Page:Malabari, Behramji M. - Gujarat and the Gujaratis (1882).djvu/143

Rh frequent. I met every demand with a smile. Sometimes I had myself to go out with money for the purchase of some nick-nack for the mother or the child. At such times I was not slow to use discretion, you may be sure. I had not seen the Meer's beautiful wife up to now, though it was over two years; but the baby was now and then brought out for a peep at the outside world. It was the most lovely child I have ever seen. They said the mother was growing lovelier every day. They talked of her as The Angel. This was her favourite name. I tried many means of obtaining a glimpse of her divine beauty, but it was not to be for years to come.

"My position in the household improved with the progress of time. The master had implicit faith in me, and I rewarded him by improving my opportunities. Not a rupee passed from my hands out of which I did not withhold a fraction for my own pockets. Not a piece of cloth, not an ornament, not a single article of luxury crossed the threshold, of which part was not diverted to my house. Poor men must live, and, if possible, I had determined not only to live, but to live to the best purpose, as I could see as early as now, that my master was running