"He certainly is a strange mixture of incorruptible orthodoxy and modern tolerance," assented Wenaston.
Alderbury commented tersely and incisively on the new Hinduism of the Presidency towns, and compared it with the old-fashioned bigotry to be found up-country, where there was less European influence than in the great educational centres. Native states with their native officials were even still further behind than British India, opposing religious reform with strong prejudiced conservatism.
"I suppose you welcome this new tolerance as a step in the right direction."
"Not at all," exclaimed Alderbury, his fighting instinct roused. "It is more difficult to attack than the old intolerance; it is elusive, shifty, the outcome of the Brahmanical facility of adaptation which is the invariable resource of the Hindu philosopher in every religious innovation. I would rather come to blows with the fanatical old Brahman than with one of these modern men whose policy is to agree with reservation."
"So you turn to the untouchables."
"Who form a sixth of India's population. They offer us a wide field for our energies," replied Alderbury.
"You are wise to give the caste people the go-by."
The missionary was up in arms at once at the implication that he turned his back on any one.
"Excuse me! We don't give them the go-by. We are ready watching for the moment when the thin edge of the wedge may be inserted without bringing disaster upon them and ourselves. By the by, an odd thing happened yesterday. Bopaul to my astonishment asked me if I would befriend his sister, the widow of the man who was killed in the railway accident."
"Coomara! I had forgotten that he married Bopaul's sister."