Part 15 (1/2)
kumran looked round his nobles, then into his own heart What he saw there was such a tissue of lies and deceit that he could find no clear decision; so, as usual, he teht ask for ,” said Dearest-Lady, who felt she had gained her point; ”I make but one condition The child ain kuain he found no clear cause for decision there; so he said doubtfully:
”Until you return?”
”Nay! swear it,” cah, insistent voice ”Say before them all, 'By the memory of my dear father no harm shall coly kuh of relief She had gained her point But now that she had to face the consequences of her offer to go forth and meet Humayon her heart sank within her; for she was very old and not over strong The journey was long; winter was co on fast Still it had to be done, and at once
For kumran's pro her absence_, and who knehether his craft ht not claim freedom to do as he chose ere she started!
So she , and she had in with she , and make certain that he ell cared for Then she had to arrange for the safety and comfort of Head-nurse, Foster-mother and little Bija, for it was unlikely they would be allowed to be with the little Prince He must, however, have some one with hi still quite a lad, ift of story-telling ht make the ladies in the women's apartments more inclined to have hi with his young master, and to this end she ordered hiave him a finely bedizened lute; for since he came to Kabul they had found out that he could play the _vina_ beautifully
Thus just before sunsetting, leaving poor Head-nurse and Foster- her very heart out, and good dog Tu his tail as his eyes asked sorrowfully if heround by the Chief Palace on her way
Now, Dearest-Lady's visits were considered to be an honour, so she had no difficulty in gaining admittance And once inside the women's apartments she simply turned to the first attendant and said curtly that she had come to see the Heir-to-Empire and say farewell to hio to him
Boldness succeeded, as it always does, and she was shown into a roo contentedly with Down the cat, as running about after a ball like a young kitten She stopped when she saw Dearest-Lady, and giving an apologetic _ed to aan as usual to purr Of course Mirak forgot all about her in his joy at seeing Dearest-Lady and Roy, and it was some time before the foret there
”Highness,” said the woman, ”it is impossible to keep cats out if they want to come in She appeared at thethree tiave in It is no use quarrelling with cats”
Meanwhile notice of Her Highness Dearest-Lady's arrival had reached kumran's wife and she hastened to little Akbar's prison room But once more Dearest-Lady was bold and took the first word
”I came to bid the boy farewell, content to trust him to thy kind care, my niece,” she said; ”and also to leave with hi the child--and other folk also Roy! sing us one of thy tales, that the Princessas he had never sung before ”I will sing of how the palm squirrels helped the Great Ram to find his wife, Sita the Peerless, who it to the squirrels e feed thehness does not knohat a paler than a rat, but it has a bushy tail and four dark stripes like fingerbut play, is never anything but happy; and this is why”:
Then he sain, and began, his high voice warbling and carolling like a summer bird
”Pretty! Pretty! Pretty! are you there, my sweet, In your leafy seat, where the branches o flowers With your dainty feet
”Pretty, prettiest thing yawning as you lie Watching with glad eye, busy life go by
Not the tiniest sense of duty In your careless days, my beauty, 'Neath the cloudless sky
”Happiest, ainsays, so the story says, Since the Great Ram loved and blessed you, With his care-worn hand caressed you, In the olden days
”Then, when he was seeking Sita, peerless maid, By his foes dismayed, Ram, her lover, bade All the beasts and birds and fishes Leave their play to do his wishes, Fight to give hi at his behest, Nestled to his breast, first to join the quest
But Great Rarew tender, Smiled upon the warrior slender, Braver than the rest!
”'Nay! thou art too pretty! fearless little heart, Thou should'st have no part in Strife's bitter art; Live to show man, worn and weary, One blythe soul for ever cheery, Free froolden hair, So palers were, Four dark shadows on the Froht is to want for naught, Have no grief or thought, know not 'ers Shades of care, that Great Raht”
”_Wah! Wah!_” cried the Queen, delighted ”He can stop if he likes”
TenDearest-Lady's litter paused for a h-perched corner of the road towards Kandahar, to give her a last look of the fair city of Kabul Her bright old face was bright still, undi a weariso journey; yet, for the present, she knew that she had saved the Heir-to-Empire's life That at any rate was secure until she returned--and she ht made her smile