There was, however, a great coolness the third night at dinner and Sita, who was always sensitive to atmosphere, realised that a number of the guests, all very distinguished, were sending Wildrid Scawen Blunt who was talking more dramatically than usual to ‘Coventry’.
“What has happened?” she asked Mr. Barnes, who she found was the one person in the Residency always ready to answer her questions.
“I am afraid that our poet is in disgrace.”
“What has he done?”
“He had a meeting with some of the Muslims today in the City and told them that all nations were fit for self-government, but few more so than the Indians.”
Sita did not need Mr. Barnes or anybody else to tell her that this sort of attitude would certainly not be popular with the English, even though the Viceroy was prepared, des
