He made a gesture to show that he could not help himself: "It's true," he admitted. "There's an awful lot to do. Is that the trouble?" "And make me see the good side of India." "Is that it?" "And a lot besides." "Are you becoming homesick? Don't you care for India any longer, don't you care for Labuwangi, where we all make so much of you?... You misjudge India. Try to see the good side of it." "I have tried." "Is it no use?" "No." "You are too sensible not to perceive the good in this country." "You are too fond of it to be impartial. And I don't know how to be impartial. But tell me the good things." "Which shall I begin with? The satisfaction of being able, as an official, to do good to the country and the people. The fine, delightful sense of working for this country and this people; the ample hard work that fills a man's life out here.... I'm not speaking of all the office-work of your husband, who is district secretary. But I'm speaking of later on, when he becomes an assistant-resident!" "It will be so long before that happens!" "Well, then, the spacious material life?" "The white ants gnaw everything." "That's a poor joke, mevrouw." "Very possibly, resident. Everything is out of tune with me, inside and out: my wit, my piano and my poor soul." "Nature, then?" "I don't feel it all. Nature is conquering me and devouring me." "Your own activities?" "My activities? One of the good things in India?" "Yes. To inspire us material, practical people with your wit, now and again." "Resident! You're paying me compliments!... Is this all on account of the theatricals?" "And to do good to Mother Staats with that wit of yours!" "Couldn't I do good in Europe?" "Certainly, certainly," he said, bluffly. "Go to Europe, mevrouw, by all means. Go and live at the Hague; join the Charity Organization Society ... with a collecting-box at your door and a rix-dollar ... how often?" She laughed: "Now you're becoming unjust. They do a lot of good in Holland too." "But do they ever do in Holland for one distressed person ... what we, what you are now going to do for Mother Staats? And don't tell me that there's less poverty here." "Well?" "Well, then, there is a great deal of good for you here. Your special activities. Your material and moral work for others.... Don't let Van Helderen get too much smitten with you, mevrouw. He's a charming fellow, but he puts too much literature into his monthly reports.... I see him coming and I must be off. So I can rely on you?" "Absolutely." "When shall we have the first meeting, with the committee and the ladies?" "To-morrow evening, resident, at your house?" "Right you are. I shall send round the subscription-lists. We must make a lot of money, mevrouw." "We'll do our best for Mother Staats," she said, gently. He shook her hand and went away. She felt limp, she did not know why: