Olivia+and+Beth+(p.+25-26)


 * __Meeting between Olivia, Beth and the Begum__ (p. 25-26)**



In this scene, the Begum played host to Olivia and Beth. She has set up her room with three European styled chairs in the middle of the room while her waiting ladies lounged on the ground beneath them. The conversation between the Indians and the Europeans was closed to Olivia as they spoke in Urda. They do not make an attempt to include Olivia in the conversation through translation. However, Olivia does notice that the entire visit was completely orchestrated. The tone set between Beth and the Begum is very formal, very stiff. Beth controls the flow of the conversation and the visit. When they leave, Olivia notices:

"At exactly the right moment Mrs. Crawford got up whereat the ladies exalimed to the right pitch of disappointment; after some protests, they gracefully gave in and accompanied their guests the correct distance to the door."