Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/256

 The royal physicians cured him, and the great Emperor himself honoured him with a personal audience. We women hear something of the distinguished strangers who come to Court, and those who have seen Norendra Nath have told me that a handsomer Chief they have not seen, even in the Court of Agra."

"May the All-Merciful bless thee, loved sister, for this happy news." Hemlata could speak no more, tears choked her voice and blinded her eyes. Mihr-un-Nissa, with a woman's inborn politeness, seemed not to notice this, but the penetrating glance of her half-closed eyes were fixed on Hemlata.

"I am glad, sister, I have been able to give thee news which relieves thy anxieties; thou must have known this youth well when thou wert at Birnagar."

The red blood mounted to Hemlata's forehead as she said, in a scarcely audible voice, "I knew him—when we were children."

"But he is a man now, sister, and one of the handsomest of the Chiefs who surround the Emperor, so I have heard. Perhaps my fair sister of Debipur, who has seen him, can tell me if this report is true."

"He was a handsome boy, but we have not met since we were children."

"And a high-spirited and passionate youth, was he not?"

"So they said."

"And noble and generous, as became the descendant of a noble House."

"That, I believe, he was." The room was getting a little too warm, and Hemlata wiped her brow.

"And he knew thee from thy childhood, and left thee in thy early youth to be a soldier? Pardon a