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diff --git a/40136-h/40136-h.htm b/40136-h/40136-h.htm index 8932c8d..ff4f49d 100644 --- a/40136-h/40136-h.htm +++ b/40136-h/40136-h.htm @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ <meta name="Publisher" content="George H. Doran Company"> <meta name="Date" content="1914"> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <style type="text/css"> body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} @@ -98,40 +98,7 @@ p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mercy of the Lord, by Flora Annie Steel - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Mercy of the Lord - -Author: Flora Annie Steel - -Release Date: July 3, 2012 [EBook #40136] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERCY OF THE LORD *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books - - - - - -</pre> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40136 ***</div> <br> <br> @@ -467,7 +434,7 @@ prevailed in the battle for life to the world.</p> <p class="normal">"So, one night in the darkness, ere dawning, men crept to the garden where only the women might enter. Men, heated by wine and by lust, inflamed by the balcony lies--yea! the witch who wrought evil to -all--who had killed Gulanâr in her prime by a wasting--whose frown was +all--who had killed Gulanâr in her prime by a wasting--whose frown was a curse, must be reckoned with, killed, and her devilish chamber destroyed.</p> @@ -804,7 +771,7 @@ than to them any day."</p> night as this, O! Children-of-the-Master! and yet remembering the sudden yell of death which rose upon the still air--just such an air as this, hot and still.... Nay! fear not, Children-of-the-Master! since I, -Imân (the faithful one so named and natured), watch, as I watched +Imân (the faithful one so named and natured), watch, as I watched then ... and yet, I say, the hair upon my head which then grew thick and now is bald, the down upon my skin which then was bloom and now is stubble, starts up even as I started to my feet at that dread cry, and @@ -827,7 +794,7 @@ fear?"</p> <p class="normal">Wherefore, indeed?</p> -<p class="normal">Imân Khân, whilom major-domo to many sahibs of high degree, now in his +<p class="normal">Imân Khân, whilom major-domo to many sahibs of high degree, now in his old age factotum to the Eurasian widow and children of a conservancy overseer, asked himself the question boldly. Yet the heart which beat beneath the coarse white muslin coatee starched to crackle-point in the @@ -849,12 +816,12 @@ to say "Not at home," or dismiss a guest by announcing the carriage-- though these were foreign to him, soul and body.</p> <p class="normal">Out there, beyond the skimp verandah, amid the native cots set in the -dusky darkness in hopes of a breath of fresher air, old Imân's +dusky darkness in hopes of a breath of fresher air, old Imân's imagination ran riot in etiquette.</p> <p class="normal">And yet the faint white glimmer of the Grand Trunk Road which showed beyond the cots was not straighter, more unswerving than the -<i>khânsâman's</i> creed as to the correct card to play in each and every +<i>khânsâman's</i> creed as to the correct card to play in each and every circumstance of domestic life.</p> <p class="normal">His present mistress, a worthy soul of the most doubtful Portuguese @@ -867,7 +834,7 @@ goats who did not. To him it was the crux of social position.</p> <p class="normal">So, an opportunity of escape having arisen in the mortal illness of a distant relation, she had gone off for a weeks holiday full of tears and determination, while away, to eat as much sweet stuff as she chose, -leaving Imân Khân in charge of the quaint little bastion of the +leaving Imân Khân in charge of the quaint little bastion of the half-ruined caravanserai in which she was allowed free quarters in addition to her pension.</p> @@ -875,7 +842,7 @@ addition to her pension.</p> but as this was palpably the wrong game, he covered his disapproval with an inflexible respect which allowed no deviation from duty on either side. Yet it was a hard task to keep the household straight. -Sometimes even Imân's solid belief in custom as all-sufficing wavered, +Sometimes even Imân's solid belief in custom as all-sufficing wavered, and he half regretted having refused the offers of easier services made him by rich natives anxious to ape the manner of the alien. But it was only for a moment. The claims of the white blood he had served all his @@ -903,14 +870,14 @@ the Incompetent one could perceive no difference between the claims of the real Miss-<i>Sahiba</i>--that is, <i>E-stink Sahib's</i> own daughter by a previous wife--and those of the girl-brat she herself had brought to him by a previous husband, and whom she had cheerfully married off to a -black man with a sahib's hat! For this was Imân Khân's contemptuous +black man with a sahib's hat! For this was Imân Khân's contemptuous classification of Xavier Castello, one of those unnecessarily dark Eurasians who even in the middle of the night are never to be seen without the huge pith hats, which they wear, apparently, as an effort at race distinction.</p> <p class="normal">The Incompetent one was quite capable of carrying through a similar -marriage for the Miss-<i>Sahiba</i>. Horrible thought to Imân; all the more +marriage for the Miss-<i>Sahiba</i>. Horrible thought to Imân; all the more horrible because he was powerless to provide a proper husband. He could insist on savouries for dinner; he could say "the door is shut" to undesirable young men; he could go so far in weddings as to provide a @@ -930,7 +897,7 @@ heaven-sent car must come.</p> <p class="normal">Still, God was powerful. If he chose to send one, there might be a real wedding--such a wedding as--there had been--when--he....</p> -<p class="normal">So, tired out, Imân was once more in his dreams decorating hams, icing +<p class="normal">So, tired out, Imân was once more in his dreams decorating hams, icing champagne, and giving himself away in the intricacies of sugar-piping.</p> <p class="normal">When he woke, it was with a sense that he had somehow neglected his @@ -1001,7 +968,7 @@ semblance of a ball dress, her big blue eyes matching the tight string of big blue beads about her slender throat, showed herself apart absolutely, despite her dark hair and 'almost sallow complexion.</p> -<p class="normal">"The Huzoor has forgotten the time," said Imân, imperturbably; +<p class="normal">"The Huzoor has forgotten the time," said Imân, imperturbably; "it is just twelve o'clock, and <i>Sin-an-hella</i> dances of this description"--here he looked round at the squalid preparations for supper with superlative scorn--"always close at midnight."</p> @@ -1017,7 +984,7 @@ where I have served, was there no nautch on Saturdays--excepting <p class="normal">He yielded the last point graciously, but the concession was even more confounding to Mrs. Castello than his previous claim. Besides, old -Imân's darkling allusion to service with a Governor-General was a +Imân's darkling allusion to service with a Governor-General was a well-known danger-signal to the whole Hastings family, including Elflida Norma, who now hesitated palpably.</p> @@ -1045,7 +1012,7 @@ bob-dash from the silly books she adores so much, Mr. Rosario."</p> <p class="normal">Elflida stood for a moment smiling sweetly, as it were appraising all things she saw, from the greasy tablecloth on the supper table to old -Imân's starched purity; from the cocoanut oil on the head of one +Imân's starched purity; from the cocoanut oil on the head of one admirer, to the tarnished silver sign of service on the head of the other.</p> @@ -1057,7 +1024,7 @@ swansdown with a dignity which froze even Mr. Rosario's remonstrance.</p> escort; "but my ayah and my bearer are sufficient. Good-night."</p> <p class="normal">So down the pathway, inches deep in dust, she walked sedately towards -the glimmer of the lantern by the gate, followed deferentially by Imân. +the glimmer of the lantern by the gate, followed deferentially by Imân. But only so far; for once within the spider's web halo round the barred light, she sprang forward with a laugh. The next instant all was dark. Cimmerian darkness indeed to the old man as he struggled with the @@ -1108,7 +1075,7 @@ curiously.</p> <p class="normal">"I suppose it is named a motor bicycle," she said, coolly. "I have not seen one in our place before, only in picture books. I am glad."</p> -<p class="normal">There were no regrets or apologies. And even Imân Khân, when he +<p class="normal">There were no regrets or apologies. And even Imân Khân, when he recovered his breath, made no inquiries as to whether the young man had hurt himself in getting out of the Miss-Sahiba's way He simply looked at the wheels of the bicycle and then at its stalwart young rider.</p> @@ -1119,18 +1086,18 @@ at the wheels of the bicycle and then at its stalwart young rider.</p> <h3>II</h3> <br> -<p class="normal">Imân Khân sate in the early dawn, putting such polish as never before +<p class="normal">Imân Khân sate in the early dawn, putting such polish as never before was put on a pair of rather large size Oxford shoes. So far all had gone well. His own vast experience, aided by the stranger's complete ignorance of Indian ways, had sufficed for much; and Alexander -Alexander Sahib (all the twelve Imâns be praised for such a name!) was +Alexander Sahib (all the twelve Imâns be praised for such a name!) was now comfortably asleep in the bastion opposite the widow's quarters, under the impression that the hastily produced whisky and soda, with a "sand beef" (sandwich) in case hunger had come on the road, the simple but clean bedding, and briefly, all the luxuries of a night's sleep after a somewhat severe shaking, were due to the commercial instincts of a good old chap in charge of the usual rest-house: that being -exactly what Imân had desired as a beginning.</p> +exactly what Imân had desired as a beginning.</p> <p class="normal">The sequel required thought, and, as he polished, his brain was full of plans for the immediate future. One thing was certain, however, quite @@ -1146,11 +1113,11 @@ and dinners. Both possible, but both required time; therefore time must be had. The <i>chota-sahib</i> must not ride away after breakfast, as he had settled on doing, should he and the monster be found fit for the road.</p> -<p class="normal">Now the <i>chota-sahib</i> seemed none the worse for his fall, as Imân, in +<p class="normal">Now the <i>chota-sahib</i> seemed none the worse for his fall, as Imân, in his capacity of valet, had had opportunities of judging. The inference, therefore, was obvious. It must be the monster who was incapable.</p> -<p class="normal">Imân gave a finishing glisten to the shoes and placed them decorously +<p class="normal">Imân gave a finishing glisten to the shoes and placed them decorously side by side, ready to be taken in when the appointed hour came for shaving water. Then he went over and looked at the motor bicycle, which was accommodated in the verandah. It did not pant or smell now as if it @@ -1163,15 +1130,15 @@ manufactures in the way of wonderful soft iron pocket-knives with endless blades and corkscrews warranted to draw themselves instead of the corks!</p> -<p class="normal">"Ari Bhai," said Imân mildly to this worthy, "thou art a prince of +<p class="normal">"Ari Bhai," said Imân mildly to this worthy, "thou art a prince of workmen, truly; but come and see something beyond thy art in iron. -Bâpri bâp! I warrant thou couldst not even guess at its inner parts."</p> +Bâpri bâp! I warrant thou couldst not even guess at its inner parts."</p> <p class="normal">Could he not? Tezoo, the smith, thought otherwise, and being clever as well as voluble, hit with fair correctness on pivots, cog-wheels, and such-like inevitables of all machinery, the result of the interview -being that Imân, armed with his kitchen chopper and a bundle of -skewers, had a subsequent <i>tête-à-tête</i> with the monster, in which the +being that Imân, armed with his kitchen chopper and a bundle of +skewers, had a subsequent <i>tête-à -tête</i> with the monster, in which the latter came off second best; so that when its owner, fortified by a most magnificent breakfast (served in the verandah by reason of the central room of that bastion having an absolutely unsafe roof), went to @@ -1194,18 +1161,18 @@ old matchmaker had been longing.</p> <p class="normal">"And who would the young lady be who smashed me up last night?"</p> -<p class="normal">In his reply Imân dragged in <i>Warm E-stink Sahib Bahadur</i> and a vast +<p class="normal">In his reply Imân dragged in <i>Warm E-stink Sahib Bahadur</i> and a vast amount of extraneous matter out of his own past experiences. Regarding the present, however, he was distinctly selective without being actually untruthful. The late <i>E-stink Sahib's</i> widow and children, for instance, being also at rest in the serai, were equally under his charge. And this being so, since there was but one public room in which -dinner could possibly be served as it should be served--here Imân made +dinner could possibly be served as it should be served--here Imân made a digression regarding the rights of the sahib-logue at large and <i>E-stink Sahib's</i> family in particular--it was possible that the Huzoor might meet his fellow-lodgers and the Miss-<i>Sahiba</i> again.</p> -<p class="normal">In fact, he--Imân--would find it more convenient if the meal were eaten +<p class="normal">In fact, he--Imân--would find it more convenient if the meal were eaten together and at the same time, and the mem--her absence being one of the eliminated truths--would, he knew, fall in with any suggestion of his; which statement again was absolutely true.</p> @@ -1250,13 +1217,13 @@ easily."</p> sparingly. "I suppose not--but your arms look veree brittle, like china--I suppose that is from being so--being so chicken-white."</p> -<p class="normal">"Perhaps," he said, still more shortly, and was relieved when Imân +<p class="normal">"Perhaps," he said, still more shortly, and was relieved when Imân (having from the cook-room, where he was feverishly feathering fowls in preparation for the night's feast, detected Elflida's flagrant breach of etiquette in having anything whatever to do with a coatless sahib) hurried across to beguile his charge back to the paths of propriety by reporting that Lily-<i>baba</i> (to whom the girl was devoted) evinced a -determination to eat melons with her brothers, which he, Imân, was far +determination to eat melons with her brothers, which he, Imân, was far too busy to frustrate.</p> <p class="normal">"You need not make such pother about big dinner to-night," she said, @@ -1266,7 +1233,7 @@ forcemeat on a curry stone; "for I heard him tell the smith that he would go this evening if--well, if somebody kept his temper in boiling oil. Such a queer idea--as if anybody could!"</p> -<p class="normal">Old Imân's hands fell for an instant from the <i>munâdu</i> (Maintenon) +<p class="normal">Old Imân's hands fell for an instant from the <i>munâdu</i> (Maintenon) cutlets he was preparing, for he understood the frail foundation on which his chance of manufacturing a husband stood. Jullunder-sahib must be making a spring, and if the oil in which it had to be @@ -1287,7 +1254,7 @@ of the kites above in the blue sky were almost the only other signs of life, for Elflida Norma had found sleep the easiest way of keeping Lily-<i>baba</i> from the melons, and the boys slept as they slept always.</p> -<p class="normal">But as the sun set Imân knew that fate had decided in favour of the +<p class="normal">But as the sun set Imân knew that fate had decided in favour of the dinner, for Jullunder-sahib came over from the smithy with empty hands, and found hot water in his room, and the change of white raiment he carried in his knapsack laid out decorously on the bed.</p> @@ -1297,10 +1264,10 @@ jasmine which he found beside his hair-brush.</p> <p class="normal">Elflida Norma, under similar supervision, dressed also. In fact, everything was dressed, including the flat tin lids of the saucepans -which Imân had impressed into doing duty as side-dishes. Surrounded by +which Imân had impressed into doing duty as side-dishes. Surrounded by castellated walls of rice paste, supporting cannon balls of alternate spinach and cochinealed potatoes, they really looked very fine. So did -Imân himself, starched to inconceivable stiffness of deportment. So +Imân himself, starched to inconceivable stiffness of deportment. So even did the anatomy, who, promoted for once to the dining-room, grinned at the young man and the girl, at the Great Artificer and all his works, with his usual indiscrimination.</p> @@ -1312,28 +1279,28 @@ the cheap silver tinsel every Indian bazaar provides, and felt a sudden shyness of themselves, of each other, and the unwonted snowiness and glitter.</p> -<p class="normal">"Cler or wite?" said Imân, his old hands in difficulties with two soup +<p class="normal">"Cler or wite?" said Imân, his old hands in difficulties with two soup plates. There was a dead silence.</p> <p class="normal">"He means soup," faltered Elflida Norma desperately, wishing herself with the boys who were being regaled with curry and rice in her room, and thereinafter became dumb until the next course, when a sense of -duty made her supplement Imân's "fish-bar'l" with the explanation that +duty made her supplement Imân's "fish-bar'l" with the explanation that it was not really fish, which was not procurable, but another form of fowl.</p> -<p class="normal">So, in fact, were the side dishes which followed, and in which Imân had +<p class="normal">So, in fact, were the side dishes which followed, and in which Imân had so far surpassed his usual self that Elflida was perforce as helpless as her companion for all save eating them solidly in due order. The old man, however, was too much absorbed in the due handling of "bredsarse" with the fowl, which was at last allowed to appear under the title of "roschikken," too much discomforted by the subsidence of his favourite -"sikken," a cheese <i>soufflée</i>, to notice silence, or the lack of it, +"sikken," a cheese <i>soufflée</i>, to notice silence, or the lack of it, until, just as--the worst strain over--he was perfunctorily apologising for the impossibility of "Hice-puddeen," a fateful cry came from the next room and Elflida started to her feet.</p> -<p class="normal">"It's Lily," she began; but Imân frowned her into her seat again, and +<p class="normal">"It's Lily," she began; but Imân frowned her into her seat again, and turned to the anatomy superbly. "Go!" he said with dignity, "and bid the ayah see to Lily-<i>baba</i>."</p> @@ -1354,7 +1321,7 @@ if she is not let to come to my place."</p> <p class="normal">"Then let her come--why not?"</p> -<p class="normal">"It is an evil custom," began Imân, as the order was given. He knew no +<p class="normal">"It is an evil custom," began Imân, as the order was given. He knew no graver blame than that even for a whole Decalogue in ruins; but Elflida Norma stamped her foot as she had stamped it in the polka, so he had to give in and thus avoid worse exposures.</p> @@ -1362,7 +1329,7 @@ give in and thus avoid worse exposures.</p> <p class="normal">And, after all, the introduction of the dimpled brown child in a little white night-shift, who leant shyly against Elflida's blue beads, seemed to help the conversation. So much so that after coffee and cigarettes -had been served in the verandah, old Imân felt as if success must crown +had been served in the verandah, old Imân felt as if success must crown his efforts--if only there were time! But how could there be time when the possible husband had arranged, since the motor bicycle refused to be mended with the appliances at his disposal, to have it conveyed by @@ -1372,7 +1339,7 @@ train.</p> <p class="normal">It was when, pleasantly, yet still carelessly, Alec Alexander was saying good-bye to the blue eyes and the blue beads, with the brown -baby cuddled up comfortably in the girl's slender arms, that Imân, with +baby cuddled up comfortably in the girl's slender arms, that Imân, with a sinking heart, played his last card by saying that there was no need for the Huzoor to tramp. The Miss-<i>Sahiba</i> and Lily-<i>baba</i> invariably took a carriage airing before breakfast, and could quite easily drop @@ -1387,24 +1354,24 @@ did the young engineer, and Lily-<i>baba</i>, and the boys gorged with as-a-rule-prohibited native dainties. Even the smith slept, and the anatomy had already reverted to reality, his transient dignity vanishing into thin air. So that in that wide ruined serai, built by -dead kings, all were at rest save the Great Artificer, Imân, who sate +dead kings, all were at rest save the Great Artificer, Imân, who sate among the ruins of his dinner, satisfied, yet still conscious of failure. Something was lacking, which once more only God could create--only a miraculous car could bring.</p> <p class="normal">In truth, if any vehicle might from outward appearance claim miraculous powers, it was the extraordinary sort of four-wheeled dogcart which, in -the cool morning air, appeared as Imân's last card. He had, indeed, not +the cool morning air, appeared as Imân's last card. He had, indeed, not wandered from the truth in telling Alec Alexander that carriages were not to be hired in that sahib-forsaken spot, and it had been only with extreme difficulty that he had raised these four wheels of varying colours and a body painted with festoons of grapes, all tied together with ropes.</p> -<p class="normal">Still, it held the party. Imân, with Lily-<i>baba</i> in his arms, on the +<p class="normal">Still, it held the party. Imân, with Lily-<i>baba</i> in his arms, on the box by the driver, Elflida and the young engineer disposed on the back seat. The horse, it is true, showed signs of never having been in -harness before, but this was not so evident to those behind, and Imân +harness before, but this was not so evident to those behind, and Imân held tight and set his teeth, knowing that success has sometimes to be bought dearly.</p> @@ -1425,7 +1392,7 @@ with a bad temper.</p> <p class="normal">And Elflida? Her world seemed to have had a fresh start in growth, it held greater possibilities than before, that was all.</p> -<p class="normal">So everything had been in vain, even Imân's sense of duty towards the +<p class="normal">So everything had been in vain, even Imân's sense of duty towards the white blood he had served so long.</p> <p class="normal">"Good-bye!" He could not hear the words, but he saw the young hands @@ -1433,10 +1400,10 @@ meet to unclasp again, as with a whistle the mail train rushed out from behind a dense mango clump, and the Westinghouse brakes brought a sudden grinding rattle to the quiet morning air.</p> -<p class="normal">"All was over!" thought Imân sadly, as still sitting on the box with +<p class="normal">"All was over!" thought Imân sadly, as still sitting on the box with Lily-<i>baba</i>, he watched. Surely it had not been his fault. He had done -all--only the cheese <i>soufflée</i> had failed, and that happened sometimes -even in the house of Lât-Sahibs. Yet it was over.</p> +all--only the cheese <i>soufflée</i> had failed, and that happened sometimes +even in the house of Lât-Sahibs. Yet it was over.</p> <p class="normal">It was, indeed. Almost including the miraculous car, as deprived of its driver, who was spending part of his tip in the sweet stall, the horse, @@ -1478,7 +1445,7 @@ round the childish throat, who shall blame him?</p> <p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20pt">* * * * *</p> -<p class="normal">Anyhow, the hot dry nights of May were not over before old Imân's voice +<p class="normal">Anyhow, the hot dry nights of May were not over before old Imân's voice rose once more in declamation over the unforgettable story of the white blood.</p> @@ -1491,7 +1458,7 @@ something they had never seen before--the icing of a wedding cake.</p> <p class="normal">"The trouble being over, the masters were masters again, and I took Sonny-<i>baba</i> back to his people. And wherefore not? Seeing I had eaten of their salt all my life and they of mine. Yea! even unto wedding -cakes. Look, my sons! That is done, and I, Imân, the faithful one by +cakes. Look, my sons! That is done, and I, Imân, the faithful one by name and nature made it."</p> <p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20pt">* * * * *</p> @@ -1510,10 +1477,10 @@ him to the safe shadows.</p> <p class="normal">Yet, old as they were, those hands had forgotten no duty. <i>E-stink Sahib's</i> widow, absorbed with a friend in the recipe of a mango pickle she meant to make on the morrow--a pickle full of forbidden turmeric -and mustard oil--had to be reminded of her <i>rôle</i> as bride's mother -over and over again, but it was Imân who hung a horseshoe for luck on -the miraculous car--drawn this time by an old stager--Imân, who was -ready with rice, Imân, who finally ran after the departing lovers to +and mustard oil--had to be reminded of her <i>rôle</i> as bride's mother +over and over again, but it was Imân who hung a horseshoe for luck on +the miraculous car--drawn this time by an old stager--Imân, who was +ready with rice, Imân, who finally ran after the departing lovers to fling the old white shoe, in which Elflida had danced the hee-haw polka, into their laps as they sate on the back seat, and then, overbalancing himself in the final effort, to tumble into the dust, @@ -1525,7 +1492,7 @@ blandly, "What a custom is here!"</p> <br> <h2><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">THE WISDOM OF OUR LORD GANESH</a></h2> <br> -<p class="continue" style="font-size:90%">"The wisdom of Sri Ganêsh--the wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh."<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> +<p class="continue" style="font-size:90%">"The wisdom of Sri Ganêsh--the wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh."<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> <br> <p class="normal">Through and through my fever-drugged brain the words came, compelling, @@ -1547,7 +1514,7 @@ aches are passing into the fire flood of fever that thrills the finger-tips and sets the brain fizzling like champagne. <br> -<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">"The wisdom of Sri Ganêsh--the wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh."</p> +<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">"The wisdom of Sri Ganêsh--the wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh."</p> <br> <p class="normal">Why on earth should that haunt me here in Wales? on a piece, no doubt, @@ -1559,24 +1526,24 @@ girl beside his coarse, heavy, good looks; heavier than they had been, though, heaven knows! refinement had never stood much in his way. And they were to be married to-morrow! Married to Gwynne of Garthgwynne! Couldn't anyone tell her what she was doing? Couldn't anyone save her, -as the wisdom of Sri Ganêsh had saved that other one?...</p> +as the wisdom of Sri Ganêsh had saved that other one?...</p> <p class="normal">And then in a second I was gone. I was under the brassy blue sky of India, and from the twisted tufts of marsh-grasses by the elephant's feet came a native beater's lament--"As God sees me it is invisible--what a tyranny is here."</p> -<p class="normal">"Bid Ganêsh seek," said Nat Gwynne's voice, imperatively from the +<p class="normal">"Bid Ganêsh seek," said Nat Gwynne's voice, imperatively from the howdah from which we were both shooting. He was in a Lancer regiment cantooned in the native State where for many years I had been consulting engineer.</p> <p class="normal">The <i>mahout</i>, seated on the big brute's neck, turned calmly. "It is -against the orders that Sri Ganêsh, King of Elephants and Lord of +against the orders that Sri Ganêsh, King of Elephants and Lord of Wisdom, should touch carrion even of the Huzoor's."</p> <p class="normal">I looked at my old friend Mahadeo with astonishment. He and I had been -out on Ganêsh, the Rajah's finest elephant, scores of times, and again +out on Ganêsh, the Rajah's finest elephant, scores of times, and again and again the cunning old rogue's inquisitive trunk had nosed out and up a partridge or snipe which the coolies had failed to find.</p> @@ -1584,7 +1551,7 @@ up a partridge or snipe which the coolies had failed to find.</p> "and as for wisdom! Doth he not hold the Huzoor even as his own <i>mahout?</i>"</p> -<p class="normal">Which delicate piece of flattery was true, for old Ganêsh, pad elephant +<p class="normal">Which delicate piece of flattery was true, for old Ganêsh, pad elephant to the bankrupt young scoundrel of a Rajah, had taken a fancy to me, as elephants do take fancies.</p> @@ -1592,7 +1559,7 @@ elephants do take fancies.</p> bitter hatred in the dark face, and the wild, wicked rage of the white one, I said, quickly. "Seek! my brother!"</p> -<p class="normal">Ganêsh swayed forward, his trunk curling like a snake, his wicked +<p class="normal">Ganêsh swayed forward, his trunk curling like a snake, his wicked little eyes alert, a faint <i>frou-frou</i> of a blowing sound seeming to quiver the grasses; and there, grasped softly in the prehensile end was a dead jack snipe! As he put it deferentially and politely into my @@ -1624,7 +1591,7 @@ the record of the Gwynnes of Garthgwynne was a black one.</p> <p class="normal">"The Huzoor is <i>mast</i>," he said to me, rapidly in low contemptuous Hindustani, turning the while to sit, immovable as ever, a mere head and trunk of a man, all else being hidden by the elephant's great -shields of ears. "He is as the beasts that perish. And Ganêsh, too, +shields of ears. "He is as the beasts that perish. And Ganêsh, too, nears his time of power--" he pointed to the great head he bestrode where, oozing apparently from a slight hollow in the skin a few drops of ichor showed, half hardened into amber, "so let those who would harm @@ -1645,7 +1612,7 @@ Then a sudden trumpet, a rattle as of chained front feet, one little sob....</p> <p class="normal">How steadily the moonlight shone through the branches on that small -upturned face which was all Ganêsh's feet had spared.</p> +upturned face which was all Ganêsh's feet had spared.</p> <p class="normal">"Who? What?" I gasped, uncomprehending, staring stupidly at Mahadeo on his knees beside the dead girl, at Gwynne, still dressed, the buttons @@ -1655,8 +1622,8 @@ voice, quiet, restrained:</p> <p class="normal">"She was my granddaughter, Huzoor. But a light thing. She must have gone too near the King of Elephants, being as this slave said, near to -his time of power. What then? <i>It is the wisdom, of our Lord Ganêsh! -The wisdom of Sri Ganêsh!</i>"</p> +his time of power. What then? <i>It is the wisdom, of our Lord Ganêsh! +The wisdom of Sri Ganêsh!</i>"</p> <p class="normal">The sound of his voice died away softly, and the wind carried it further, and further, and further....</p> @@ -1677,7 +1644,7 @@ with delight. Come! this was something like a fever dream! To have an Indian Rajah's pad elephant to ride on--to go whither you would for a fresh breeze--to cool your brain.</p> -<p class="normal">"<i>Baito</i>, Ganêsh! <i>Baito!</i>" I cried, giving the familiar order; but +<p class="normal">"<i>Baito</i>, Ganêsh! <i>Baito!</i>" I cried, giving the familiar order; but the next instant my vaingloriousness ended in a shiver, almost of fear, as the brute obeyed, sinking noiselessly and laying its trunk, curled @@ -1699,14 +1666,14 @@ the howdah, and hearing a familiar voice break in upon the ceaseless fall of the waves which filled my ears.</p> <p class="normal">And from the voice I gathered vaguely that it was not a dream at all. -This was indeed Ganêsh, who had been sold because of his great height +This was indeed Ganêsh, who had been sold because of his great height to an English showman, and this was no other than old Mahadeo, who would not leave his charge, and had come over the black water, also, where there was nothing good to be had save rum; rum that kept the cold -out on these chill September nights when Ganêsh had to do his marches +out on these chill September nights when Ganêsh had to do his marches from town to town, since the sight of an elephant might frighten the traffic by day. There was evidently some of that rum still in the old -man's voice as he chid Ganêsh glibly for having been restive and thrown +man's voice as he chid Ganêsh glibly for having been restive and thrown his unsteady <i>mahout</i> on the road. But then had not the animal always loved the Huzoor, even as his master? And must he not have nosed him out as he passed, the Lord of Elephants having, as ever, a scent as of @@ -1720,7 +1687,7 @@ those waves from very far away. Once I remember asking how many couple of snipe we had killed. After that Mahadeo furtively brought out a bottle and gave me something fiery which seemed to do me good, though he muttered to himself that he could but do his best--his was not the -wisdom of Sri Ganêsh.</p> +wisdom of Sri Ganêsh.</p> <p class="normal">"You--you shouldn't say that to me, you--you old fool," I murmured, weakly. "You should say it as you said to--to--to @@ -1792,7 +1759,7 @@ life.</p> drunk she'll have to put up--Gwynne Garthgwynne, d--mn her--my wife--mother of Gwynne's-Garth ..."</p> -<p class="normal">"Forward, Sri Ganêsh!" The order came soft but swift, and we were out +<p class="normal">"Forward, Sri Ganêsh!" The order came soft but swift, and we were out of the shadows. What was it out of the shadows, also--out of the Dim Shadows which shroud Life in the Beginning and the End, which caught me irresistibly, making me say sharply as one who has waited long, "Come @@ -1802,7 +1769,7 @@ along, Gwynne! do--there's a good fellow."</p> drink-sodden brain. The tall, heavy figure swayed, lurched. I could see its every detail, the very buttons on the mess jacket--worn doubtless out of bravado this last evening of bachelorhood--shone, as they had -done that night years ago amid the shadow and shine of the mango-tôpe; +done that night years ago amid the shadow and shine of the mango-tôpe; for a radiance seemed to have sprung from earth and sky in which nothing could be hidden.</p> @@ -1810,12 +1777,12 @@ nothing could be hidden.</p> "Come," he echoed, drunkenly, "Why--why--shno't? Whatsh' larks--chursh, fl'rs joll'--lit'--bride--no bridegroom!--joll'--good'--larks'h, eh! Off to Phildelp'ia in the mornin'--see th'other one--joll'--lit' one. -<i>Bait</i>, you pig, Ganêsh! <i>Bait!</i>"</p> +<i>Bait</i>, you pig, Ganêsh! <i>Bait!</i>"</p> <p class="normal">It all passed like a flash of lightning. The elephant was down and up again, and the last thing I remember was hearing Gwynne of Garthgwynne's drunken voice say, "Hello! old Mahadeo, eh! Well! go it, -ol' man. Givs'h some of--wish-dom--Shri Ganêsh--eh--what?"</p> +ol' man. Givs'h some of--wish-dom--Shri Ganêsh--eh--what?"</p> <p class="normal">When I roused again it was dawn; pale primrose dawn over a cloudless sea.</p> @@ -1839,7 +1806,7 @@ to stone. I seemed to know what was coming--to realise the verdict which that ultimate wisdom must give. Then in a clarion voice the words came:</p> -<p class="normal">"By the order of the Lord Ganêsh, kill."</p> +<p class="normal">"By the order of the Lord Ganêsh, kill."</p> <p class="normal">The softness, the tenderness of the snaky coil, so sensitive that the finest thread in God's world can scarce escape it, changed suddenly to @@ -1864,7 +1831,7 @@ in the <i>tente d'abri</i> behind the bramble screen of the quarry.</p> <p class="normal">Was it then all a dream? Even if it were not ...</p> -<p class="normal">Was it not the wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh?</p> +<p class="normal">Was it not the wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh?</p> <p class="normal">I decided, at last, to say nothing about that dream of a marvellous moonlight ride on an elephant over half Wales. Twinges of conscience @@ -1904,7 +1871,7 @@ if her bosom is white with snow."</p> <p class="normal">So we lifted him out, the doctor and I, and laid him down on Heaven's white quilt. He just rolled over, face down, into the cool pillow.</p> -<p class="normal">"<i>Râm-Râm--Sita-Râm</i>," I whispered, kneeling beside him to give the +<p class="normal">"<i>Râm-Râm--Sita-Râm</i>," I whispered, kneeling beside him to give the last dying benediction of his race. Such a quaint one! Only the name of what to it, is superman and superwoman. A last appeal to the higher instincts of humanity.</p> @@ -1912,7 +1879,7 @@ instincts of humanity.</p> <p class="normal">There was one little sob. I thought I heard the beginning of the old refrain:</p> -<p class="normal">"The wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh----" Then he had found freedom.</p> +<p class="normal">"The wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh----" Then he had found freedom.</p> <p class="normal">"You seem to know their ways, sir," said a horsey-looking man who had come in with us and who had evidently something to do with the show. @@ -1921,7 +1888,7 @@ obliged. Hasn't touched food this ten days--never since the old man took worse, and a elephant, sir, is a dead loss to a show. The master lef' 'im here with me, but I'm blowed if I can do nothing with him."</p> -<p class="normal">I found Ganêsh happier than his master, for, no place being large +<p class="normal">I found Ganêsh happier than his master, for, no place being large enough for him, he lay in the open; but they had stretched a tarpaulin over him like a rick-cover, as a protection.</p> @@ -1946,7 +1913,7 @@ swayed sideways and fell dead.</p> <p class="normal">That was all the little smug provincial English town ever knew of the</p> -<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">"Wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh."</p> +<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">"Wisdom of our Lord Ganêsh."</p> <br> <br> <br> @@ -2204,7 +2171,7 @@ grows older will make an excellent officer--Mr. Forrester--ahem!" (he made a violent effort over the name) "has no genius for antiquities. He utterly fails, for instance, to realise the far-reaching importance--for it would, of course, alter the whole -chronology of the Græco-Bactrian era--of my contention concerning +chronology of the Græco-Bactrian era--of my contention concerning what Hausmann and the German school generally venture to designate a post-Vicramaditya. Yet some day, I feel sure, the gold coin of which Kapala gives so exact a description in B.C. 200, with the date under @@ -2908,7 +2875,7 @@ of the plain.</p> smoke of the aromatic wood had--at least, so the sufferers averred, though, at the time, I suspected a recourse for comfort to my whisky-flask--produced unmistakable symptoms of intoxication in the -amateur cooks, who, after valiantly serving me up a réchauffé of +amateur cooks, who, after valiantly serving me up a réchauffé of breakfast had succumbed to sleep. The mattress of creeping juniper on which they lay like logs was springy enough to have hidden them from sight even if the shadowed earth had not been so dark; for it was dark, @@ -3175,8 +3142,8 @@ face.</p> <p class="normal">"And what would I be doing with wan of them on the Bench and the other in the dock? For it would be that way ere a week was past. It is very -kind of the L.G. to suggest putting either Sirdar Bikrama Singh or Khân -Buktiyar Khân on the Honorary Magistracy, but he doesn't grasp that +kind of the L.G. to suggest putting either Sirdar Bikrama Singh or Khân +Buktiyar Khân on the Honorary Magistracy, but he doesn't grasp that they are hereditary enemies and have been the same for eight hundred years. Ever since the Pathans temporarily conquered the Rajputs, in the year av' grace 1256! So you couldn't in conscience expect wan of them @@ -3196,8 +3163,8 @@ officers invariably fell in with his views; it saved trouble.</p> <p class="normal">So, in due course, what answers to a J.P.'s commission at home (with no small extra powers thrown in) was sent to Sirdar Bikrama Singh, Rajput -at his castle of Nagadrug (the Snake's Hole), and also to Khân Buktiyar -Khân at his fortress of Shakingarh (the Falcon's Nest).</p> +at his castle of Nagadrug (the Snake's Hole), and also to Khân Buktiyar +Khân at his fortress of Shakingarh (the Falcon's Nest).</p> <p class="normal">Both buildings had been for some centuries in a hopeless state of dilapidation, as, from a worldly point of view, were their owners' @@ -3250,7 +3217,7 @@ curled his thin grey moustache to meet his short grey whiskers and looked fierce as an old tiger.</p> <p class="normal">Over in Shakingarh also the commission met with approval. "It is well!" -said Buktiyar Khân, as he sate amongst his crowding womenfolk with a +said Buktiyar Khân, as he sate amongst his crowding womenfolk with a poultice of leaves on his short beard to dye it purple. "I shall do my duty and punish the evil doer; notably him who has done evil to my people and my land, since that is the beginning of justice." And his @@ -3274,7 +3241,7 @@ swift stiff salute.</p> regarding the "<i>in banco</i>," they both admitted instantly to themselves that it was better to sit next a hereditary enemy than a stinking scrivener or a mean moneylender. So Bikrama Singh twirled his grey -moustache and said, "It is well," and Buktiyar Khân twirled his purple +moustache and said, "It is well," and Buktiyar Khân twirled his purple one and said the same thing.</p> <p class="normal">Thereinafter they began work. The women of both houses made the first @@ -3295,7 +3262,7 @@ judges returned to their womenkind vaguely dissatisfied, dimly uneasy.</p> saw as quickly as I did that truth lay with the defendant, lies with the plaintiff."</p> -<p class="normal">"By God's truth," admitted Buktiyar Khân grudgingly, "the Hindu is not +<p class="normal">"By God's truth," admitted Buktiyar Khân grudgingly, "the Hindu is not such a blockhead as I deemed him. He saw as quickly as I did that lies were with the plaintiff, truth with the defendant."</p> @@ -3313,7 +3280,7 @@ identical.</p> peroration of a newly passed pleader, eager to air his eloquence. "Words are idle when facts stare you in the face. 'Who knows is silent, he who talks knows not,' as the proverb hath it. That is enough. We are -satisfied." "<i>Wâh Wâh</i>," assented Buktiyar Khân at once, acquiescent +satisfied." "<i>Wâh Wâh</i>," assented Buktiyar Khân at once, acquiescent and regretful. "Truly, pleader-jee! thou hast said that before. Why say it again? If sugar kills, why try poison? We are satisfied, so that is enough."</p> @@ -3344,7 +3311,7 @@ treat each other with less stately dignity or cause them to be one whit more friendly out of court.</p> <p class="normal">Sirdar Bikrama Singh went home to his womenfolk and railed as ever -against his neighbour, and Khân Buktiyar Khân, as he rolled his little +against his neighbour, and Khân Buktiyar Khân, as he rolled his little opium pill betwixt finger and thumb, would do the same thing. But in their heart of hearts they knew that, since a judge must always be "an ignorant man between two wise ones" (the plaintiff and defendant), it @@ -3378,7 +3345,7 @@ campaign of would-be terrorism amongst the schoolboys and students of the province which shattered the nerves of government.</p> <p class="normal">"By the Lord who made me," ejaculated Tim O'Brien angrily, as he flung -aside the last urgent <i>communiquée</i> from headquarters, "one would think +aside the last urgent <i>communiquée</i> from headquarters, "one would think from that bosh, we were in danger of losing India to-morrow. Can't they see it's only schoolboy rot, sheer daredevil schoolboy mischief, like throwing caps under a motor car and heads you win tails I lose, you're @@ -3442,7 +3409,7 @@ For one thing, the unanimity of their opinions had been disturbing; the old antagonism seemed more natural. And there the matter should have ended. Unfortunately for all, it did not. To be brief. Tim O'Brien was asked one day, as District Officer, to sign a warrant for the arrest of -Sirdar Bikrama Singh and Khân Buktiyar Khân on a charge of assault and +Sirdar Bikrama Singh and Khân Buktiyar Khân on a charge of assault and battery against the head master-<i>jee</i>, who turned out to be sib to half the local Bar.</p> @@ -3514,7 +3481,7 @@ arrayed as for a bridal, his sword buckled tight to his bowed back. "And the shield, women--the shield of my fathers that hangs in the entry. I shall need it, too!"</p> -<p class="normal">Over in Shakingarh, Buktiyar Khân, impelled likewise by those memories +<p class="normal">Over in Shakingarh, Buktiyar Khân, impelled likewise by those memories of the past, that hatred of the present, had donned his uniform likewise; and so the moonlight shone on cold steel and damascened gold as, silently obeying some inward community of thought, the two old men @@ -3531,7 +3498,7 @@ to plough again for a fresh crop----</p> Singh, when at long last they stood face to face in the open.</p> <p class="normal">"And the Peace of the Most Mighty be on you, my foe," answered Buktiyar -Khân.</p> +Khân.</p> <p class="normal">So for a moment there was silence. Then the Rajput spoke, his old voice full of fire, full of vibration.</p> @@ -3550,10 +3517,10 @@ enemies the glorious gift of battle?"</p> <p class="normal">The reply, quick, vibrant, rang through the moonlight; a veritable challenge.</p> -<p class="normal">"Yea, Pathan--robber! thief! I claim it now! <i>Jug-dân, Jug-dân</i>--the +<p class="normal">"Yea, Pathan--robber! thief! I claim it now! <i>Jug-dân, Jug-dân</i>--the Gift of Battle to the Death."</p> -<p class="normal">"Take it, pig of an idolator! Jug-dân, Jug-dân--the Gift of Battle!"</p> +<p class="normal">"Take it, pig of an idolator! Jug-dân, Jug-dân--the Gift of Battle!"</p> <p class="normal">The still, hot air became full of faint chinkings, as buckles were settled straight, scabbards thrown aside. Then there was an instance @@ -3569,7 +3536,7 @@ came back to the Hereditary Enemies.</p> <p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20pt">* * * * *</p> <p class="normal">It matters little if the combat ended in quarter of an hour, half an -hour, or an hour; whether Bikrama Singh or Buktiyar Khân got in the +hour, or an hour; whether Bikrama Singh or Buktiyar Khân got in the first blow. The moon shone peacefully on the Gift of Battle. She still hung a white shield on the grey skies of dawn when Tim O'Brien and the police officer, coming to do their disagreeable duty, found the two old @@ -3646,7 +3613,7 @@ the votes of their fellow citizens, instead of being discreetly and as ever nominated to the office of Councillor by the "hated alien." A few had gravely and dutifully given in to this new and quite incomprehensible fad of the constituted authorities, others had -hesitated, but one, a fiery old Khân Bahadur, who was a retired +hesitated, but one, a fiery old Khân Bahadur, who was a retired risseldar from one of our crack native cavalry regiments, had sworn with many oaths that never would he take office from, amongst others, the perjured vote of Gunpat-Lal, pleader, who belonged to his ward, and @@ -3664,10 +3631,10 @@ the Government.</p> papers which had been sent out for marking and return; for in these out of the way places in those days, the secret ballot-box was not the best blessing of the world, as it is now. And my old friend the hakeem was, -I knew, on the Aga Khân's ward.</p> +I knew, on the Aga Khân's ward.</p> <p class="normal">"What have you got to do with it?" I echoed, in reply to an anxious -question. "Why, put a mark against the Aga Khân's name and give it back +question. "Why, put a mark against the Aga Khân's name and give it back whence it came."</p> <p class="normal">He salaamed profoundly. "Huzoor! that was the settled determination of @@ -3676,16 +3643,16 @@ of faithful life; but, being called in last night to an indigestion in his house, which I combatted with burnt almonds, he told me that if I so much as went near his honourable name with my stylus, I should cease to be physician-in-ordinary to his household. And, father and son, we -have been physicians to the Aga Khân ever since our fathers followed +have been physicians to the Aga Khân ever since our fathers followed his fathers from Ghazni in that capacity with the Great Mahomed--on whom be peace."</p> <p class="normal">"Then mark one of the other names--which you choose, and send it in," I replied, taking no notice of the scandalous attempt at coercion on the -old Aga Khân's part.</p> +old Aga Khân's part.</p> <p class="normal">A still more profound salaam was the answer. "That also would have -occurred to me," came the suave old voice, "but that the Aga Khân said, +occurred to me," came the suave old voice, "but that the Aga Khân said, with oaths, that if I so much as made a chance blot on this cursed paper against any of the names thereon, I should be cast for life from his honourable company."</p> @@ -3696,7 +3663,7 @@ most fitted to fulfil all the many duties which will devolve on him, and put down his name," I said, for in these days when we really wished to get at the wishes of the people, we were not so strict about nominations and proposings and secondings as we are now, "and I will -speak again to the Khân Bahadur and see if I cannot induce him to +speak again to the Khân Bahadur and see if I cannot induce him to stand." (I meant to do so by threats of exposure for using force to Her Majesty's lieges!)</p> @@ -3964,7 +3931,7 @@ mingled with satisfaction.</p> what I have always told you would happen if the Sirkar were not more careful, has come to pass. The native troops in Meerut have mutinied; they have gone to Delhi and murdered the <i>Sahib-logue</i>. I rode back -to the depôt while the Salt of the Earth slept, to see all was right, +to the depôt while the Salt of the Earth slept, to see all was right, and--and I heard it at the gate."</p> <p class="normal">"At the gate," echoed the Boy, still stupid with sleep. "Who brought @@ -5006,9 +4973,9 @@ new-fangled thing is that?"</p> <p class="normal">She did not slacken a second in her deft twirling of her distaff, neither did the others, despite their questioning eyes, relax their swift business. Indeed, as they sat in the shadows, the three might -have served as a model for the Fates, since Khulâsa Khânum span -ceaselessly. Aftâba Khânum wound yarn on a circling bamboo frame, and -Lateefa Khânum snipped with a very large pair of scissors at the shirt +have served as a model for the Fates, since Khulâsa Khânum span +ceaselessly. Aftâba Khânum wound yarn on a circling bamboo frame, and +Lateefa Khânum snipped with a very large pair of scissors at the shirt she was making; for, being many years younger than the others, her eyes were still fit for fine back-stitching. Beautiful hazel eyes they were, too: large, soft, full of sunshine and shadow.</p> @@ -5022,7 +4989,7 @@ only chance for justice, ladies. I know of such an one, and could bring him here to receive instruction, and mayhap there would be no need for the honourable ladies to answer in Court."</p> -<p class="normal">Khulâsa Khânum's hands froze in horror; she glanced anxiously towards +<p class="normal">Khulâsa Khânum's hands froze in horror; she glanced anxiously towards Lateefa. "Talk not like that before the child, woman!" she interrupted, almost fiercely. "No strange man, as thou knowest, comes to this virtuous house, and no woman goes out of it."</p> @@ -5043,7 +5010,7 @@ owing to her husband's position as a paid tout at the Law Courts, the neighbourhood in general, and even that virtuous roof in particular, had left inquiry and condemnation alone for the present.</p> -<p class="normal">"Lo! Khânum!" she giggled, "that is true enough, God knows; yet what +<p class="normal">"Lo! Khânum!" she giggled, "that is true enough, God knows; yet what avails it for reputation? None. 'Tis a rare joke, and I meant not to tell it thee; still, 'tis too good to be lost. In the Mirza's reply to the last petition sent from this house for direct payment of the @@ -5060,18 +5027,18 @@ to be shifted higher on her shaking side.</p> <p class="normal">The three women ceased working, and looked at each other helplessly, while underneath their curiously fair skins a flush showed distinctly.</p> -<p class="normal">"Did they say that--of us?" asked Aftâba Khânum at last, in a faltering +<p class="normal">"Did they say that--of us?" asked Aftâba Khânum at last, in a faltering voice. Perhaps it was her occupation of winding hanks without tangle which made her always so keen to have all things clear.</p> -<p class="normal">"And of me?" echoed Khulâsa faintly. Her old face had grown very grey, +<p class="normal">"And of me?" echoed Khulâsa faintly. Her old face had grown very grey, her hands, though they had ceased working, were no longer frozen; they trembled visibly.</p> <p class="normal">Only Lateefa sat silent, a swift yet sullen anger on her still young face.</p> -<p class="normal">Jewuni giggled again. "There was no distinction of decency, Khânum. But +<p class="normal">Jewuni giggled again. "There was no distinction of decency, Khânum. But 'tis too bad, and that is why I spoke of a 'bannister' to confound such old tricks with new ones. However, 'tis no business of mine, only," she paused in her conversation, and, going beside Lateefa, she lowered her @@ -5096,11 +5063,11 @@ secluded women as these three had been treated. Briefly, for the male head of the family, as guardian, to leave them to starve, while he made merry over their poor pittances of pensions granted to them by Government in consideration of their race, or its good services. No -wonder, then, that Khulâsa sat helpless, resorting for comfort to the -little rosary she always carried, that Aftâba's tears ran silently down +wonder, then, that Khulâsa sat helpless, resorting for comfort to the +little rosary she always carried, that Aftâba's tears ran silently down her withered cheeks, or that Lateefa's sullen anger gave a dangerous look to her still handsome face. So dangerous that fear pierced -Aftâba's soft self-pity at last, making her ask anxiously:</p> +Aftâba's soft self-pity at last, making her ask anxiously:</p> <p class="normal">"What was it she said to thee privately, Lateefa? Naught worse, surely?"</p> @@ -5111,11 +5078,11 @@ with a bitter laugh.</p> <p class="normal">"Nay! she but spoke of 'fees' for justice, as if we had aught to pay. Yet something must be done."</p> -<p class="normal">"We have done too much already," came Khulâsa's shaking voice. "If we +<p class="normal">"We have done too much already," came Khulâsa's shaking voice. "If we had trusted in the Lord instead of sending petitions there would have been no need for them to tell the lie. If we had waited----"</p> -<p class="normal">"Lo! we had waited," put in Aftâba, "and petitions are no new thing. +<p class="normal">"Lo! we had waited," put in Aftâba, "and petitions are no new thing. Our fathers made them. They are not like 'bannisters' and strange men. These----"</p> @@ -5162,7 +5129,7 @@ for long.</p> <p class="normal">They, too, felt that the time was past for temporising, for trimming their sails to suit each other's opinions.</p> -<p class="normal">So Khulâsa Khânum's pallid, high-featured face was more like that of +<p class="normal">So Khulâsa Khânum's pallid, high-featured face was more like that of one new-dead than ever, when Shamira gone, she returned to work. And, in truth, she had in those few seconds died for ever to this world and its works.</p> @@ -5178,32 +5145,32 @@ was no fear of a miscarriage. And in the meantime, while the tyranny of life lasted, she must work--work to the end.</p> <p class="normal">For on her work, practically, those others lived. In all the town no -hands could spin a finer thread than old Khulâsa Khânum's. The very +hands could spin a finer thread than old Khulâsa Khânum's. The very spinning jennies of Bombay could not compete with her ceaseless industry; and there still remained noble folk who clung to the spider's-web muslin of the old times. So her hands twirled faster, more deftly. The rest was with God.</p> -<p class="normal">Aftâba Khânum, on the contrary, had decided for the world; not, as +<p class="normal">Aftâba Khânum, on the contrary, had decided for the world; not, as Lateefa had done, for the world as it was in these latter days, but for the world as it ought to be, as it used to be. She had a very different -strain in her from those other two; from Khulâsa in her spirituality -Lateefa in her emotionality. Aftâba, even when things were at their +strain in her from those other two; from Khulâsa in her spirituality +Lateefa in her emotionality. Aftâba, even when things were at their worst, smiled, consoling herself and the roof generally with some unexpected and perhaps extravagant scrap of amusement. A mouthful of pillau concocted out of nothing to season a dry bread dinner, a ridiculous toy made out of rubbish, whereat all laughed. Courtier-born, she loved even the old etiquettes by instinct, while her keen wit could find a clue of an intrigue as deftly as her fingers could disentangle -Khulâsa's cobwebs. And, of all three, she kept in closer touch with a +Khulâsa's cobwebs. And, of all three, she kept in closer touch with a world with which she had not quarrelled, despite its injustice towards -her. There was, indeed, a certain Uncle Chirâgh who still came to see +her. There was, indeed, a certain Uncle Chirâgh who still came to see her, and her only, once or twice a year. A blue-beard dodderer, with a twinkling eye, and a still mellow voice, who sometimes brought quails -with him, and spices, so that Aftâba might regale him with one of her +with him, and spices, so that Aftâba might regale him with one of her best curries; for she was a great cook.</p> -<p class="normal">So the spur of Jewuni's retailed insult came as a challenge to Aftâba's +<p class="normal">So the spur of Jewuni's retailed insult came as a challenge to Aftâba's sense of propriety. The world might be diseased by novelty, but the foundations were sure. She had been a fool all these years to acquiesce in impersonal petitions with purposeless stamps to them, instead of @@ -5215,14 +5182,14 @@ letters. Quaint, old-world informations to the reader, that the bearer, Futteh, or Iman, or Hassan, was such and such a worthy person--a gold-spangled record of thanks for service in the Mutiny--the intimation of one Rissildar Tez Khan's death in action; which latter -had indeed been the cause of Aftâba's loneliness. Even (curious +had indeed been the cause of Aftâba's loneliness. Even (curious survival of friendly days gone, never to return) a few English words, in sprawling, irresponsible, boyish handwriting, to say that the self-same Tez Khan knew the whereabouts of every living creature fit to shoot in the whole countryside!</p> <p class="normal">But Jewuni had scorned the suggestion of sending these to the bigwig -with, say, a basket of Aftâba's famous pumpkin preserve, since, alas, +with, say, a basket of Aftâba's famous pumpkin preserve, since, alas, oranges stuffed with rupees were out of the question. Indeed, she had said succinctly:</p> @@ -5230,12 +5197,12 @@ said succinctly:</p> will not. For, see, they are not even stamped, and without stamps is no justice possible."</p> -<p class="normal">Even then old Aftâba had felt, with dim obstinacy, that it was not law +<p class="normal">Even then old Aftâba had felt, with dim obstinacy, that it was not law or justice she sought: it was favour! Favour such as the great had to give in a well-ordered world!</p> <p class="normal">And so she, in her turn, came back to the limitations of her life with -a decision. Uncle Chirâgh had told her but a week or two before--as +a decision. Uncle Chirâgh had told her but a week or two before--as luck would have it!--that the whole town was to be in an uproar the very next day over the unveiling of a statue of Malika Victoria. The anniversary of a great day in the heroic annals of the Defence of the @@ -5246,10 +5213,10 @@ the Queen herself, while the statue would be covered with offerings. Could anything be more opportune for the decorous presentation of a retaining fee?</p> -<p class="normal">So next day, while Lateefa Khânum stitched, repenting not at all yet, -still with a flutter of her heart, and Khulâsa Khânum, with an odd +<p class="normal">So next day, while Lateefa Khânum stitched, repenting not at all yet, +still with a flutter of her heart, and Khulâsa Khânum, with an odd flutter at her heart also, which kept the colour even from her lips, -worked and prayed, Aftâba used the privacy of a tiny kitchen for the +worked and prayed, Aftâba used the privacy of a tiny kitchen for the preparation of other things than a scanty dinner of herbs. It meant the loss of her only silver bangle, sold on the sly through the market woman who came every morning. It was quite the most valuable thing in @@ -5261,25 +5228,25 @@ douceur which would surely ensure its due delivery.</p> <p class="normal">All this took time, and was tiring, to boot; so it was nigh sunset when, after a sleep which had taken her almost unawares in the little -cook room, Aftâba came out again to the limited life on the roof. As +cook room, Aftâba came out again to the limited life on the roof. As she did so, the familiar tentative cough of Shamira the <i>bhisti</i> on his rounds, accompanied by the squelching of his water-skin, made her step back into the screening wall.</p> <p class="normal">"<i>Bismillah!</i>" she said, wondering not to hear the familiar greeting. But old Shamira was staring helplessly at something he had never seen -before. It was old Khulâsa Khânum.</p> +before. It was old Khulâsa Khânum.</p> -<p class="normal">"She must be dead," he said, simply, to Aftâba's horrified disbelief. +<p class="normal">"She must be dead," he said, simply, to Aftâba's horrified disbelief. "See! She sits with face unveiled."</p> <p class="normal">And she was dead. Her retaining fee had brought justice swiftly. And Lateefa?</p> -<p class="normal">Aftâba, when she realised the emptiness of the roof save for herself +<p class="normal">Aftâba, when she realised the emptiness of the roof save for herself and the dead woman, wondered if it was the sight of one who belonged to it slipping downstairs from its virtue that, by its terrible -confirmation of wantonness, had sent Khulâsa to seek to a higher +confirmation of wantonness, had sent Khulâsa to seek to a higher tribunal.</p> <p class="normal">As for herself!</p> @@ -5297,8 +5264,8 @@ brave defenders, and set their stars of glory in high heaven.</p> they went, typical, so far, of the hands that sent them on their mission. And then?</p> -<p class="normal">Then old Aftâba stepped down from her vain vantage, and creeping back -to where Khulâsa lay waiting the dawn, put her head down beside hers +<p class="normal">Then old Aftâba stepped down from her vain vantage, and creeping back +to where Khulâsa lay waiting the dawn, put her head down beside hers and wept.</p> <p class="normal">For the stars had fallen, but the dead woman's retaining fee had @@ -5497,18 +5464,18 @@ knew, of all the officers of the regiment who had escaped the massacre on the parade ground? How had he been saved? She scarcely knew. She remembered his running back like a hare--yes! he, the bravest of men--all bleeding and fainting, to gasp some words of almost hopeless -directions for her safety. And then old Imân Khân--yes! it had been +directions for her safety. And then old Imân Khân--yes! it had been he--faithful old servant! Why had she not remembered before? For there he was, his bald head bereft of its concealing turban, keeping watch and ward at the door.</p> -<p class="normal">What a ruffian he looked, so--poor, faithful Imân Khân!</p> +<p class="normal">What a ruffian he looked, so--poor, faithful Imân Khân!</p> <p class="normal">Hush! a voice from outside, a reply from the bald-headed watcher within. More questions, more replies, both growing in urgency in appeal. Then a pause and retreating footsteps.</p> -<p class="normal">"What is it, Imân Khân?" she questioned dully, as the old man stole +<p class="normal">"What is it, Imân Khân?" she questioned dully, as the old man stole over to her and laid his forehead in the dust.</p> <p class="normal">"What this slave has feared, has waited for all the hours," he @@ -5531,7 +5498,7 @@ as the door opened wide, letting in the sunlight and showing a group of tense womanhood, a bed whereon, huddled up asleep or awake, lay the children deftly disposed to hide all betraying contours.</p> -<p class="normal">"Huzoor! salaam!" said the tall <i>subahdâr</i>, drawing himself up to +<p class="normal">"Huzoor! salaam!" said the tall <i>subahdâr</i>, drawing himself up to attention, and the search party of four followed suit.</p> <p class="normal">How long that minute seemed. How interminable the sunlight. Ah! would @@ -5555,7 +5522,7 @@ slowly, and taking her baby from the bed, moved away, rocking it in her arms almost fiercely. So, in the grim intensity of those first seconds, the sound of further parley at the door escaped them.</p> -<p class="normal">Then, in the ensuing pause, old Imân Khân's bald head was in the dust +<p class="normal">Then, in the ensuing pause, old Imân Khân's bald head was in the dust once more, his voice, scarce audible, seemed to fill the room.</p> <p class="normal">"Huzoor! They have seen. He must go forth or they will kill--all."</p> @@ -5700,7 +5667,7 @@ teeth which it displayed--teeth which were square, dicelike blocks of ivory, unvarying in size, strung together en a bold gold wire, and hung--Heaven knows how--to his toothless gums.</p> -<p class="normal">"Sit down, <i>meeân-jee</i>," said the census enumerator, politely, for the +<p class="normal">"Sit down, <i>meeân-jee</i>," said the census enumerator, politely, for the heart-whole artificiality of the smile admitted of no breach of manners. "We seek but honourable names and ages."</p> @@ -5717,7 +5684,7 @@ cap set back from his high, narrow forehead showed a glint here and there of frayed old worn gold thread.</p> <p class="normal">"His name is Chiragh Shah," yawned the spokesman, adding in a bawl, -"How old art thou, dâdâ--the Sirkar is asking?"</p> +"How old art thou, dâdâ--the Sirkar is asking?"</p> <p class="normal">There was a little pause, and wintry though the sun was, its shine seemed to filter straight through all things, denying a visible shadow @@ -5731,7 +5698,7 @@ such politeness, so he appealed mutely to the spokesman, who replied by roundabout assertion:</p> <p class="normal">"He was of knowledgeable years when the city fell--wast thou not, -dâdâ?" The explanatory shout brought keen intelligence to the hearer.</p> +dâdâ?" The explanatory shout brought keen intelligence to the hearer.</p> <p class="normal">"Aye! it was from the palace bastion I watched the English. Half the city watched them that 14th of September...." Here once more voice and @@ -5846,7 +5813,7 @@ Chiragh Shah's set smile had changed into a real one. The slack muscles of his neck stiffened; he flung out his right hand airily.</p> <p class="normal">"Hush!" said the two smallest boys on the roof in sudden interest; -"dâdâ is going to talk."</p> +"dâdâ is going to talk."</p> <p class="normal">He was.</p> @@ -5859,7 +5826,7 @@ lie--to count as a real lie."</p> <p class="normal">He paused, one of the boys had crept round to him and now laid a compelling hand of entreaty on the old man.</p> -<p class="normal">"Tell us of it, dâdâ."</p> +<p class="normal">"Tell us of it, dâdâ."</p> <p class="normal">The spokesman looked at the enumerator as if for orders.</p> @@ -5984,7 +5951,7 @@ fluttering his dictionary from one synonym to another, suggested sycophant; that was, he explained, one who flatters and lies for personal profit.</p> -<p class="normal">"Profit!" echoed the voice. "Small profit dâdâ gained. Was not the +<p class="normal">"Profit!" echoed the voice. "Small profit dâdâ gained. Was not the Prince killed with his brothers next day by Hudson Sahib; so there was no one left even to reward the old man?"</p> @@ -5994,7 +5961,7 @@ the dilemma.</p> <p class="normal">"And there is gain, and gain," admitted the spokesman, combining new and old, east and west.</p> -<p class="normal">"Hush!" said one of the two small boys again; "dâdâ is going to +<p class="normal">"Hush!" said one of the two small boys again; "dâdâ is going to talk--he may know----"</p> <p class="normal">So once more the old voice rose in unconscious apology for the @@ -6047,9 +6014,9 @@ Shah's profession as was possible in a census schedule.</p> <h2><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">A MAIDEN'S PRAYER</a></h2> <br> -<p class="normal">"That is over! Thanks to Kâli Ma!" sighed Ramabhai, fanning herself +<p class="normal">"That is over! Thanks to Kâli Ma!" sighed Ramabhai, fanning herself vigorously as the last man shambled, a trifle sheepishly, from the -inner apartment. She--was a stoutish Bengâli lady, with red +inner apartment. She--was a stoutish Bengâli lady, with red betel--stained lips and smooth bandeaux of shiny black hair. Good-looking, good-natured, at the moment distinctly excited as she went on garrulously. "Muniya! down with the curtain, there is no @@ -6075,7 +6042,7 @@ getting of a trousseau; yet one must have meats at a wedding feast, if one in Sakta; and the bridegroom's folk are strict. As for clothes, I tell you, sisters, that 'boycotts' is well enough to play with every day, but when it comes to weddings and tinsel, 'tis a different matter. -Kâli Ma! what a price for <i>kulabatoon</i>! Parbutti! an thou canst not +Kâli Ma! what a price for <i>kulabatoon</i>! Parbutti! an thou canst not remember that thou hast on thee four hundred rupees worth of Benares <i>khim-kob</i>, go put on the old Manchester. Thank Heaven!' Boycotts' is not so old yet, but one has stores left to come and go upon! Yea! Yea! @@ -6100,7 +6067,7 @@ triumphantly. "Saw you ever such a saint? He who gets my Parbutti is certain of salvation."</p> <p class="normal">Parbutti sate silent. She did not even blush, though that is allowed to -a Bengâli bride. But for all her outward calm she was inwardly +a Bengâli bride. But for all her outward calm she was inwardly quivering all over; and small wonder if she was! After long years spent, not like an English girl, in ignorance and innocence of matrimony, but in matter-of-fact expectation of it, that one great @@ -6112,7 +6079,7 @@ a professional husband: that is, to a Kulin who already possesses a score or two of wives. A suitable student had, however, been found at last, and the feminine portion of the household had plunged hysterically into all the suggestive ceremonials of a high-class -Bengâli marriage. Even the widows let their blighted fancies dwell on +Bengâli marriage. Even the widows let their blighted fancies dwell on kisses and blisses; so, feeling vicariously the sensuous pleasures of bridedom, vied with happier women in drugging the girl with sweets and scents, and secret whisperings of secret delights. The whole atmosphere @@ -6144,7 +6111,7 @@ voice had risen clear in denunciation; the childish soul had given its consent to every wish; for Parbutti was nothing if not serious.</p> <p class="normal">The very cantrips of the Sakta cult to which her parents--and some -fifty millions of other Bengâlis--belonged, were to her so many +fifty millions of other Bengâlis--belonged, were to her so many indispensable realities.</p> <p class="normal">She, as an unmarried girl, ate her plateful of sacrificial meat @@ -6189,7 +6156,7 @@ enhancing of emotions with which she was surrounded.</p> <p class="normal">She felt it a relief when, the guests having retired for some sleep, she was free to perform her daily devotion at the shrine downstairs.</p> -<p class="normal">It was a quaint place, this shrine dedicated to Mai Kâli in her +<p class="normal">It was a quaint place, this shrine dedicated to Mai Kâli in her terrific form--in other words, to Our Lady of Pain--the Woman ever in travail of mind and body--the Ewig Weiblichkeit which is never satisfied. It formed on the river side of the house, a sort of low @@ -6198,7 +6165,7 @@ to it from the lowest storey of the house, public in that it opened on to some bathing steps. But few people came thither except on certain festivals; so Parbutti, still in her wedding finery, stole down to it confidently. She liked the small, dim, arched chamber where you could -only see Mai Kâli as a blotch of crimson in her dark niche. And as you +only see Mai Kâli as a blotch of crimson in her dark niche. And as you crept down the stairs behind that niche, and looked through the crisscross iron bars that filled up the arch, "She" showed nothing but a black shadow against the brilliance beyond. Parbutti used often to @@ -6211,21 +6178,21 @@ began to smear the floor from a goglet of red paint she had brought with her. And as she did so she chanted:</p> <div class="poem1"> -<p class="i6">"Om! Om! Kâli Ma!--<br> +<p class="i6">"Om! Om! Kâli Ma!--<br> Ruler, Thou, of blackest night--<br> Dark, Dark, not a Star--<br> -In Thy Heaven Kâli Ma!--<br> +In Thy Heaven Kâli Ma!--<br> Thou who lovest the flesh of man--<br> By this blood I pray thee ban--<br> Aliens in Hindustan--<br> -Kill them, Kâli Ma!--<br> +Kill them, Kâli Ma!--<br> Drink their blood and eat their flesh--<br> Thou shalt have it fresh and fresh--<br> Lo! devour it! lick thy lips--<br> Flesh in lumps and blood in sips--<br> Stain thyself with sacred red--<br> Make them lifeless, dead! dead! dead!<br> -Blessed Kâli Ma!<br> +Blessed Kâli Ma!<br> Ho-o-m! 'Phut!"</p> </div> @@ -6239,7 +6206,7 @@ schoolboy brother, Govinda, to say every evening. For many reasons; chiefly, it is to be feared, because someone else, at present nameless, was a class-fellow of the said Govinda's. But everyone knew, that if there was one compelling prayer on earth it was that of a maiden bride; -even Mai Kâli could not resist it. And the petition was a fair one. Who +even Mai Kâli could not resist it. And the petition was a fair one. Who wanted aliens in Hindustani? Not she! Why! their presence made your menkind do unspeakable things, so that life became wearisome with pacifying the gods. Imagine not being able to kiss ...</p> @@ -6259,7 +6226,7 @@ another--middle-sized!</p> find out. So she stood still as a mouse, all ears, praying in her inmost heart it might be the tall one.</p> -<p class="normal">Though they spoke in Bengâli, they used such a plentitude of English +<p class="normal">Though they spoke in Bengâli, they used such a plentitude of English words that it was difficult for her to understand fully what they said. It was not all their fault, as it arose largely from the fact that the ideas they wished to express, being purely Western, had no Eastern @@ -6268,7 +6235,7 @@ talk, as she had been a great favourite of her father's, and till the last year or so, had often sate on his knee as he entertained his friends.</p> -<p class="normal">So she listened patiently to pæans about Liberty, Equality and +<p class="normal">So she listened patiently to pæans about Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, mingled with darkling threats--threats which must destroy all three by depriving some brother of the Liberty of Life or at best of an arm or a leg!</p> @@ -6286,13 +6253,13 @@ think as it likes.</p> <p class="normal">These particular boys were very angry, apparently, because some one of their number had been forced to obey something or someone. It was tyranny. The Mother-land and their religion was outraged. They were all -Bengâli Brahmans; so Kâli worshippers by birth, and of the Sakta cult; +Bengâli Brahmans; so Kâli worshippers by birth, and of the Sakta cult; possibly of the Left-handed or Secret form of that cult. Anyhow they talked big of Force being the one ruling principle by which men could rule, of the true Saktas' or Tantriks' contempt for public opinion, of their determination to show the world that the Tantras had been given by the gods in order to destroy the oppressors of men. So, "<i>Jai</i> -Anarchism! <i>Jai Kâli! Jai Bhairavi! Jai Banda Materam!</i>"</p> +Anarchism! <i>Jai Kâli! Jai Bhairavi! Jai Banda Materam!</i>"</p> <p class="normal">It was a sad farrago of nonsense; Western individualism dished up skilfully by professional agitators in a garb of Eastern mysticism; but @@ -6309,7 +6276,7 @@ mysterious when there was nobody nigh?--here a twinge of compunction shot through her--at least nobody they could know about.</p> <p class="normal">At last, her ears becoming accustomed to the strain, she caught one -sentence: "My father was Mai Kâli's priest here"; so by degrees +sentence: "My father was Mai Kâli's priest here"; so by degrees gathered that there was some secret receptacle somewhere, and that the tall youth wished to hide something.</p> @@ -6319,14 +6286,14 @@ hooded cage such as students often carry about with their pet box, which the boy removed with great care, and then, before Parbutti had grasped what he was doing, he was round at the back of the carven image, kneeling with his back towards her, and fumbling at the gilt -wooden drapery about Mai Kâli's waist; Govinda meanwhile keeping a +wooden drapery about Mai Kâli's waist; Govinda meanwhile keeping a look-out at the door.</p> <p class="normal">How close he was! If she put out a hand she could touch him--she thrilled all over at the thought! Too close at any rate for her to move; besides, she must see what happened.</p> -<p class="normal">Ye gods! The drapery slid up! Mai Kâli was hollow!</p> +<p class="normal">Ye gods! The drapery slid up! Mai Kâli was hollow!</p> <p class="normal">"If aught happens to me," said the nice voice solemnly, "I leave this in thy charge, oh! Govinda Ram, Kulin. Thou art the only other living @@ -6403,7 +6370,7 @@ Govinda, too, the son of the house! What! Those boys--they could not be guilty! It was only the tyranny of the hated police. They could not be mixed up with Anarchists. So said some of the men; but others held their peace and looked sinister, while all the women wept and wailed, -and called on Mai Kâli to avenge the sacrilege. Only Parbutti sate very +and called on Mai Kâli to avenge the sacrilege. Only Parbutti sate very still, very silent. She knew something that the others did not know, but the knowledge only increased her blind resentment, only aggravated her blind despair.</p> @@ -6430,7 +6397,7 @@ of unrest.</p> <p class="normal">Parbutti heard the tale, still calm to outward appearance. She heard women's voices, full of curiosity, tell of the deed of patriotism, as it was called: she heard them wonder what the woman agitator was really -like, and say that Kâli Ma would surely, ere long, rise up in Her Power +like, and say that Kâli Ma would surely, ere long, rise up in Her Power and smite the M'llechas hip and thigh.</p> <p class="normal">And then they looked at her and shook their heads. Neither maid, wife, @@ -6455,12 +6422,12 @@ she rose, and slipped into the room which Ramabhai used as a wardrobe.</p> Benares <i>khim-kob</i> that had cost four hundred rupees, and her arms, her neck, her feet, were hung with golden ornaments.</p> -<p class="normal">They tinkled as she made her way down the steep stone stairs to Kâli's +<p class="normal">They tinkled as she made her way down the steep stone stairs to Kâli's shrine. Dark, and still, and small, it lay, with a faint scent of incense about it; for the previous day had been a festival, and many folk had been to worship there.</p> -<p class="normal">But Kâli--Mai Kâli--would never have better worshipping than Parbutti +<p class="normal">But Kâli--Mai Kâli--would never have better worshipping than Parbutti meant to give her. How the idea had come to the girl's mind who can say; but dimly, out of her confused thoughts had grown the conviction that something must be done. She was the only one, now, who knew the @@ -6469,7 +6436,7 @@ bombs, as he doubtless would have thrown them had he lived; so giving the Great Goddess the Blood for which she craved. Yes! he had meant to do it, for were not the aliens accursed? Had they not killed him?</p> -<p class="normal">She mixed everything up hopelessly; Mai Kâli and the Sacrament of +<p class="normal">She mixed everything up hopelessly; Mai Kâli and the Sacrament of Blood, her own loss and the public good; she felt angry, and weary, and disappointed; she felt that she ought to do something, that she must get Someone stronger than she was on her side, to do what she was @@ -6485,12 +6452,12 @@ more with blood-red, and began her maiden's prayer--the prayer that is infallible!</p> <div class="poem2"> -<p class="i6">"Om! Om! Kâli Ma!--<br> +<p class="i6">"Om! Om! Kâli Ma!--<br> Dark! Dark! Not a star--<br> -In my Heaven, Kâli Ma!--"</p> +In my Heaven, Kâli Ma!--"</p> </div> -<p class="continue">This time her voice was high and hard, for had not Mai Kâli to be +<p class="continue">This time her voice was high and hard, for had not Mai Kâli to be compelled--yea! even by the greatest of sacrifices?</p> <div class="poem2"> @@ -6509,7 +6476,7 @@ the ground boldly.</p> <p class="normal">There was a faint flash, an instant explosion, a grinding noise as the house rocked to its foundation, then steadied into quiescence.</p> -<p class="normal">But Parbutti had kept her promise to Mai Kâli, and to--<i>him</i>; for the +<p class="normal">But Parbutti had kept her promise to Mai Kâli, and to--<i>him</i>; for the Goddess might have satisfied Her craving for Blood, Her desire for Flesh amid the welter of broken stones and twisted grids, of shattered wood-carving and torn Benares <i>khim-kob</i>, of jewels rent apart and @@ -6836,7 +6803,7 @@ the crowded hall, so that he had to look far back more than once to see that his constables were all in evidence. For a notable agitator on tour had stopped at the little town; and this was a meeting which must be reported upon, since here was no audience composed of peacefully -seditious Bengâli clerks and irresponsible students, but of stalwart +seditious Bengâli clerks and irresponsible students, but of stalwart Jats, discontented over some new, but as yet untried, scheme of irrigation. Now, irrigation stands closer to the heart of a Jat that does wife and children. What! was the Sirkar to deny the land its @@ -7410,7 +7377,7 @@ royally at the canteen afterwards in the manner of Ghurkas when they get chummy with British regiments. It was a quaint sight to see them hob-nobbing together at the further end of the <i>stadium</i>, where there was a duck-pond sort of lake half filled with sacred lotus, blossoming -white and pink. A wood-slab little temple dedicated to Kâli stood +white and pink. A wood-slab little temple dedicated to Kâli stood beside this lake with steps leading down to the water; but nobody seemed to notice its presence, and the very brahman in charge used to come and watch the games with interest; perhaps he thought it @@ -7446,7 +7413,7 @@ captain dealt leniently with his not infrequent lapses from good behaviour. Flanigan was in tremendous form at a sing-song held the night of the football match, and literally brought down the house with his clog accompaniment to a patter song in which he parodied the -feelings of victor and vanquished. Even the priest of Kâli, who, as +feelings of victor and vanquished. Even the priest of Kâli, who, as usual, viewed the performance from a distance, was reported to have observed that the energetic and active Goddess herself could not have danced with greater vigour upon the prostrate body of Shiv-<i>jee</i>!</p> @@ -7720,7 +7687,7 @@ nothing, for Flanigan had been as sober as a judge since I found him.</p> <br> <p class="normal">"Rex will get on all right," said Muriel Alexander pettishly, "you know -quite well, Horace, that so long as he has old Bisvâs he wants nothing +quite well, Horace, that so long as he has old Bisvâs he wants nothing else. Look at him now! He is quite happy, and the old man would die rather than let any harm happen to the child."</p> @@ -7758,7 +7725,7 @@ obedient, little chap enough; obedient because he was reasonable.</p> <p class="normal">"What's that you've got on your head?" queried his father irritably.</p> -<p class="normal">"It's my c'wown," replied Rex cheerfully. "Bisvâs cut it out for me; +<p class="normal">"It's my c'wown," replied Rex cheerfully. "Bisvâs cut it out for me; and he's goin' to put b'wown paper to make it 'weal stiff--c'wowns onghter be stiff, 'weal stiff, oughtn't they? an' he's going to put things on it like the pictures in the papers, an' then I shall be a @@ -7773,7 +7740,7 @@ for progress remained rather a mystery to some people.</p> <p class="normal">"And what were you doing," he continued.</p> -<p class="normal">"I wasn't doin' nothin' except be king," replied the child; "but Bisvâs +<p class="normal">"I wasn't doin' nothin' except be king," replied the child; "but Bisvâs was doin' '<i>durshan</i>.' What is a '<i>durshan</i>,' daddy, 'weally?"</p> <p class="normal">The childish forehead was all puckered beneath its crown, and Rex's @@ -7782,8 +7749,8 @@ hesitated.</p> <p class="normal">"Sight," he began, "ur--appearance--ur--aspect----"</p> -<p class="normal">But Rex shook his head in disapproval. "Bisvâs says it's just for all -the same as seein' God--didn't you, Bisvâs?"</p> +<p class="normal">But Rex shook his head in disapproval. "Bisvâs says it's just for all +the same as seein' God--didn't you, Bisvâs?"</p> <p class="normal">The liquid Urdu to which the little fellow's voice turned, echoed through the sunshine to where the tall old trooper, risen to his full @@ -7795,7 +7762,7 @@ sight of a God. It is a revelation of the Most High."</p> <p class="normal">"Good Lord!" muttered Horace Alexander under his breath, yet with an amused smile. "The child will grow up a feudal serf combined with a feudal lord, if we don't take care, Muriel! He is too much with old -Bisvâs--You'd better take him with you--or--or not go."</p> +Bisvâs--You'd better take him with you--or--or not go."</p> <p class="normal">His wife did not even frown: her position was too assured in the household for her to be even alarmed. "Of course I must go. I @@ -7826,16 +7793,16 @@ better remain, if you think it safe. I shall be very busy----"</p> head; it was a trifle bald.</p> <p class="normal">"You dear old stupid," she said kindly. "You've nothing to do with it. -I wouldn't leave him if it wasn't for old Bisvâs! You and I, Horace, +I wouldn't leave him if it wasn't for old Bisvâs! You and I, Horace, have grown out of--what shall I call it--feudal relations--but we can understand them. You don't suppose I leave the boy in your charge, do -you? No! My dear man! you're not up to it. But Bisvâs! Bisvâs was your +you? No! My dear man! you're not up to it. But Bisvâs! Bisvâs was your grandfather's servant when he was a boy, and he swears Rex is the living image of '<i>Jullunder Jullunder baba</i>,' whom, I verily believe, he mixes up with Alexander the Great! It doesn't do the child any harm, though it makes him a bit autocratic now. He'll grow out of being King at school. And really it is a pretty sight to see him with his -bodyguard of those marvellous old dodderers Bisvâs rakes up from the +bodyguard of those marvellous old dodderers Bisvâs rakes up from the bazaar----"</p> <p class="normal">"I've seen them," replied her husband gloomily. "I'd have sent them @@ -7889,17 +7856,17 @@ into the verandah; and then he smiled. "The youngster seems to be enjoying himself, eh!"</p> <p class="normal">Under the <i>sirus</i> trees on the opposite side of the drive were drawn up -five old men, headed by Bisvâs, who stood next something that was more +five old men, headed by Bisvâs, who stood next something that was more like a monkey than a man; for Bhim Singh, even when he had been the most swaggering <i>havildar</i> in a Ghurka regiment, had never been tall, and was now almost incredibly shrunken and old. But his eyes still looked out sharp and bright from his wizened face and his military salute shot out smartly at the sight of the masters.</p> -<p class="normal">"It is all old Bisvâs' fault," excused Rex's father, giving a disturbed +<p class="normal">"It is all old Bisvâs' fault," excused Rex's father, giving a disturbed look at his son and heir, who--with the gilt paper circlet still on his fuzzy head--was apparently drilling the ancient warriors, "I've told my -wife that it's a mistake, but you see, Bisvâs looked after my +wife that it's a mistake, but you see, Bisvâs looked after my grandfather when they were kids together, and so----"</p> <p class="normal">"And so," interrupted John Carruthers with a chuckle, "you have the @@ -7910,9 +7877,9 @@ thing is the safety of--of everything."</p> <p class="normal">So the two men drove off to the office, to confer secretly with other good men and true, and the child, with the gold circlet on his fuzzy hair, stood in the half shade, half shine of the <i>sirus</i> trees, and -dressed his army autocratically. And the old warriors--there was Bisvâs +dressed his army autocratically. And the old warriors--there was Bisvâs who had fought at Sobraon, and Bhim Singh who had fought everywhere -indiscriminately for sheer love of fighting, and old Imân, the hair of +indiscriminately for sheer love of fighting, and old Imân, the hair of whose body still stood on end as he told tales of how he had waged war for the Sirkar against his own brothers in Mutiny time, and Pir Khan, Yusufzai, who still talked of <i>Nikalseyn sahib</i> as if he were not dead, @@ -7922,7 +7889,7 @@ that he had not been at both sieges of Bhurtpore--these all obeyed the child's orders, and nodded and winked and swore that he was the living spit and image of "<i>Gineral Jullunder Jullunder Sahib Bahadur</i>," who had led them to victory again and again. The smallest cavalry officer -in <i>Jân Kampâni's</i> army; but the bravest and the best loved!</p> +in <i>Jân Kampâni's</i> army; but the bravest and the best loved!</p> <br> <h3>II</h3> @@ -7983,7 +7950,7 @@ interrupted Horace Alexander.</p> <p class="normal">"That wouldn't matter, provided <i>nobody knew</i>," came the quick reply. "And nobody need know--except, of course, the railway bosses. Just look -at it on the map. Points changed at Barâwal Junction--then straight +at it on the map. Points changed at Barâwal Junction--then straight away, past us, to the northern branch, and so back a bit--only a bit--to the main line again. It wouldn't delay them half an hour, if that----"</p> @@ -8045,7 +8012,7 @@ confidential box.</p> <p class="normal">"But I meant <i>here</i>, Daddy," persisted the child.</p> <p class="normal">"Here?" echoed his father carelessly, "Oh! here! Yes! You and old -Bisvâs can amuse yourselves with doing <i>durshan</i> as much as you like. +Bisvâs can amuse yourselves with doing <i>durshan</i> as much as you like. Now good-night--and--and be sure to say your prayers, Rex." He stooped down to kiss the child, and as he did so, "<i>Rex Imp</i>" in red with the <i>et</i> in black, caught his eye. "Rex, Imp," he muttered, "not a bad name @@ -8107,7 +8074,7 @@ seen--'em--before--I--I----"</p> <p class="normal">Horace Alexander turned pale as ashes. "Put it down, Rex. Gently--gently--but--but----"</p> -<p class="normal">Old Bisvâs salaamed down to the ground. "The Presence need not fear. +<p class="normal">Old Bisvâs salaamed down to the ground. "The Presence need not fear. The child did not touch it, of course, till the poisonous thing had been emptied of its venom."</p> @@ -8117,9 +8084,9 @@ been emptied of its venom."</p> voice, "Look here, sir! This had better be kept dark; for the present, anyhow."</p> -<p class="normal">Old Imân, who understood a little English, nodded approvingly. +<p class="normal">Old Imân, who understood a little English, nodded approvingly. "Without doubt it is a concealed word," he said suavely. "And -so I told Bisvâs. Therefore none know of it save those here present. +so I told Bisvâs. Therefore none know of it save those here present. So we had to do often in Mutiny time when news meant much; and <i>Gineral-Jullunder-Jullunder-sahib-bahadur</i> would say----"</p> @@ -8136,10 +8103,10 @@ table.</p> <p class="normal">"Paris," he said laconically, "one of the latest sort. What did I tell you, sir--anarchy isn't a thing of districts."</p> -<p class="normal">"Go on, Bisvâs!" replied Horace Alexander evasively.</p> +<p class="normal">"Go on, Bisvâs!" replied Horace Alexander evasively.</p> <p class="normal">"As I was saying, Huzoor, when the Huzoor left to do <i>durshan</i> last -night, <i>Jullunder Baba</i> came to me and said, 'Bisvâs! get ready to go +night, <i>Jullunder Baba</i> came to me and said, 'Bisvâs! get ready to go and do <i>durshan</i> likewise; my father said I might----'"</p> <p class="normal">"And you did, daddy, didn't you?" broke in the little lad's voice @@ -8167,13 +8134,13 @@ throat and prevented his speaking clearly.</p> <p class="normal">"We carried the <i>chota sahib</i> by turns, seeing there might have been serpents in the way," continued the old man, "and made for the railway, since that was all the direction <i>Jullunder Baba</i> would give. Then -Imân, remembering the old tomb--the Huzoor will remember it also, since +Imân, remembering the old tomb--the Huzoor will remember it also, since there was a case about it in his court----"</p> -<p class="normal">"And the Huzoor," broke in Imân, "decided virtuously, that being the +<p class="normal">"And the Huzoor," broke in Imân, "decided virtuously, that being the tomb of a saint, it should stand, and the railway move----"</p> -<p class="normal">"Remembering it," went on old Bisvâs, "he said, 'It would give shelter +<p class="normal">"Remembering it," went on old Bisvâs, "he said, 'It would give shelter to the child.' So thither we went, and there the <i>chota sahib</i>, having remembered he had not said his prayers as he had promised the Huzoor, said them. He knelt, Huzoor, on that slab, lest the floor should be @@ -8185,8 +8152,8 @@ old Mahomedan tomb rearing its half-ruined dome so close to the railway--the white-faced child praying God to bless everyone he loved, those dark faces standing round reverently.</p> -<p class="normal">"Lo!" continued old Bisvâs gently, "I think the saint down below must -have heard--Imân says he did--for what followed was of no man's making. +<p class="normal">"Lo!" continued old Bisvâs gently, "I think the saint down below must +have heard--Imân says he did--for what followed was of no man's making. We were all drowsing in the tomb--'tis a good five miles from the Huzoor's bungalow to the railway, for all it goes so near to the city--when <i>Baba-jee</i>--he hath the ears of a mouse still--said 'Hist!'</p> @@ -8217,11 +8184,11 @@ the line--that thing--it had a string to it that lay on the rail. And--and--Huzoor! my memory fails me--There was the child, and there was the train!--I had to decide----</p> -<p class="normal">"Then I cried to Imân, 'Quick! the <i>chota sahib</i>! Run far with +<p class="normal">"Then I cried to Imân, 'Quick! the <i>chota sahib</i>! Run far with him--far!--far!' So when that was done I up with my sword and I smote the string that lay on the rail!----" he paused, then went on--</p> -<p class="normal">"So that was done also; and Imân brought the child back, and the train +<p class="normal">"So that was done also; and Imân brought the child back, and the train sped past, and we all stood in a row and did <i>durshan</i>; though I know not if it was <i>durshan</i> or not, since, mayhap, it was not the Royal train after all."</p> @@ -8240,7 +8207,7 @@ ancient warrior went on--</p> <p class="normal">"Then there was nothing to do, Huzoor, save to come home and bring the poisonous thing with us. I was for sending the <i>chota sahib</i> on in -Imân's care and carrying the thing myself; but <i>Jullunder Baba</i> would +Imân's care and carrying the thing myself; but <i>Jullunder Baba</i> would not go without it. So Bhim and the Father took the devil's box apart lest it should kill everyone, and with Bhim's <i>kukri</i> they prized it open"--a faint sigh came from the Europeans--"and spilt the witches' @@ -8263,7 +8230,7 @@ it; an' they'll be orful pleased--won't you, Army?"</p> <p class="normal">"Huzoor!" The old arms were stiff in salute, and then the oldest voice -struck up quaveringly. "Lo! <i>sahibân</i>! it is enough for us that we have +struck up quaveringly. "Lo! <i>sahibân</i>! it is enough for us that we have done <i>durshan</i> ere death. It brings contentment, even though both sieges of Bhurtpore is denied to some of us."</p> @@ -8311,7 +8278,7 @@ made 'im Conservancy Inspector down Bandelkhand way. It wasn't the place for 'im. They was wot they call Suckties, sir, down there, though there was precious little o' the babe an' sucklin' about <i>their</i> methods, but contrariwise, battle an' murder an' sudden death. They was -for ever killin' goats an' kids, an' smearin' ole Mother Kâli with +for ever killin' goats an' kids, an' smearin' ole Mother Kâli with blood--never knew such chaps for paintin' the town red! So the <i>Khush-boo sahib</i>,<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a> as they call him in their topsy turvey way, since it weren't perfoom but real stinks down by them temple steps, couldn't @@ -8320,7 +8287,7 @@ never forget the sights he see in Mutiny time. When 'e was in 'is cups, smallest man as ever I see, an' all wrinkled like an' wizened; just for all the world the same as the monkeys as used to come down in crowds on feast days, an' leg it with the orferings folk used to bring to ole -Mother Kâli. That's 'ow 'Oneyman come on reduction, as the sayin' is; +Mother Kâli. That's 'ow 'Oneyman come on reduction, as the sayin' is; tho', pore chap, them as look on 'is face might a-seen that 'e wasn't for long; not even if they'd made 'im Guv'ner-General-in-Council; for what with--savin' your presence, sir--a galloping consumption, both o' @@ -8388,15 +8355,15 @@ bottlewasher Brahman, 'im as they called the Gossoon--though w'y, I can't say, since the only gossoon I ever 'eard tell on was a Hirish gentleman in the Colleen Bawn--was dead on leeches--'e was a real blood leech 'imself, if you like--but, though 'e kep 'is eye on them all the -time 'e was palavering away about Mai Kâli an' Shiv-<i>jee</i>, the ole buck +time 'e was palavering away about Mai Kâli an' Shiv-<i>jee</i>, the ole buck monkey was too much for 'im, an' 'e 'ad nothin' but the marocky leather trimmings as come floatin' down peaceful-like on 'is bald 'ead and big stummick as he stud dancin' with rage while <i>bunder-jee</i> was eatin' the my golly.</p> <p class="normal">"That, as I said, done the trick. There was a gold-printed letter come -from Mai Kâli ter say she was lonesome away in the jungles without 'er -Hunoomân--or some such rot. Then 'is Honner the bigwig was coming, an' +from Mai Kâli ter say she was lonesome away in the jungles without 'er +Hunoomân--or some such rot. Then 'is Honner the bigwig was coming, an' so on, an' so on. It ain't 'ard to do that sort o' thing, sir, w'en you don't have no Ten Commandments an' everyone is so accustomed to lying that it don't strike 'em as odd.</p> @@ -8422,7 +8389,7 @@ train was due--for 'e was comin' that night.</p> <p class="normal">"'Wot's up?' I sings out to the station-master, with an oath.</p> <p class="normal">"'E laughed. 'Two truck load caged monkeys, zoological specimens rate, -attendant priests in charge, consigned to Mai Kâli. We'll hitch 'em on +attendant priests in charge, consigned to Mai Kâli. We'll hitch 'em on behind in no time. Superintendent's orders.'</p> <p class="normal">"Well, sir! it was no use swearin'; so they was 'itched up, and I went @@ -8472,7 +8439,7 @@ a-interfering--everyone's got to obey my horders, and mine honly.'</p> majestic about the little man in 'is pyjamas, pore chap.</p> <p class="normal">"Lordy, sir! you should 'ave 'eard him next with they Suckti Brahmins -as was rubbing their bruises an' calling on Mai Kâli for assistance.</p> +as was rubbing their bruises an' calling on Mai Kâli for assistance.</p> <p class="normal">"'She ain't in it, sonnies, nor the chaps as you bamboozle, neither,' he said, said he. 'It's you as 'ave to make a offerin' yourselves this @@ -8492,7 +8459,7 @@ an' then began the rummiest go you ever see. W'en I was a boy, sir, in quires an' places w'ere they sing, parson use ter make us run through the service so as to get the Amens right up to time--it's 'arder nor runnin' a mail train, though you wouldn't believe it, sir. Well! they -Suckti Brahmans 'ad to do the 'ole caboodle, same as if ole Mother Kâli +Suckti Brahmans 'ad to do the 'ole caboodle, same as if ole Mother Kâli was sitting like a spider with 'er eight red legs an' harms on the top of each sand-truck. For you see, sir, they was standin' fair an' square on the lines, engine's steam up, et cetera. It was a rare sight. The @@ -10229,7 +10196,7 @@ during those strenuous days when meals were oft-deferred. I was entirely dependent, fell sick and had to go to hospital. Not, however, before he had, in kindly Indian fashion, found me a substitute. Everyone who has been in India knows the type of professional cook-room -substitute. They are to be seen sometimes in old dâk bungalows, +substitute. They are to be seen sometimes in old dâk bungalows, survivals still of the patronage of other days when such posts were the recognised superannuation pensions for civilians' servants. And this substitute of mine--I call them scapegoats as a rule, since all the @@ -10252,7 +10219,7 @@ restaurant.</p> <p class="normal">"This slave belongs to a family of cooks," he said calmly, when I questioned him as to where he had learnt to make "<i>Petits Timbales de -foie gras à la Belle Eugénie</i>." "Therefore the wisdom of all the ages +foie gras à la Belle Eugénie</i>." "Therefore the wisdom of all the ages is at his disposal. When a slave's mind is set on serving his master, nothing is impossible."</p> @@ -10311,7 +10278,7 @@ Heaven."</p> <p class="normal">I was throwing off my shooting togs vigorously, and the answer came out of the corner of the tent, as it were, vaguely.</p> -<p class="normal">"So said Firdoos Makâni, the Sainted Babar in Paradise, yet he had to +<p class="normal">"So said Firdoos Makâni, the Sainted Babar in Paradise, yet he had to live a full month on lily leaves, and the Heaven-Nestled One the Emperor Humayon was also--"</p> @@ -10374,8 +10341,8 @@ reported that, overcome with shame at his unpardonable offence in depriving an Earth-Cherished-One of his victuals, he had retired into the wilderness. Whence he never returned.</p> -<p class="normal">My Inspector-General used to bewail the <i>Petits Timbales de foie gras à -la Belle Eugénie</i>. But I have never ceased to wonder. And every time I +<p class="normal">My Inspector-General used to bewail the <i>Petits Timbales de foie gras à +la Belle Eugénie</i>. But I have never ceased to wonder. And every time I go to Delhi I go to the Wonder House and lay a posy on the tombstone of Mahmud, the old Slave of the Court.</p> @@ -10387,7 +10354,7 @@ yet.</p> <h3>FOOTNOTES</h3> <br> -<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: Ganêsh is +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: Ganêsh is the Indian God of Wisdom. He is always portrayed with the head of an elephant.</p> <br> @@ -10408,378 +10375,7 @@ smell.</p> <br> <br> - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mercy of the Lord, by Flora Annie Steel - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERCY OF THE LORD *** - -***** This file should be named 40136-h.htm or 40136-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/1/3/40136/ - -Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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