranda, 'but you won't find it very interesting, I'm afraid, as they are a very "chichi" lot in Slumpanugger just now.' '"Chichi",' I exclaimed almost involuntarily, 'what's that?' Berengaria paused with her tea-cup halfway to her lips, and a look of amused surprise upon her face. 'Oh, you'll soon find out,' she laughed indulgently. 'It means that they are very much of this country, and that they have all the vices of both and none of the virtues of either.' 'Oh,' I said, rather wondering what like these strange beings so sweepingly condemned might be. 'But what a strange thing to call them. Do you know what the origin of the word "chichi" is?' Berengaria's indulgent smile froze. I saw at once that I had made a mistake. Berengaria did not know what the origin of the word 'chichi' was, and Berengaria was one of those people who never like to have to confess that there is anything they don't know.

'"Chichi",' said Berengaria, recovering at once