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 "What is it, Sir?"

Prince. "I am convinced you can never be a maid-servant."

"And why should you think so, pray," asked Bimala with a smile.

Prince. "There is some very particular reason why the daughter of Virendra Singha cannot be the daughter-in-law of the lord of Abnir. It is a very great secret. You could not possibly know it, if you were no better than a maid-servant."

"You have guessed right, Sir," said Bimala with a sigh. "I am not a maid-servant, although behave like one, as my bad luck would have it; but why do I blame my luck? It has not been so bad either."

The Prince perceived that the topic had awakened grief in the mind of Bimala. He accordingly dropped it.

"Prince," went on Bimala, "one day I will let you know who I am—but not now. But what noise is that? Is some one dogging us?"

The sound of human steps was now distinctly heard; it also appeared as if two men had been whispering to each other. They had then walked a mile.

"I begin to fear greatly," said the Prince. "I'll go and look out."

Saying this, the Prince retraced his steps some way, and also looked aside, but saw no one. He returned and said to Bimala,

"I fear some body is following us. Let's talk cautiously."

They went on, talking in an almost inaudible tone. Now they came up to the castle.

"How will you enter the castle now?" asked the Prince; "the gate must be shut at this late hour."