1923 – I

Olivia’s first meeting with the Nawab (p. 19- 24)

Olivia’s first meeting with the Nawab is at a dinner party he gives in his palace at Khatm.

Before that meeting, Olivia lives a lonely life and has nobody to talk to, because her husband Douglas is always working in the district.

For the party (many English families were invited) she wears her best clothes. Arriving at the palace, Olivia feels she has, at last in India, come to the right place (p.19). 

At the party Olivia looks at all the other English families the Nawab has invited (the most important Englishpeople of his district) and arrives at the conclusion that her husband Douglas is different from them; he’s not boring but noble and fair. However, there’s another woman who seems to like him.

While some conversations the Nawab gets interested in Olivia; he likes her and can’t keep his eyes off her. Olivia takes a shine to that and also likes the way he looked at her when she had first come in.

A few days later the Nawab visits Olivia (who is once again alone at home, because D. is working) with a whole party. The Nawab seems to enjoy being there and looks like the master of the scene: he invites Olivia to sit on HER sofa. In the evening Douglas finds his wife gay and glad, who is normally desperate and lonely. This ‘new’ state of mind is result from the Nawab’s visit.

Another few days later an invitation -which is only for Douglas and Olivia- arrives. Therefore they have an argument, because Olivia wants to go there and Douglas is convinced that they should better stay at home. He sends a note to the Nawab, declining the invitation, but hates himself for it.