I fear you are a backslider from the good old doctrine, Ed
wards." Pagett spoke as one who mourned the death of a near
relative.
"Not a bit, Sir, but I should be if I took up with a parcel of baboos,
pleaders, and schoolboys, as never did a day's work in their lives,
and couldn't if they tried. And if you was to poll us English railway
men, mechanics, tradespeople, and the like of that all up and down
the country from Peshawur to Calcutta, you would find us mostly
in a tale together. And yet you know we're the same English you
pay some respect to at home at 'lection time, and we have the pull
o' knowing something about it."
"This is very curious, but you will let me come and see you, and
perhaps you will kindly show me the railway works, and we will
talk things over at leisure. And about all old friends and old
times," added Pagett, detecting with quick insight a look of
disappointment in the mechanic's face.
Nodding briefly to Orde, Edwards mounted his dog-cart and drove
off.
"It's very disappointing," said the
Member to Orde, who, while his friend discoursed with Edwards,
had been looking over a bundle of sketches drawn on grey paper in
purple ink, brought to him by a Chuprassee.
"Don't let it trouble you, old chap," 'said Orde, sympathetically.
"Look here a moment, here are some sketches by the man who
made the carved wood screen you admired so much in the
dining-room, and wanted a copy of, and the artist himself is here
too.
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