ABSTRACT
Dickens creates another scenario: “. . . the expatriated Native, amazed sup porter of Miss Tox’s swooning form . . . had accidentally arrived in the very nick of time to catch the delicate burden in his arms. . . . For some moments, this afflicted foreigner remained clasping Miss Tox to his heart with an ener gy of action in remarkable opposition to his disconcerted face” (494-95). Here — for the Major entertains a minor passion for Miss Tox — “service” has exceeded its function and become the kind of surrogacy that threatens authority. It would appear that “the scenario written by colonialism” may be “given a preference by the native that estranges and undermines the colonial ist script” (Parry 42).
