Twenty villages knew the Sahiba--her failings, her tongue, and her large charity.

Twenty villages cheated her after immemorial custom, but no man would have stolen or robbed within her jurisdiction for any gift under heaven.

None the less, she made great parade of her formal inspections, the riot of which could be heard half-way to Mussoorie.
Kim relaxed, as one augur must when he meets another.

The hakim, still squatting, slid over his hookah with a friendly foot, and Kim pulled at the good weed.

The hangers-on expected grave professional debate, and perhaps a little free doctoring.
'To discuss medicine before the ignorant is of one piece with teaching the peacock to sing,' said the hakim.
'True courtesy,' Kim echoed, 'is very often inattention.' These, be it understood, were company-manners, designed to impress.
'Hi! I have an ulcer on my leg,' cried a scullion.