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‘Yes indeed, we are positively the old married couple. You haven’t brought your wife?’ ‘I haven’t got a wife.’ Bit laughed. ‘Well I can highly recommend it. Would you like a cigarette? More than a wife obviously...’ Dutch took it silently and lit it with the candles that Agatha had put out earlier. ‘I wish I had a wife,’ said Aunty. ‘It would help me be more organised. I missed special tea at the Bendubi Club last week. No one ever tells me anything.’ Agatha smiled. ‘Then how is it you know everything about everyone? You must be careful of Aunty, Dutch. She is quite the local secret agent.’ ‘Surely there are no secrets to be had up here?’ he said: ‘Darjeeling is a fantasy after all.’ ‘Ah yes, that’s good,’ cried Aunty. ‘I like that.’
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‘Going a bit far isn’t it?’ laughed Bit awkwardly. ‘I don’t mean to be glib or offhand, but the fact is ever since I’ve arrived in the hills politics don’t much seem to be discussed. Singapore fell yesterday. I’ve yet to discuss it with anyone.’ ‘Ah that. We try not to discuss the war too much in front of our ladies,’ said Bit. ‘It’s not good for them. Not good for us - the fuss!’ He laughed, trying to make a joke out of it. Agatha leaned over the veranda, elbows languidly on the balustrade. She thought her husband sounded silly. ‘Actually Dutch my husband doesn’t ever discuss politics. It’s bad for the tea gardens, the bushes don’t thrive. Everything to be kept to a certain level of jollity, always Schubert, never Beethoven. It’s strictly tea dances and tennis tournaments in old Darj. I’m afraid if you’ve come for adventure you’ve come to the wrong spot.’ ‘Darling…’ ‘Do you think I’ve come for adventure?’ Dutch asked her, looking amused for the first time since he arrived. |