What pleasure does he suppose an English girl can have in listening
to elaborate compliments from a man as yellow as a guinea?"
"Think of his wealth, my dear."
"What difference does his wealth make?" Isobel said. "As far as
I have seen, I do not think that rich Englishmen are more amusing
than others, and if he had all the wealth of India, that would not
improve Nana Sahib in my eyes. There are women, of course, who do
think a great deal about money, and who will even marry men for it,
but even women who would do that could not, I should think, care
anything about the wealth of a Hindoo they cannot marry."
"Not directly, my dear," Mrs. Hunter said; "but people may be
flattered with the notice and admiration of a person of importance
and great wealth, even if he is a Hindoo."
"Besides," the Doctor put in, "the Rajah is considered to be a
great connoisseur of English beauty, and has frequently expressed
his deep regret that his religion prevented his marrying an English
lady."
"I should be very sorry for the English girl who would marry him,
religion or not."
"I think you are rather hard upon the Nana, Isobel," the Major
said. "He is a general favorite; he is open handed and liberal;
very fond of entertaining; a great admirer of us as a nation. He
is a wonderfully well read man for a Hindoo, can talk upon almost
every subject, and is really a pleasant fellow."
"I don't like him; I don't like him at all," Isobel said positively.
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