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140 Sanyasi's bidding at once. Certain pressing domestic duties had first to be performed. The eldest Rani had to cook rice, the second to prepare the vegetables, the third to make the different curries, the fourth to carry water into the kitchen, the fifth to act as the general assistant, the sixth, or the Dua Rani to grind spices, and the Chhota Rani to scale and cut the fish for the frying pan. Though busy with her duties, the Burra Rani was anxiously awaiting an opportunity of carrying out the Sanyasi's instructions, and when the time came she directed Dua Rani to prepare the paste. Dua Rani quickly made the required preparation, and eagerly swallowing a portion of it, took the remainder to the Burra Rani on a silver plate under cover of a gold cup. The Burra Rani took off the cover, quaffed a good quantity of the draught, and passed it to the second Rani. She took her share, and made over the residue to Seja Rani, who after doing justice to her own demands, gave what was left to Konai Rani. Very little now remained in the basin, and she could not help swallowing the whole of it. Nau, the fourth Rani, came in at this juncture, and was naturally much chagrined when she found nothing in the plate but the sediments. These, however, she utilized, and going to Chhota Rani, who had just then finished preparing the fish, thus exclaimed in sympathy—"Ah! wretched woman, you have not availed yourself of the preparation of the root; make haste, go quickly, and see how much of it is left." Poor Chhota Rani in great anguish ran to the spot, and bitter was her disappointment when she found nothing left for her. She fell to the ground, and rolled over and over in a paroxysm of grief. The other Ranis drew near, but what consolation could they offer? They blamed one another for having been so unmindful of their sister. Nau Rani, cleverer and seemingly more sympathetic than the others, said to Chhota Rani, "Come, sister, if there be any small fraction of the root left on the stone on which it was ground, I will mix it with water for you. This will, if it please God, make you the mother of a bright and beautiful child." To make the best of a bad case