Several had expressed their pleasure that this man and his two friends had declined to subscribe, as from their position as head clerks they imitated their English examples, and had presumed to be of a higher class than the other Eurasians in the station; that had they come in they would have had a great deal to say. They never ceased to regret the attitude they had taken after seeing our success, and were probably very much chagrined that we could get along without their advice or money. They never came to us, except by special invitation to some of our entertainments, and then were only invited to see what a pleasant place, and the enjoyable times we had. This may not have been the best of motives, but let those who are without fault in such matters, hurl stones at us. In an up country station, where everybody’s business is known, and inquired into by everybody else, such a building as ours, two-storied, when there was not another of this height in the station, a very large puckha one too, with large, ornamental grounds around it, could not fail to excite attention. The station club-house, frequented by all the civil and military swells and their families, was a low down, mud-walled, tawdry affair, with a dingy, thatched grass roof, the building having been erected during years by additions, so was without form or comeliness, becoming more disreputable in appearance in proportion as our building grew in size and beauty. Through some of my acquaintances in the club, I learned that our enterprise was a subject of daily talk at their evening gatherings. They had discovered that it was to be for an Eurasian club, as they put it, though we had not yet named our infant. One, who lived in a two-roomed, cheap bungalow asked, “What do the half castes want with such a building as that? It is a blanked sight too good for them!” Another remarked, “Why did the Collector allow them to put up such a building just opposite to ours?” Then one replied, “It is no matter, they will not be able to keep it, and then we’ll get it for ourselves, as it would just suit us.” One made a remark that hit me home. “That Japhet is the leader in it, and it seems to me that he is putting on a good deal of side.” “Why the devil shouldn’t he, when he has got the money to do it with?” asked an impecunious sub, whom I had favored with several accommodations. This, and much more, was the line of their daily conversation, but little to our credit, taking their words at their full meaning, but greatly to their discredit, judging from the motives of the speakers. CHAPTER XXXVIII.