Page:Letters from India Vol 2.pdf/112

 always try to make himself pleasant to both beasts, and has no other duty.’ Such a new view of ‘the whole duty of man’!

You have been very ill-used, though you don’t know it. I was going to make you a handsome present of a small carved ivory elephant, and our little French servant, who clears away all my pretty things over my head, before I’m ready and resigned to part with them, yesterday morning, before I was up, put it at the bottom of a large box, soldered it up, sewed wax cloths over it; then, when I came out, pointed with savage delight to my empty tables, and said he fancied ‘ces petites bêtes horribles’ (meaning cockroaches) were tricked, as if they would have eaten up ivory! I have a beautiful large elephant in that same box, but I have not the heart to make him undo it again.

My dearest, I must finish, this being Wednesday; we go on Saturday, and you don’t know what a deal there is to be done.

Yours most affectionately, 1em