“They’re different. The men aren’t uncivil to them. But it isn’t for you——”
“It’s for all English people to treat them well. He’s a charming young man.”
“It isn’t done, Joan.”
“It’s going to be, Petah.”
“You’re meeting him again?”
“If I think proper.”
“Oh!” said Peter, baffled for the time. “All right, Joan.”
A fierce exchange of notes followed. “Don’t you understand the fellow’s a polygamist?” Peter wrote. “He keeps his women in purdah. No decent woman could be talked to in India as he talked to you. Not even an introduction. Personally, I’ve no objection to any friends you make provided they are decent friends....”
“He isn’t a polygamist,” Joan replied. “I’ve asked him. And every one says he’s a first-rate cricketer. As for decent friends, Peter——”
The issue had been still undecided when they came down for the Christmas vacation.