ty rags, with a torn blanket thrown over her head. But round her neck she wore three strings of beads, so quaint and curious Kathleen could do nothing but look at them. The beads were a

hape round her slender fingers, she noticed the child's red eyes and colourless cheeks and heard the story of the lost brother. "O children of pigs!" she exclaimed. "To think a wolf

gentle, imaginative Hindu men and women, who have lived all their lives within reach of the formidable beasts that range at will through those forest-glades, grow so afraid that their fear almost changes to reverence. They say they are all God's creatures, mightier and stronger than themselves. They dare not hurt them for the world; and they think when they die they shall be changed into them. They

ine them. They were heirlooms which had been handed down for many generations. The coral and turkois had been worn by her great-grandmother; the cor

no bread anywhere, only chupatties, the thin round cakes which the woman outside was making when they arrived. The

hleen, "may I talk ab

s the quick reply; "fathe

e must soon leave them to enjoy their three months' gipsying among the hills. He trusted that picking flowers and chasing butt

on his mother's lap, and K

w, kept ready for the use of visitors. So as soon as bre

ry door stood wide open, they were not out

illows Bene Madho was unpacking, and all was ready. Going to bed is such a simple affair in India, for nobody undresses as we do in England. Dres

he grass. It was happiness to Kathleen to have her little brother once again, and she devoted herself to the delightful task of making Racy laugh. There was a bird a little bigger than an English s

them carrying scarlet umbrellas over their heads, ornamented with deep gold-fringes. Behind them rode their tutor, an

r. Desborough, who was walkin

he Rana of Nataban, or "the brook of the fore

between both his own and dropped into it something which felt very like a little ball of cobwebs, but was in reality a tiny bag of musk. He then directed his servants to place their trays on the ground at Mr. Desborough's feet. They were a present from his father, the Rana.

ent Kathleen to fetch the jar of English sweets which Bene Madho had bought for her consolation. It was just unpacked, and stood on the tab

as they sat as stately and grave as they could in their saffron-coloured dresses, embroidered belts, and heavy silver bracelets. Hor

hey find him and bring him home?" Her little heart was full. She longed to pour it out to her mother, but her father's words restrained her. Mrs. Desborough looked so ill, so sadly worn, and kissed her so fond

eranda, putting on her gloves. They were black. The youngest boy, Aglar, had never seen a lady's glove before. He watched her intently, as if he thought her hands had suddenly cha

smiled, and held

o afford him infinite delight. So, to amuse him, Mrs. Desborough took off her

ring how he could return the Rana's present, having nothing

tion of a tiny button-hook. The little fellow was in ecstasies. Not so Horace

s much gratified with the gift of an English book on botany, which Mr. Desborough had brought with him, hoping to interest his wife in the lovely plants an

wed his clamour, pointing at Aglar, and declaring, "He is nob

hey really understood English well enough to know what the child was saying. In vain his father frowned. H

azement. No Hindu child is ever permitted to be rough or rude. Kathleen shyly offered Rattam her jar, trying to make up for Racy's naughtiness by behav

ar of losing caste by eating anything

the highest class of Hindus, to whom all the others look up with reverence-is the bug

th the air of a prince, adding, "You must permit me to send you a bird of my own training, to be my vakeel" ("Ambassa

ady before he came. She wished she could ask her ayah how she ought to answer him in Indi; but that wa

y good, rich voice-" He looked to his tutor, per

eebee understand P

, relieved to find his guest'

gh's hands; but when he caught his tutor's eye, he dropped down on the ground by her side, sitting cross-legged, as still

forgot themselves and their grand manners in the wonders of Kathleen's magic top, a

m, Kathy," whispered Mr. Desbor

lt with Bene Madho about the tiffen. She thought he might know better

ruit. Butter Mrs. Desborough could procure in plenty, but the sweetmeats ran wofull

ressed Mrs. Desborough. She always carried a well-filled medicine-chest about with her, for the sake of her own delicate children.

d everything in pairs. He was highly delighted with her doll's tea-cups, as he said "there

sting neighbours rose to depart, w