Part 42 (2/2)
Yasmini's blue eyes suddenly turned soft and serious
”Do you think I can not be a wife ”' she asked ”Do you suppose there is no mother-love in me? Do you think I do not understand how a ? Do you think I will preach to my husband, or oppose his plans? No! I will do as the Gods do when the priests are asleep!
I will let hi back; and little by little he will learn that I have understanding Little by little he will grow into knowledge of the things I know--and he will be a very great man!”
There were no visits whatever from Utirupa, for the country-side would have been scandalized Only, flowers came every day in enores, jewels and arotten her existence or her needs She had claie to him by Gandharva rite, and he had tacitly consented, but she was not ready yet to try conclusions with the secret, octopus influence of the priests; and there was another reason
”If it should get to Samson's cars that he and I are married, that would be the end of his chance of the throne of Sialpore Salish He would oppose to the end the nomination of a maha-rajah, whose wife has notions of her own--as I am known to have! They like hiood polo, and will bet with them, and can play cricket; and because he seems to follow no special line of politics
But if it were known he had a clever wife--me for wife--they would have none of him! I shall be a surprise for them when the die is cast!”
Tess was in almost daily communication with dick, for, ith Tom Tripe and Sita Ram and about a dozen other sworn acco all the ti after dark, and letters were brought in, smelly with the sweat of loyal riders who had hidden them from too inquisitive police Most of them carried back a scribbled word for dick But he said nothing about the treasure in his curt, anonyes at all
Only, when in one letter hein another place, and Tess read the sentence aloud, Yasht The next day her own advices confir account of new develop that ”Saoes well!” Yasolden voice ”Sa of my letter! If I had told hihed and forgotten it! But because he thinks he reads the secret of my mind, he flatters hiht, and all is well!”
”It would be a very canny person who could read the secret of your hed Tess
”I aht!” Yasmini answered honestly ”It is Sa ready for departure, giving a thousand orders to dependents she could trust
”At the polo galish ask questions as to where you have been, and what you saill you tell them?”
”Why not the truth? Samson expressly asked me to cultivate your acquaintance”
”Splendid! Tell theht across the desert with me! By the time they have believed that ill think of ether, tiaether with your husband I shall be in a closed carriage--part of the time I shall be there all the time, but I don't think you will see me”
”But you say they have rifled your palace Where will you sleep?” Tess asked
”At your house on the hill!”
”But that is in Gungadhura's territory Aren't you afraid of hiadhura? I? I never was! But nohoever fears him would run from a broken snake I have word that the fool has lish to draw his teeth nicely for hier in a net he can not break!”
”He ued
”There will be sharper eyes than any of his watching!”
But Tess was alarmed at the prospect She did not ht have to say about it afterward; but to have her little house the center of nocturnal feuds, with her husband using his six-shooters, and heaven only knehat bloodshed resulting, was more of a prospect than she looked forward to
”Sister,” said Yas her by both hands ”I must use your house
There is no other place”
No one could refuse her when her deep blue eyes grew soft and pleading, let alone Tess, who had lived with her and loved her for a week
”Very well,” she answered; and Yashtened even et!”