Page:An American Girl in India.djvu/252

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242
AN AMERICAN GIRL IN INDIA

panse of Lachman Prasad, was a veritable cloth of gold. The Viceroy looked down well pleased, as indeed he might on this great pageant which, in spite of all the criticism, he had brought to such successful issue. As for the Vicereine, words just fail me to say. I said when I set out that I wouldn't gush, but I believe I did make a few exceptions. Anyway, you must forgive an American for going a bit mad with pride when she sees one of her fellow country-women riding into Delhi on an elephant as Vicereine, preceding even the brother of the King. And such a Vicereine! That was something for an American to have done. We are a republican people, but we have not quite forgotten that we sprang from a kingdom, and perhaps it is just because we are new that we cherish such a secret affection for the old.

Following the Viceroy came another magnificent state elephant carrying the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and about their welcome and popularity there was no possible manner of doubt whatever. The natives were frightfully keen to see the King-Emperor's brother, and none who saw could have been disappointed with the genial kindly man who acknowledged so graciously the plaudits of the crowd. They say a native crowd never cheers. That may be true. But if they don't know what a good ringing British cheer is, their spontaneous exclamations of delight as the King's brother passed by were no less unmistakable. It seemed like one long audible indrawing of the breath, a full deep sound fraught with tremulous excite-