Page:Letters from India Vol 1.djvu/174

 over it, and then went all over the house to tell all the servants that a little English boy, the Lord Sahib’s nephew, had written about her; and the next day she came to my room with a worked petticoat for the little boy’s mamma, and another for him. I told her that he did not wear frocks, and then she said it was to be for the eldest little girl; and then I told her that, as I could not take any presents, I would buy them of her, and tell you what she had meant to do; but she would not hear of that, but stood salaaming and beseeching—‘No, lady, me no like that. Me send little boy’s mamma frock and sister frock, and then English ladies say “Where you get those pretty frocks,” and they say “Poor Rosina send them,” so nice. Please, lady, send them.’

I have given her a gown since, so it all comes to the same end; but if you had an idea how much natives in general think of spending the smallest fraction of a rupee, and how their whole talk consists of saving pice and annas, or farthings and halfpence, you would be as much surprised at her offering as I am. I do not know what you can do with your petticoat it is so ugly; but it will make a toilet-cover. I have