Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/35

Rh  from her, his own mother. Why should that girl stand between her son and his family, his ambition, his happiness? Lord Moore buried his face in his hands, without replying. "God have mercy upon me and spare her." He cried, from the bottom of his heart. Lady Moore stayed some minutes more, then went out, softly. His grief frightened her into awe, if not into sympathy.

 THE FOLK-TALES OF BENGAL. XVII. THE ORIGIN OF RUBIES.

[Recited by Baburali, a Muhammadan of Santipore in the district of Nadiya, on the 31st of January 1878.

There was a certain king who died leaving four sons behind him with his queen. The queen was passionately fond of the youngest of the princes. She gave him the best robes, the best horses, the best food and the best furniture. The other three princes became exceedingly jealous of their youngest brother, and conspiring against him and their mother, made them live in a separate house, and took possession of the estate. Owing to over-indulgence, the youngest prince had become very wilful. He never listened to any one, not even to his mother, but had his own way in every thing. One day he went with his mother to bathe in the river. A large boat was riding there at anchor None of the boat-men were in it. The prince went into the boat, and told his mother to come into it. Hs mother besought him to got down from the boat, as it did not belong to him. But the prince said, "No, mother, I am not coming down; I mean to go on a voyage, and if you wish to come with me, then delay not but come at once, or I shall be off in a trice." The queen besought the prince to do no such thing, but to come down instantly. But the prince gave no heed to what she said, and began to take up the anchor. The queen went up into the boat in great haste; and the moment she was on board, the boat started, and falling into the current passed on swiftly like an