Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/251

 and Gokul Das had much to do, and found their task more difficult than they had thought. The Kanangoe of Bengal could sell a defaulting estate, but could not withdraw an Imperial Agent without the Emperor's orders. The ladies spent their time in seeing the crowded shops and the graceful palaces of this city, then the capital of Bengal. It was a humble copy of the proud capital of India. The fort of Rajmahal frowned on the Ganges, and temples and mosques raised their graceful domes and minarets to the sky. The principal Bazaar was crowded by traders from many parts of India, and manufactures from the East and West were exhibited before the wondering eyes of the pilgrims from Debipur.

Gokul Das had many friends in Rajmahal which he had often visited before, and Sirish, now Zemindar of Debipur, was welcomed by the principal residents of the place. The ladies, too, received many invitations. Nobo Kumar's widow seldom went anywhere, passing her days almost entirely in temples; but Hemlata went through a round of visits as she had never done before. It was a new experience to a woman from the country now visiting a large city for the first time.

One invitation came to her which puzzled her not a little. It was from the wife of a Moslem Jaigirdar, who was on a visit to the Court at Rajmahal, and who occupied a house in the Mohammedan quarters of the city. Word was sent by the Jaigirdar's wife that she had lately come from Agra, and would much like to meet the lady of the renowned estate of Debipur who was going to Agra. And a hint was also given that she had some news to tell of the young Zemindar of Birnagar, who was at Agra. Hemlata's heart throbbed at the news, and a tear for a long-lost