A Prince of Dreamers

bond maiden

hides it from a

y-hearted

ll its loveli

ng gave out multi-scented perfumes of orange and rose, musk, and ambergris; for Auntie Rosebody was in full swing

was commemorated! Pleasurable excitement simmered through the whole women's apartments. For weeks past, preparations for the feast had bee

nion, one of good fortune, one of pleasure. So my brother Jahanbani-jinat Ashyani--on whom be peace--chose pleasure. And he took three plates full of gol

t let the water in?' At first 'Dearest Lady,' out of the gentleness of her heart said no, but afterward she climbed out and sate on the top steps! Ha! la! la! la! It was like the Day of Resurrection! When the w

her abundant gray hair during her vivacious gesticulations--

by right of descent. Her nephew Akbar had it at times also; but the cares of life crept in at others. Not so with Aunt Rosebody. Even her recent pilgrimage to Mekka had

was the misdeeds of her darling grand-nephew, the Heir Appare

dy Hamida Begum, the boy's grandmother, swept i

lady, tears in her voice already. "Say not he hath

is father--is deeply angered. And what wonder, though in truth"--sh

cannot my nephew let folk go to the devil discreetly, and none

suggested Sal?ma

a who, being related in cross-road fashion t

already given up my pilgrimage to the scapegrace, and if that

a icily. "It is sufficient that my grandson has once more b

sing in a corner. Then she took a pinch of scented snuff and removed her spectacles; for Rakiya Begum, as the political w

on composedly, "it is in the bl

d he gave it up! Does he not say in his blessed book of memoirs: 'Being now thirty-nine and having vowed to abandon wine in my fortieth year, I therefore drank to excess.' What would you more? And his reca

took opium," continue

arth of the grave cover the dead, daughter-in-law. W

spectacles on her p

te these habits, were good enough kings. It is the unprecedented abstemiousness of the present Lord of

brought the remembrance that if Sal?m was sick--as he invariably was after a drinking bout--the pile of good dishes which the Benefi

osebody, "what 'Dearest L

a dead woman filled the room. A dead woman who even in life had earned for he

when my marriage----" She broke off and was silent. Elder-Sister-Rose might know the story, might even remember for her memoirs the very words of the pitiful li

ving the boy Hindu medicines--in truth, though I admit my nephew is right in deeming the idolaters fellow mortals, their drugs are detestable--we may

y Hamida proudly. "My son

sonality is a heathenish custom unsanctioned by our Holy Book; but what with his Majesty's divine faith, what with the shaving of be

a loud Sobhan-ullah! which echoed mi

nding outside that it was time for the Beneficent Ladies to take

suggested Lady Hamida gently. "My son h

with a sniff, "but my honourabl

e way in her ghostly

almost within touch of them, and--curving from it in a vast semicircle of which it was the centre--see the packed rows on rows of nobles glittering with jewels awaiting the coming of the King. So entrancing was the sigh

A goodly man, and betrothed, they say, to Ghiass Beg, the Treasurer's daughter--a little w

of Plumpness," "that is Budaoni beside the Makhd?m--O Go

e! He hath his dog with him--the

the King; they say his stomach grows bigger every d

or no stomach, he is the wonder of the age. H

my memory in his history. But wherefore delays the King? The

grandees of the empire ablaze with jewels, multi-coloured as a flowerful parterre--all this needed centralising, seemed incoherent without a figure on the throne. The very curve of waiting elephants--a solid wall of gold trappings encrusted with gems wh

great bla

And see! sweeping round ahead of a scintillat

ng! Th

it was lost in the wild shrieking bellow which seemed to crack the skies as two thou

, with the shining sun, standard of the Rajp?ts on one hand, the glorious green banner of Islam on

eisances of all? He was thinking with a passion of regret in his

y sheen of a rope of pearls, and the dull white gleam of the diamond he always wore i

Begum, charily concealing her pride, "but why doth he not wear a gold

" assented Sal

ent-sodden silks and satins. They formed as it were a masked battery of pure benevolence behind the throne, unseen, but felt; for Akbar gave a glance round to where he knew hi

Aunt Rosebody from her peephole said in an ag

an Khanum! was not more prepared!" replied

rden, she sate clasping little Umm Kulsum's hand m

a queen flying from her enemies, she had first wept at the rough looks of the hastily summone

ndeed, had already sought and found the posy of violets which the King wore half-hidden by the rope of pearls around his neck. She grew the

d, and a sigh of relief rose from behind the lattice as the steel-yard,

ow, was of the

ng and the taut bowstring of the p

everishly, and held her breath as with due deco

aint unevenness in the swing? Wo

as settled by one small hand which flashed through the latticing, and a scarce-h

to level rest, did not smile. He only threw back at the l

most reve

ighings, and the distribution of chicken, and sheep, and goats, one of each for each year of th

remarked, hurriedly fanning herself with the plaited edge of her tinsel-set veil, "but 'twa

th much acerbity, "and if women learn men's tricks they mu

My father--on whom be peace--loved to see his girls--but the

l, only their slow shifting pads showing beneath their fringed war-armour. And as each trio pa

e wise monster passed on shaking its huge head as if to rid himself of an unwelcome burd

s neighing, prancing, curvetting, led by gorgeous grooms waving long yak's-tails. Next the hounds, lean, hungry-looking, pacing beside their keepers

d the scene with wide eyes--the hunting leopards, their cat-like faces shifting and peering, their dog-lik

man

leash was slipped, and a great creature was purring at Akbar's feet like a huge cat and rubbing its back aga

m with dissatisfaction. "The Most Auspicio

ts loving him," spoke up

not love them in return. Come, ladies! All is over save th

Hamida and Auntie Rosebody lingering to disc

row," declared the little lady in a flutter. "W

coldly. "She was not with us either, and, didst see? Th

they do but drink with sugar in their mouth from morn

re, as she entered the arcaded reception room, w

been overtaken again, and in a public place! Why canst thou not be as thy great-grandfather was in

growled Sal?m sulkily. "He came after his cub--e

threading the beads. Thou shalt tell me, boy. Whisper it--What! Siyah Yamin's! And thou new-betrothed! Oh! had but thy father settled thee with a true bride of

Lo! Sal?m thou growest too fat. Wine and women will kill thee, and 'tis well that Birbal-

re long," cried Sal?m savagely. "Ay

? What said he? Come, sweetheart, let me h

fidel interfered with sermons I bid him silence. 'Am I not King?' said I (as I shall be), 'and the Shadow

hter brimmed over, and the whole room giggled

en one of the women guards entered hurriedly, c

tant Akbar stood to make his courtly greeting, then, seeing his mother's pale face light up, he flung his turban with its royal heron's plu

thank the

ere lovingly as if she felt the child's curls s

he good wishes were mor

a little squeeze e

to Aunt Rosebody who stood divided between joy at seeing him, and dr

was I?" she chal

her with im

ext, no other woman could shy so straight. When one ha

body, her face puckering with amusement. "The

fortunate; it r

ficent Ladies, that the son I have forgiven--how many times? sure it comes nigh to the Padré's seventy times se

rd--took heart of grace, and rose above the shelter of the women-folk, who seein

l and strong; but the one all curves

ullenly, when Akbar interrupted

kenness? Go thy way, boy, if thou w

e King's temper, knew that once lost it might

d Akbar sternly. "Did I, son and nephew, even in the hottest hours of youth inure them to s

ome of the younger women sobbed audibly. Only little Auntie Rosebody, with the courage of despair stood l

ook at him--oh! look at him! He is a fat-tailed sheep and thou art a huntin

pealed to the King's sense of humour, a s

whole conduct of affairs upon his own shoulders. At eighteen he had begun to dream. At eighteen his mind was busy with the problem of how to unite a conquered India; how to efface from i

of finality. What use were dreams, even the dreaming of a

Kings." Bah! The woman had lied. The

er. He turned yet once more to his