A Passage to India

That evening at the College, Adela and Fielding discuss her unexpected behavior in the court. She remarks that her echo is gone and explains the visions (or, hallucinations) that she experienced in the courtroom. They suspect she has been ill since first coming to tea at the College, after which Godbole and Aziz had also fallen ill. They both suspect the guide who disappeared after the incident.

Hamidullah arrives. He speaks depreciatingly towards Adela for having caused such chaos in the city and urges Fielding to send her back to the other English. He is offended that they now suspect the guide: “Of course some Indian is the culprit” (271). As Adela has no place to return to beyond the civil lines, Fielding offers her the College as he plans to be away for several days celebrating with Hamidullah, Aziz, and their compatriots. Adela’s lack of emotion chafes Hamidullah’s sympathy for her “with the result that he could scarcely believe she was sincere, and indeed from his standpoint she was not” (272).

They see Ronny’s car approach. Fielding initially meets him outside and sends Adela to the verandah to talk to him. As they do so, Fielding tells Hamidullah that Ronny has just received word that

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