"Ramabai, why not strike now?" suggested Ahmed.
"The promise Umballa has made to the soldiers has reunited them
temporarily. Have patience, Ahmed." Lal Singh selected a leaf with
betel-nut and began to chew with satisfaction.
"Patience?" said Ahmed? "Have I none?"
So the call went forth for a bride throughout the principality, and was
answered from the four points of the compass.
Between the announcement and the fulfilment of these remarkable
proceedings there arrived in the blazing city of Calcutta a young maid.
Her face was very stern for one so youthful, and it was as fearless as
it was stern. Umballa's last card, had she but known the treachery
which had lured her to this mystic shore. The young maid was Winnie,
come, as she supposed, at the urgent call of her father and sister, and
particularly warned to confide in no one and to hide with the utmost
secrecy her destination.
CHAPTER XIV
THE VEILED CANDIDATES
From the four ends of the principality they came, the veiled
candidates; from the north, the east, the south and west. They came in
marvelous palanquins, in curtained howdahs, on camels, in splendid
bullock carts. Many a rupee resolved itself into new-bought finery,
upon the vague chance of getting it back with compound interest.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241