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But of course, before you tell her, you must ask her to promise not to repeat it." Soyera went on the following day. She found that Jeemajee was already, with a lady, in his private room. She waited until the door was opened, and the merchant beckoned her in. "This is the woman who has brought the child up, Mrs. Sankey," he said. "As I have told you, she was his ayah, and has behaved most nobly."
Mother av Hivin! but I made that horse walk, an' we came into the Colonel's compound as the divil wint through Athlone in standin' leps. There was no one there excipt the servints, an' I wint round to the back an' found the girl's ayah. "Ye black brazen Jezebel," sez I, "sellin' your masther's honour for five rupees pack up all the Miss Sahib's kit an' look slippy!
One frightfully hot morning, when she was about nine years old, she awakened feeling very cross, and she became crosser still when she saw that the servant who stood by her bedside was not her Ayah. "Why did you come?" she said to the strange woman. "I will not let you stay. Send my Ayah to me."
There was nothing more to be done. She might send yet again for Major Ralston. But of what avail? He had told her that he could do no more. The little life was slipping swiftly, swiftly, out of her reach. Very soon only the desert emptiness would be left. "The mem-sahib may trust her baba to Hanani," murmured the ayah behind the enveloping veil. "Hanani loves the baba too."
Ayah might not be exactly beautiful, but she was harmonious. Her body was well proportioned, her sari fell in gracious flowing lines, and she moved with dignity. Without knowing why, Tony felt that there was something pleasing to the eye in Ayah. Hannah, on the contrary, was the reverse of graceful; stumpy and heavy-footed, she gave an impression of abrupt terminations.
"Motee is the best lady's ayah in Rangoon," explained Lily with an offhand air, "she understands Miss Sahibs, she will pack and unpack, dress hair and hold her tongue." After giving Motee some directions, unpacking her favourite hats and changing her dress, Sophy went forth in order to explore her new home.
No uninitiated adult of the utmost intelligence ever held an Italian-pattern foil correctly yet nor until he had been pretty carefully shown. Who the devil put him up to the design in the first place, and the method of holding, in the second? Explain yourself, you two-anna marvel," he demanded of the child. "It's jadu black magic." "Ayah lothted a wupee latht night," he replied.
There is the ayah!" he muttered. "Is there no other room?" "No, Risaldar, no other room except through that door. Besides, I would rather stay here! I am afraid of what you may do to that priest if I leave you alone with him!" "Now a murrain on all women, black and white!" swore Mahommed Khan beneath his breath. Then he turned on the priest again, and placed one foot on his stomach.
The climate, too, is as chilling as the manners around her; her heretofore bâbâs are lords to nobody but herself; and so, with one thing and another, she grows home-sick, her heart yearns for her own sunny land, and she is glad sorrowfully glad when at last the announcement is made, that an ayah wants to go back to India with a family. And in India once more, what then?
His wife's deed of endurance, presence of mind, self-control and cool courage is rarer, if not unique. Bearing this in mind, judge of the conduct that led Colonel de Warrenne, distraught, to award her his Cross "For Valour". Here her Ayah divested her of hat, dress, and boots, and helped her into the more easeful tea-gown and satin slippers.
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