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Behind the girl, heavy footsteps were heard. Looking around in dismay, she recognized Nasim, her father's servant. He recognized her too.
- - Miss Sahib Evelyn, what are you doing here?
- - I ... I want to see ... Abulshera.
- - Abulshera ?!
- - Yes, him. He will now deal with my horses, and I would like to talk to him about this.
“Why do you bother yourself, miss sahib?” I will give him all your orders. And make sure everything is done.
- - No, I ... I need myself. Be kind, call Abulscher here.
- - As you like, Miss Sahib.
Delaying a surprised look on Evelyn, Nasim retired. She began to wait. Time lasted a long time. Now, in Evelyn, there were two anti-frivolous desires: to run away from here and see a man who was attracting him like a magnet. Dancing is still ongoing, of course. There, among the lights and flowers, so cozy ... And most importantly - - safely. Evelyn had already taken a step, but an unknown force held her down. “God, how stupid it is. What am I afraid of? He is only a servant. What a fool I am! We need to pull myself together ... Lord, let it come out ... "
- - Miss Sahib ...
The voice was low, but in Evelyn’s ears the spoken word sounded like a shot.
- - You ... you ...
The right words did not go to Evelyn's mind. The face of the thali was bewildering.
- - You called me?
Only now Evelyn looked at him. She was surprised that near Abulscher was even higher than it seemed from a distance. Thalec was dressed in a long white shirt, wearing a dress that reached his knees. There was no turban on the head, black hair was cut short. Despite the darkness, Evelyn looked at his eyes — green and cold.
- - You wanted to see me? - repeated thalese.
- - Yes ... I ... you will be my groom, and I want to go riding tomorrow morning, before breakfast ... So prepare Vulcan for half past seven. And you can take Desi.
- - Clear. Will be done. Is that all, miss sahib?
In the given question it was possible to discern a disguised smile.
- - Yes all. But ... - - - she faltered. - - I hope you can ride?
- - I am not sick.
Evelyn felt her cheeks flush. With her question she wanted to express compassion, and the Thalean pretended not to understand it. Frowning her brows, Evelyn said:
- - So, is it normal for you when they hit you?
Immediately green eyes glazed. And even as if lit up in the dark, like a cat. At some point, Evelyn thought that Abulscher was ready to hit her. The next phrase was given to him clearly with difficulty.
- - Is that all, Miss Sahib?
“Yes,” she whispered.
- - I will be exactly at seven-thirty at your house, Miss-sa bovine! I'll remember it! I will teach you how to behave! ”Suddenly, Evelyn realized that she was threatening just like her father, when she arranged another scolding for the natives. This gave her a discharge. Smiling, Evelyn walked along the path leading to the building, in which half an hour ago she was so serenely surrendered to the rhythm of the waltz. At the door of the main entrance, she ran into Francis.
- - Evelyn, well, where are you gone? Your mother is beside herself!
- - I went to the grooms to dispose at the expense of the horses on the cattle! I'll remember it! I will teach you how to behave! ”Suddenly, Evelyn realized that she was threatening just like her father, when she arranged another scolding for the natives. This gave her a discharge. Smiling, Evelyn walked along the path leading to the building, in which half an hour ago she was so serenely surrendered to the rhythm of the waltz. At the door of the main entrance, she ran into Francis.
- - Evelyn, well, where are you gone? Your mother is beside herself!
- - I went to the grooms to order at the expense of the horses for tomorrow.
- - But I would do it for you, I just had to tell me. How can you walk alone in the places where the natives live? They do not like when whites are interested in their life. I'm not saying that your mother is worried ...
Evelyn saw that her mother was just coming down the stairs. Her face did not bode well, now scandal will break out.
- - - Quickly, Francis, let's go dancing!
He smiled knowingly and took her arm.
“Good, Evelyn, but you don't do that anymore.”
And again she plunged into the waves of music ... She felt a strong hand at her waist. Lowering my eyelids, I imagined that this hand belongs to a man with green eyes ...
* * *
For an hour they rode. Evelyn in front, Abulscher followed her at a respectful distance. She slept badly, in a dream all night someone was chasing her. Several times she tried to talk to her companion, but each time he answered politely but monosyllabically. This angered Evelyn.
- - Turn back, - she commanded.
Without saying a word, the thali man turned his horse around. Now the girl saw his back. Suddenly, Evelyn wanted to wipe her whip and hit the white shirt with all her strength - so that blood spilled on her ...
- - Why do your men treat their wives so badly?
- - Why is it bad, miss sahib?
- - They have you locked up, they have no entertainment.
- - It is not, Miss Sahib. They have enough fun.
Again, in his words, there was a hidden grin.
“No entertainment can replace freedom,” Evelyn raised her voice.
Abulscher did not answer. They drove all the way to the house in complete silence. At the gates, Evelyn jumped off the ground, casually threw the reins to the thalian, and with a nod of her head made it clear that he was free today.
* * *
On this day, Evelyn did not know what to do with her. Long with a bored facial expression loomed from room to room. When her mother suggested that she visit Captain Rogers' ill wife at about noon, Evelyn so willingly agreed that Mrs. Bellingham was surprised.
Mrs. Rogers had another attack of tropical fever. Her tedious story about how her medications are acting on her, quickly tired of Evelyn. Having chosen a convenient moment, she complained of a headache and asked her mother for permission to go home. Returning to her, Evelyn felt depressed and lonely again. I tried to read, lay for a long time on the sofa in the living room. The desire for something unknown didn’t give her any peace. In the end, she left the house and went to the side avenue of the park.
In each military camp of the English colonial army, the space between the houses of officers and the place where native servants and Sipai soldiers live is transformed into a kind of park. On its shady lawns, children who know neither racial nor class distinctions play - white along with dark-skinned people. As children grow up, their playing together becomes more and more rare. Finally, the day comes when, in obedience to the imperative call from a luxurious home, a little man with white skin leaves his friends forever. From this point on, many whites no longer know the road to where their servants live.
Evelyn went to the hedge that served as the boundary of the park, but then she was stopped by a splash of water pouring out of a bucket. In this place behind the fence was a well. The girl ducked and looked through the foliage. A man leaned over the well, naked to the waist. Her face was hidden from Evelyn, but she was struck by fresh scars on ... Read more →