The English reader will find it hard to fathom exactly why Sarasvati, the heroine of this book, should have been called "The daughter of Brahma' and elevated to the rank of a demi-goddess. The book as a whole, however, is well worth reading. The life of Anglo-Indians is cleverly drawn, and a more clearly realized portrait is given of Sarasvati herself than is usual with English descriptions of high-caste natives.
The "old lady " complied with his request and ambled sedately out through the compound gates and on to the high-road. Without any apparent indication from the judge, she took the turning to the right and broke into a trot which lasted until they had left the last human habitation behind them. No one had witnessed their progress. The European quarter was wrapped in profound slumber and such natives as were visible lay about in the shade of their dirty, tumble-down dwellings and deigned the passerby not so much as a glance.
Nevertheless, as though fearing unseen witnesses, both horse and rider kept up a certain appearance until the last hut was out of sight, when the "old lady" immediately relapsed into her amble, and the judge collapsed in his saddle like a man suddenly deprived of his backbone. He was tall, heavily built, with a figure and a square-cut, ruddy face which seemed to combine to represent strength and a robust goodnature. Irritable, parchment-skinned Anglo-Indians were wont to look upon hi