Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/237

 Half an hour had not passed before Sirish entered the room. Two oil lamps lighted the room, and a mass of papers and ledgers were arranged on the floor. Gokul Das carefully bolted the door, and then invited his young Master to a seat with the utmost humility, while he remained standing at a respectful distance.

"Be seated, Gokul Das, and sit close to me. I regard thee as a friend more than a servant—a friend who has spent his life in serving this estate. Thou wert kind and considerate to me when I was poor, thou wert helpful to me when I needed help, and never will Sirish be ungrateful to one to whom he owes so much in life."

"Little do you owe me, young Master," replied Gokul Das, modestly. "It is an invisible Fate which makes or mars the fortunes of men; it is your exalted virtues which endeared you to my late Master and raised you to a rank which no other man is worthy to fill. If this old servant has been able to render some help he has but done his duty to a House which he has served since a boy, and which his fathers served before him."

"And I hope, Gokul Das, thou wilt live long yet to serve this estate, and that thy son will succeed thee in thy duties in the fulness of time."

"Heaven bless my young Master for his kind wishes. I have eaten the salt of this House for many a long year, and it is my hope and wish that my boy should live and die a servant of this House."

"That is my wish too, Gokul Das. I like not to make specious promises, but if I can repay thy services to me by kindness to thy son, who seems apt and industrious, I shall not fail in my duty."

There was a ring of sincerity in the last words, and