Page:Between the twilights being studies of Indian women by one of themselves (IA betweentwilights00soraiala).pdf/191

Rh Ranee’s apartments; likewise the little daughter clinging tightly to my hand for fear of those same mustard demons.

As a personal favour also, the Ranee agreed to welcome her Mother-in-law in orthodox fashion.

Five o’clock of an afternoon, and a long dark room lined with waiting-women standing erect and silent, each waving a huge glittering fan planted like a flag in front of her … flap, flap, went the fans, like an elephant’s ears; and the serving-women’s ornaments shone like stars on arm or forehead. I had just arrived, the first and third generations in either hand, myself a little fearful as to possible backsliding. The old lady I seated; then going across to the Ranee at the other end of the room, “Your Mother-in-law,” I said, “has come to visit you. May I take you to her?”

It was thus, you see, we adjusted reconciliation, met each other half way, without too much sacrifice of pride … and, as I led my Ranee forward, “I want to see,’ I whispered, “if your ‘falling at the feet’ is as pretty as ours in the West Country.” “Prettier,” she