JustwhenTodswasinthebloomofhispower，theSupremeLegislaturewerehackingoutaBill，fortheSub-MontaneTracts，arevisionofthethenAct，smallerthanthePunjabLandBill，butaffectingafewhundredthousandpeoplenonethelessTheLegalMemberhadbuilt，andbolstered，andembroidered，andamendedthatBill，tillitlookedbeautifulonpaperThentheCouncilbegantosettlewhattheycalledthe“minordetails。”AsifanyEnglishmanlegislatingfornativesknowsenoughtoknowwhicharetheminorandwhicharethemajorpoints，fromthenativepointofview，ofanymeasure！ThatBillwasatriumphof“safeguardingtheinterestsofthetenant。”Oneclauseprovidedthatlandshouldnotbeleasedonlongertermsthanfiveyearsatastretch；because，ifthelandlordhadatenantbounddownfor，say，twentyyears，hewouldsqueezetheverylifeoutofhimThenotionwastokeepupastreamofindependentcultivatorsintheSub-MontaneTracts；andethnologicallyandpoliticallythenotionwascorrectTheonlydrawbackwasthatitwasaltogetherwrongAnative’slifeinIndiaimpliesthelifeofhissonWherefore，youcannotlegislateforonegenerationatatimeYoumustconsiderthenextfromthenativepointofviewCuriouslyenough，thenativenowandthen，andinNorthernIndiamoreparticularly，hatesbeingover-protectedagainsthimselfTherewasaNagavillageonce，wheretheylivedondeadANDburiedCommissariatmulesButthatisanotherstory。
Formanyreasons，tobeexplainedlater，thepeopleconcernedobjectedtotheBillTheNativeMemberinCouncilknewasmuchaboutPunjabisasheknewaboutCharingCrossHehadsaidinCalcuttathat“theBillwasentirelyinaccordwiththedesiresofthatlargeandimportantclass，thecultivators；“andsoon，andsoonTheLegalMember’sknowledgeofnativeswaslimitedtoEnglish-
speakingDurbaris，andhisownredchaprassis，theSub-MontaneTractsconcernednooneinparticular，theDeputyCommissionerswereagooddealtoodriventomakerepresentations，andthemeasurewasonewhichdealtwithsmalllandholdersonlyNevertheless，theLegalMemberprayedthatitmightbecorrect，forhewasanervouslyconscientiousmanHedidnotknowthatnomancantellwhatnativesthinkunlesshemixeswiththemwiththevarnishoffAndnotalwaysthenButhedidthebestheknewAndthemeasurecameuptotheSupremeCouncilforthefinaltouches，whileTodspatrolledtheBurraSimlaBazarinhismorningrides，andplayedwiththemonkeybelongingtoDittaMull，thebunnia，andlistened，asachildlistenstoallthestraytalkaboutthisnewfreakoftheLatSahib’s。
Onedaytherewasadinner-party，atthehouseofTods’Mamma，andtheLegalMembercameTodswasinbed，buthekeptawaketillheheardtheburstsoflaughterfromthemenoverthecoffeeThenhepaddledoutinhislittleredflanneldressing-gownandhisnight-
suit，andtookrefugebythesideofhisfather，knowingthathewouldnotbesentback“Seethemiseriesofhavingafamily！”
saidTods’father，givingTodsthreeprunes，somewaterinaglassthathadbeenusedforclaret，andtellinghimtositstillTodssuckedtheprunesslowly，knowingthathewouldhavetogowhentheywerefinished，andsippedthepinkwaterlikeamanoftheworld，ashelistenedtotheconversationPresently，theLegalMember，talking“shop。”totheHeadofaDepartment，mentionedhisBillbyitsfullname——“TheSub-MontaneTractsRyotwariRevisedEnactment。”
Todscaughttheonenativeword，andliftinguphissmallvoicesaid：——
“Oh，IknowALLaboutthat！Hasitbeenmurramuttedyet，CouncillorSahib？”
“Howmuch？”saidtheLegalMember。
“Murramutted——mended——Puttheek，youknow——madenicetopleaseDittaMull！”
TheLegalMemberlefthisplaceandmovedupnexttoTods。
“WhatdoyouknowaboutRyotwari，littleman？”hesaid。
“I’mnotalittleman，I’mTods，andIknowALLaboutitDittaMull，andChogaLall，andAmirNath，and——oh，lakhsofmyfriendstellmeaboutitinthebazarswhenItalktothem。”
“Oh，theydo——dothey？Whatdotheysay，Tods？”
Todstuckedhisfeetunderhisredflanneldressing-gownandsaid：——
“Imustfink。”
TheLegalMemberwaitedpatientlyThenTods，withinfinitecompassion：
“Youdon’tspeakmytalk，doyou，CouncillorSahib？”
“No；IamsorrytosayIdonot。”saidtheLegal’Member。
“Verywell。”saidTods“ImustfinkinEnglish。”
Hespentaminuteputtinghisideasinorder，andbeganveryslowly，translatinginhismindfromthevernaculartoEnglish，asmanyAnglo-IndianchildrendoYoumustrememberthattheLegalMemberhelpedhimonbyquestionswhenhehalted，forTodswasnotequaltothesustainedflightoforatorythatfollows。
“DittaMullsays：——’Thisthingisthetalkofachild，andwasmadeupbyfools。’ButIdon’tthinkyouareafool，CouncillorSahib。”
saidTodds，hastily“YoucaughtmygoatThisiswhatDittaMullsays：——’Iamnotafool，andwhyshouldtheSirkarsayIamachild？
IcanseeifthelandisgoodandifthelandlordisgoodIfIamafool，thesinisuponmyownheadForfiveyearsItakemygroundforwhichIhavesavedmoney，andawifeItaketoo，andalittlesonisborn。’DittaMullhasonedaughternow，butheSAYS
hewillhaveason，soonAndhesays：’Attheendoffiveyears，bythisnewbundobust，ImustgoIfIdonotgo，Imustgetfreshsealsandtakkus-stampsonthepapers，perhapsinthemiddleoftheharvest，andtogotothelaw-courtsonceiswisdom，buttogotwiceisJehannum。’ThatisQUITEtrue。”explainedTods，gravely“AllmyfriendssaysoAndDittaMullsays：——’Alwaysfreshtakkusandpayingmoneytovakilsandchaprassisandlaw-courtseveryfiveyearsorelsethelandlordmakesmegoWhydoIwanttogo？AmI
fool？IfIamafoolanddonotknow，afterfortyyears，goodlandwhenIseeit，letmedie！ButifthenewbundobustsaysforFIFTEENyears，thenitisgoodandwiseMylittlesonisaman，andIamburnt，andhetakesthegroundoranotherground，payingonlyonceforthetakkus-stampsonthepapers，andhislittlesonisborn，andattheendoffifteenyearsisamantooButwhatprofitisthereinfiveyearsandfreshpapers？Nothingbutdikh，trouble，dikhWearenotyoungmenwhotaketheselands，butoldones——notjais，buttradesmenwithalittlemoney——andforfifteenyearsweshallhavepeaceNorarewechildrenthattheSirkarshouldtreatusso。”
HereTodsstoppedshort，forthewholetablewerelisteningTheLegalMembersaidtoTods：“Isthatall？”
“AllIcanremember。”saidTods“ButyoushouldseeDittaMull’sbigmonkeyIt’sjustlikeaCouncillorSahib。”
“Tods！Gotobed。”saidhisfather。
Todsgathereduphisdressing-gowntailanddeparted。
TheLegalMemberbroughthishanddownonthetablewithacrash——
“ByJove！”saidtheLegalMember，“IbelievetheboyisrightTheshorttenureIStheweakpoint。”
Heleftearly，thinkingoverwhatTodshadsaidNow，itwasobviouslyimpossiblefortheLegalMembertoplaywithabunnia’smonkey，bywayofgettingunderstanding；buthedidbetterHemadeinquiries，alwaysbearinginmindthefactthattherealnative——notthehybrid，University-trainedmule——isastimidasacolt，and，littlebylittle，hecoaxedsomeofthemenwhomthemeasureconcernedmostintimatelytogiveintheirviews，whichsquaredverycloselywithTods’evidence。
SotheBillwasamendedinthatclause；andtheLegalMemberwasfilledwithanuneasysuspicionthatNativeMembersrepresentverylittleexcepttheOrderstheycarryontheirbosomsButheputthethoughtfromhimasilliberalHewasamostLiberalMan。
AfteratimethenewsspreadthroughthebazarsthatTodshadgottheBillrecastinthetenureclause，andifTods’Mammahadnotinterfered，TodswouldhavemadehimselfsickonthebasketsoffruitandpistachionutsandCabuligrapesandalmondsthatcrowdedtheverandahTillhewentHome，TodsrankedsomefewdegreesbeforetheViceroyinpopularestimationButforthelittlelifeofhimTodscouldnotunderstandwhy。
IntheLegalMember’sprivate-paper-boxstillliestheroughdraftoftheSub-MontaneTractsRyotwariRevisedEnactment；and，oppositethetwenty-secondclause，pencilledinbluechalk，andsignedbytheLegalMember，arethewords“Tods’Amendment。”
INTHEPRIDEOFHISYOUTH。
“Stoppedinthestraightwhentheracewashisown！
Lookathimcuttingit——curtothebone！”
“Askeretheyoungsterberatedandchidden，Whatdidhecarryandhowwasheridden？
Maybetheyusedhimtoomuchatthestart；
MaybeFate’sweight-clothsarebreakinghisheart。”
Life’sHandicap。
WhenIwastellingyouofthejokethatTheWormplayedoffontheSeniorSubaltern，Ipromisedasomewhatsimilartale，butwithallthejestleftoutThisisthattale：
DickyHattwaskidnappedinhisearly，earlyyouth——neitherbylandlady’sdaughter，housemaid，barmaid，norcook，butbyagirlsonearlyofhisowncastethatonlyawomancouldhavesaidshewasjusttheleastlittlebitintheworldbelowitThishappenedamonthbeforehecameouttoIndia，andfivedaysafterhisone-and-
twentiethbirthdayThegirlwasnineteen——sixyearsolderthanDickyinthethingsofthisworld，thatistosay——and，forthetime，twiceasfoolishashe。
Excepting，always，fallingoffahorsethereisnothingmorefatallyeasythanmarriagebeforetheRegistrarTheceremonycostslessthanfiftyshillings，andisremarkablylikewalkingintoapawn-
shopAfterthedeclarationsofresidencehavebeenputin，fourminuteswillcovertherestoftheproceedings——fees，attestation，andallThentheRegistrarslidestheblotting-padoverthenames，andsaysgrimly，withhispenbetweenhisteeth：——“Nowyou’remanandwife；“andthecouplewalkoutintothestreet，feelingasifsomethingwerehorriblyillegalsomewhere。
Butthatceremonyholdsandcandragamantohisundoingjustasthoroughlyasthe“longasyebothshalllive“cursefromthealtar-
rails，withthebridesmaidsgigglingbehind，and“TheVoicethatbreathedo’erEden“liftingtheroofoffInthismannerwasDickyHattkidnapped，andheconsidereditvastlyfine，forhehadreceivedanappointmentinIndiawhichcarriedamagnificentsalaryfromtheHomepointofviewThemarriagewastobekeptsecretforayearThenMrsDickyHattwastocomeoutandtherestoflifewastobeagloriousgoldenmistThatwashowtheysketcheditundertheAddisonRoadStationlamps；and，afteroneshortmonth，cameGravesendandDickysteamingouttohisnewlife，andthegirlcryinginathirty-shillingsaweekbed-and-livingroom，inabackstreetoffMontpelierSquareneartheKnightsbridgeBarracks。
ButthecountrythatDickycametowasahardland，where“men“
oftwenty-onewerereckonedverysmallboysindeed，andlifewasexpensiveThesalarythatloomedsolargesixthousandmilesawaydidnotgofarParticularlywhenDickydivideditbytwo，andremittedmorethanthefairhalf，at1-6，toMontpelierSquareOnehundredandthirty-fiverupeesoutofthreehundredandthirtyisnotmuchtoliveon；butitwasabsurdtosupposethatMrsHattcouldexistforeveronthe20poundsheldbackbyDicky，fromhisoutfitallowanceDickysawthis，andremittedatonce；alwaysrememberingthatRs700weretobepaid，twelvemonthslater，forafirst-classpassageoutforaladyWhenyouaddtothesetriflingdetailsthenaturalinstinctsofaboybeginninganewlifeinanewcountryandlongingtogoaboutandenjoyhimself，andthenecessityforgrapplingwithstrangework——which，properlyspeaking，shouldtakeupaboy’sundividedattention——youwillseethatDickystartedhandicappedHesawithimselfforabreathortwo；buthedidnotguessthefullbeautyofhisfuture。
Asthehotweatherbegan，theshacklessettledonhimandateintohisfleshFirstwouldcomeletters——big，crossed，sevensheetletters——fromhiswife，tellinghimhowshelongedtoseehim，andwhataHeavenuponearthwouldbetheirpropertywhentheymet。
ThensomeboyofthechummerywhereinDickylodgedwouldpoundonthedoorofhisbarelittleroom，andtellhimtocomeoutandlookatapony——theverythingtosuithimDickycouldnotaffordponiesHehadtoexplainthisDickycouldnotaffordlivinginthechummery，modestasitwasHehadtoexplainthisbeforehemovedtoasingleroomnexttheofficewhereheworkedallday。
Hekepthouseonagreenoil-clothtable-cover，onechair，onecharpoy，onephotograph，onetooth-glass，verystrongandthick，aseven-
rupeeeight-annafilter，andmessingbycontractatthirty-sevenrupeesamonthWhichlastitemwasextortionHehadnopunkah，forapunkahcostsfifteenrupeesamonth；buthesleptontheroofoftheofficewithallhiswife’slettersunderhispillowNowandagainhewasaskedouttodinnerwherehegotbothapunkahandaniceddrinkButthiswasseldom，forpeopleobjectedtorecognizingaboywhohadevidentlytheinstinctsofaScotchtallow-chandler，andwholivedinsuchanastyfashionDickycouldnotsubscribetoanyamusement，sohefoundnoamusementexceptthepleasureofturningoverhisBank-bookandreadingwhatitsaidabout“loansonapprovedsecurity。”ThatcostnothingHeremittedthroughaBombayBank，bytheway，andtheStationknewnothingofhisprivateaffairs。