Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/119

 The hall was cleared, and none remained behind save mother and son and a few faithful attendants. Jelekha and her companion were among those who were told to stay.

"Thou art generally away, my son, in these days, and I seldom see thee in Agra. And thy looks are pale from the incessant toil of camp life."

"Agra has little charm for me now, my mother, and grief and disappointment spoil our looks more than toil and a soldier's work."

"Dost thou speak of that Fair Persian whom thou wast inclined to marry? But thy father has acted for the best, my Selim, and Mihr-un-Nissa is now the wife of a faithful servant of the Empire. Quench all impure thoughts in thy heart, my son, and be true to thy high position."

Prince Selim listened and made no reply.

"Princesses of my proud race," continued his mother, "and of the highest rank have graced thy royal bed and borne thee sons who are the pride of the Empire. The sister of Raja Man Singh is thy loving consort and is the mother of thy eldest born, Khasru, now a brave and handsome lad. Begums of thy own race and religion, too, share thy bed, and the daughter of the honoured Khaja Hasan has borne thee a lovely boy, Parvis. Udai Singh's daughter also claims thy affection, and has presented thee with the princely Khurram, with his looks so bright, so knowing, so determined, though he is only a child. The Ruler of Tibet has sent his loved child to be thy wife, and Jagat Singh's daughter, the fairest flower of Rajasthan, is thy youngest bride. Cherish thy wedded wives with a holy affection, nor