He said as
much that--that trousers were the first and most necessary step toward
salvation." He looked quickly at her to see if she was offended at his
outspokenness, but she only laughed.
"Poor Mr. Berry is a Philistine," she said. "He can't help thinking
absurdities of that sort."
"Would you mind telling me what you mean by a Philistine?" he asked.
"A Philistine is a person who sees everything in its wrong
proportions," she answered. "He mistakes the essential for the
unessential, and _vice versa._ He can never recognize the beauty in
art or nature, because he can never get any further than the
unpleasant details. One might call him a mental earth-worm who has
only the smallest possible outlook. Mr. Berry, for instance, has
never, I feel sure, felt the charm of India and its people. He is
always too overpowered by the fact that the clothing is too scanty for
his idea of decency. You must not take him as an example of European
taste, although you will find only too many like him."
"I am glad to have your reassurance," Nehal Singh replied. "Mr. Berry
angered me, and I can well understand that he has no influence among
my people. They are very innocent in their way, and they can not
understand where the wickedness lies. Nor do I wish them to
understand. It does not seem to me necessary." His mouth settled in a
new and rather stern line. "I shall order Mr. Berry to leave them in
peace.
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