File:Vernon's aunt - being the oriental experiences of Miss Lavinia Moffat (1894) (14586472030).jpg

Identifier: vernonsauntbeing00cote (find matches)
Title: Vernon's aunt : being the oriental experiences of Miss Lavinia Moffat
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Cotes, Everard, Mrs., 1861-1922
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Chatto & Windus
Contributing Library: Scott - York University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Ontario Council of University Libraries and Member Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
to sell—butVernon took them as seriously as if he were 168 VERNONS AUNT a whole High Court, and always put on acoat and the most awful demeanour for theoccasion. Mr. Jones went away the morning afterthe tragedy of the cat, leaving me a vividimpression of the undisciplined nature of theIndian tea-planter. Major Parker stayed aweek, and gave me during that time a dailysensation to which I could not become accus-tomed. He was at Nuddiwalla, I believe,for the purpose of pure slaughter—a singularaim for such a small, meek, blushing man ashe was. And every morning, about tenoclock, I was startled anew by the advent ofthe largest and most imposing of the ele-phants marching into camp, with MajorParker and his rifle wobbling about in thehowdah, and a pretty spotted cheetah, or aleopard, and an assortment of wild birdsdangling at the animals side. It was a goryspectacle, and it never ceased to thrill me.Major Parker was not conversational, and Inever succeeded in persuading him to feel at
Text Appearing After Image:
MARCHING INTO CAMP I70 VERiVOA^S AUNT home with me. He used to make a fewtimid remarks at breakfast and dinner, and IbeHeve he devoted the time between torepose. I felt, when he went away, that avaluable opportunity of acquiring knowledgeof the East had been missed, vet I couldnot conscientiously blame myself in thematter. I met very few Anglo-Indians whodid not leave me with the same impression. There was certainly no lack of naturalhistory in Nuddiwalla if my nerves had per-mitted me to study it. But I found it abso-lutely impossible to accept the elephant andthe camel in the capacity of ordinary domesticanimals. They seemed to have all thevirtues, but they lacked the attractions.They had no endearing ways. They neverforgot themselves ; even when the elephantsblew trunkfuls of sand over their backs, it didnot strike one as frolicsome. Neither couldI conquer my aversion to being anywhere Inthe neighbourhood of an elephant who wasnot chained up by the leg. \ernons never VERNONS AUNT 1

Note About Images