Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III AHALYA Short of breath, flushed of face, and discomposed in temper, the Ranee Ahalya entered her day-room after the brief interview with Ragunath. As she appeared, a girl, who sat on some cushions at the side of the room, working at a piece of embroidery, rose and bowed, and then asked eagerly: "Did he come?" Ahalya flung herself down on the broad divan that ran across the end of the room under the screened windows. "Yes, he came," she said, petulantly. Then, after a moment's reflection, she added: "I hate him, Neila." " Did he — what did he say ? " asked the handmaid, forgetting her work as she watched her mistress. "I don't know what he said. How should I? I did not think of him. But I think he dishonors the gods. They were all at sacrifice, and he stole away because he does not like Soma. Nor is it good," she added, with a touch of sympathy. " But he is a man, and should have a man's tastes." Ahalya shrugged her shoulders, and the two of them were silent for a few minutes, Neila waitingpatiently for the mystery that she knew her lady would reveal — in time. Presently, indeed, the Ranee began to speak, in a low, reflective tone as if she were merely thinking aloud. " In all those months when my lord and the rest were away, fighting, I have thought many times of Ragunath, who was kind to me at my first coming here. I thought I should be happy when he came again. I wanted him to come. And oh, Neila, thou knowest the days have been long and lonely, and I have been sick for Dhar and for my mother. My lord is very tender of me, and I know that he is good. But he is not young and beautiful to look on. His eyes are not bright nor do his lips smile when he sees me. And Ragunath seemed younger and more in love with life. Last night, when I danced the p...