Explore "Quicksands" by B.M. Croker on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
When we dismounted at the stand we found that _chotah hazri_ had already started, and was, so to speak, half-way round the course. As I received my teacup from her hands, I gathered that my chaperon was displeased with me -- my tardy arrival was not "amusing." Perhaps she thought that I had made myself too conspicuous in riding off and having a long _tête-à-tête_ with Captain Falkland, although we _were_ old friends; therefore, on the way home I carefully avoided his company and gave him no opportunity of resuming our conversation, keeping close to Major Mills and Ronnie.
Within a week of my arrival at Secunderabad I seemed to have slipped into my place in the station as Mrs. Soames's guest and Captain Lingard's sister, and as they were both popular everything was made pleasant for me. My singing was extravagantly praised. I loved music, but satisfaction in my own performances had hitherto been cheapened and damped, especially by Aunt Mina, who had no ear, and assured me that my execution on the piano was all right, but my singing was far too dramatic and theatrical, also that I _screamed_ like a curlew!