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 20 Then Parbuttee Bai smiled and said, 'Sister, you speak well; you have a brave heart. I will be your little wife.'

So Seventee Bai dressed herself in her husband's clothes, and next day she mounted the elephant as he had done, and ordered the bearers to take up the palkee in which Parbuttee Bai was, and again attempt to find their way out of the jungle. The palkee-bearers wondered much to themselves what had become of Seventee Bai, and they said to one another, 'How selfish and how fickle are the rich! See now our young Rajah, who married the Wuzeer's daughter and brought all this trouble on himself thereby (and in truth 'tis said she was a beautiful lady); he seemed to love her as his own soul; but now that she has been devoured by some cruel animal in this wild jungle, he appears scarcely to mourn her death.'

After journeying for some days under the wise direction of the Wuzeer's daughter, the party found themselves getting out of the jungle, and at last they came to an open plain, in the middle of which was a large city. When the citizens saw the elephant coming, they ran out to see who was on it, and returning, told their Rajah that a very handsome Rajah, richly dressed, was riding towards the city, and that he brought with him his wife—a most lovely Princess. Whereupon the Rajah of that country sent to Seventee Bai, and asked her who she was, and why she had come. Seventee Bai replied, 'My name is Seventee Rajah. My father was angry with me, and drove me from his kingdom; and I and my wife have been wandering for many days in the jungle, where we lost our way.'

The Rajah and all his Court thought they had never seen so brave and royal-looking a Prince; and the Rajah said, that if Seventee Rajah would take service under him, he would give him as much money as he liked. To whom the Wuzeer's daughter replied, 'I am not accustomed to take service under anybody; but you are good to us in receiving us courteously and offering us your protection; therefore, give me whatever post you please, and I will be your faithful servant.' So the Rajah gave Seventee Bai a salary of £24,000 a year and a beautiful house, and treated her with the greatest confidence, consulting her in all matters of importance, and intrusting her with many State affairs; and from her gentleness and kindness, none felt envious at her good fortune, but she was beloved and honoured by all; and thus these two Princesses lived for twelve years in that city. No one suspected