Shargar
likewise, though more occasionally, made one of the party, and soon
began, in his new circumstances, to develop the manners of a
gentleman. I say develop advisedly, for Shargar had a deep humanity
in him, as abundantly testified by his devotion to Robert, and
humanity is the body of which true manners is the skin and ordinary
manifestation: true manners are the polish which lets the internal
humanity shine through, just as the polish on marble reveals its
veined beauty. Many talks did the elderly man hold with the three
youths, and his experience of life taught Ericson and Robert much,
especially what he told them about his Brahmin friend in India.
Moray, on the other hand, was chiefly interested in his tales of
adventure when on service in the Indian army, or engaged in the
field sports of that region so prolific in monsters. His gipsy
blood and lawless childhood, spent in wandering familiarity with
houseless nature, rendered him more responsive to these than the
others, and his kindled eye and pertinent remarks raised in the
doctor's mind an early question whether a commission in India might
not be his best start in life.
Between Ericson and Robert, as the former recovered his health,
communication from the deeper strata of human need became less
frequent. Ericson had to work hard to recover something of his
leeway; Robert had to work hard that prizes might witness for him to
his grandmother and Miss St.
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