Part 6 (1/2)
”It would be a long tian
”Long!” interrupted the lively Princess gaily ”All the longer for hter, er the boy will be a grown man ere we have time to turn round So that is settled Therefore come hither, oh nephew! Jallaluddin Maho na hither Now then, wo Head-nurse, who stood petrified with astonisher at the very idea of such scant ceremony ”If the boy cannot walk, carry him!”
Head-nurse could scarcely speak To be called ”Woman” by an upstart--for Prince Askurry had married Princess Sultanam for her beauty--was too -of-Majesties,” she began pompously, ”have not yet conferred happiness on the earth by treading it underfoot, neither----”
Here she broke off hurriedly, for at that very instant, as if in denial of her words, Baby Akbar gave a little crow of assent, let go her petticoats, and with outspread balancing ars very wide apart, launched himself boldly for his very first steps!
”_Bisht
”_Bismillah! Bismillah!_” echoed every one in the roo toddler as he lurched forward, his face one broad grin
Princess Sultanaain ”Thy turban, my lord!” she cried in a flutter of amusement ”Thy turban, quick; as his father is not here 'tis thy place to prevent hi of himself--thy turban--quick! quick!”
Prince Askurry, full of laughter, pulled off the soft turban he wore--it was all wound round and round to fit the head like a cap--and in obedience to the Indian custo of itself in its first atteht hi arms and over he went on to the thick pile carpet
Foster-er to snatch hiled himself from her hold He had set himself a task and he meant to do it
”Go way!” he said with deterain”
So, cal round for the turban which lay beside hiht had tumbled down too, he clapped it on his head with both hands, rose to his feet and recoed turban, which had beco behind hiure than before, but nobody laughed now
They looked at each other, then at the child staggering along under the Prince's plu bareheaded before his nephew
It was an ill oot back to the roo bastion of the palace, Baby Akbar had once more scored off his uncle
Indeed, she was so cock-a-hoop about it that she stickled for this, and she stickled for that until the attendants, ere at first inclined to be civil, began to look askance, and Foster-father had to bid her hold her tongue
”Wise folk leave steel traps alone,” he said; ”fiddling with the Then--pouf!”
He shook his head significantly
”Steel traps?” echoed Head-nurse sniffily, ”who is talking of steel traps?”
”I am, woman!” replied Foster-father sternly ”I tell you this Kandahar is as a steel trap ready to snap on us at any h he also had ventured to call her ”wo to learn that nine tiht
CHAPTER VII
WINTER
The winter settled in early that year, and with the passes of the hills blocked by snow, the caravans of laden caht news from the world to the east and the world to the west ofbazaar And the cold keptbraziers set outside the shops It was not the season for active work, and so Prince Askurry let it slip by without reallyup his mind what he was to do with Baby Akbar Meanwhile the child could live in the bastion of the palace, and play with his little cousins Whether he was to be betrothed to Baby A; this was the ti, since none could cross the passes in winter