Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/87

Rh NCE upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the village well, and while they were ﬁlling their jars, fell a-talking of their betrothals and weddings.

Said one'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and he is to bring the ﬁnest clothes imaginable'

Said a second'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.'

Said a third'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest jewels in the world.'

But Bopoluchi, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her. Nerertheless she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily'And my uncle is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, ﬁne food. and ﬁne jewels.'

Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all sorts to the Country women, happened to be sitting near the well and heard what