Page:Letters from India Vol 2.pdf/78

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You have no idea what a good day a handsome packet of English letters makes. Yesterday, in the morning paper, they mentioned that an English ship was in sight at Diamond. That made a cheerful breakfast. The dawk, as the ignorant creturs call the post, comes in about halfpast one at Barrackpore; so about that time I established myself and book in his Excellency’s room while he was writing, and kept an eye on the door; and when the nazir, George’s head servant and a thorough picture of ‘a gentle Hindu,’ came in with a placid smile on his good-looking countenance, I guessed he had something better to give than a common official box. Then there was the fun of breaking open Grindlay’s large packages, and sorting the contents, and distributing them about the house; and, as luncheon was announced, I would not open any of my letters, but kept them till I could return to my own room and enjoy them at my leisure. And when anybody comes to an interesting bit of news, there is a scuffling about the house, or screams of ‘Qui hi?’ and somebody comes and carries off the precious epistle, and takes it to the Lord Sahib, or the Lady Sahib, as occasion may be. But yesterday was a rainy