Out of the breathless silence sprang a voice at once: "Was the
elephant badly hurt?" And then another: "I thought elephants were too
big to feel a bite like that." Followed by a third--Maria's: "It
wasn't fair to step on it and expect it to do nothing."
But no single word about his own predicament--its horror, danger,
loneliness, and risk. No single syllable. Even the Hindus, the driver,
and the man who carried the guns, were left unmentioned. Bananas were
equally ignored. The tiger itself had passed into oblivion.
"Thanks most awfully," said Tim, politely, after an interval. "It must
have been awful for you." It was said as spokesman for the other
listeners. All were kind and grateful, but actual interest there was
none. They took the pause to mean that the story was at an end; but
they had not cared about it because they--did not believe it.
"Simply awful," the boy added, as though, perhaps, he had not made it
quite clear that he wished to thank yet could not honestly praise.
"Wasn't it, Judy?" And he jerked his head round towards his elder
sister.
"Oh, _awful_--yes," agreed that lady.
But neither of them risked inviting the opinion of Maria.
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