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Updated: May 8, 2025
Hold me in your arms tight, lest I die before it is time." And as Barlow pressed the girl to him, fiercely, crushing her almost, she raised her lips to his, and they both drank the long deep draught of love. Then the Gulab drew from his arms and her face was radiant, a soft exultation illumined her eyes. "That is all, Sahib," she said. "Bootea passes now, goes out to kailas in a happy dream.
From the cover of an oleander a slight girlish form rose up and came to the door saying, "It is Bootea, Sahib; do not be angry, there is something to be said." By the arm he led her within and bidding her wait, passed to the bedroom and drew the heavy curtains of the windows. Then he went through the drawing-room and out to the verandah, where the watchman lay asleep on his roped charpoy.
There would be no swaying of that will force developed to the keen flexible unflawed temper of a Damascus blade. That he comes in the garb of my people is consideration for it avoids outrage to their feelings. I am glad to know that the Englay are so considerate." "I came, Swami, because of regard for Bootea for she is like a princess."
Barlow was for keeping the tonga, hoping that perhaps Bootea would change her mind and go on to Chunda, but the girl was firm in her determination to end it all at Mandhatta.
He knew the Brahmins' thesis culled from their Word of God, the Vedas or the Puranas, calculated to make the widow a voluntary, willing suicide. They would tell Bootea that owing to having been evil in former incarnations her sins had been visited upon her husband, had caused his death; that in a former life she had been a snake, or a rat.
Barlow had been following this with half his receptivity, for, though he fought against it, the memory of Bootea gentle, trusting, radiating love, warmth cried out against the bitter unfemininity of the girl who had stabbed his honour and his cleanness.
And Bootea went back to the camp with Ajeet, suffused to silence by the strange thing that had happened, the strange infatuation for it was that that had so suddenly filled her heart for the handsome sahib whose soft, brave eyes had looked through hers into her very soul. Nana Sahib had assumed a gracious manner toward Ajeet Singh when Bootea had been brought to the nautch.
When Bootea came at ten to where Barlow who was now Jaswant Singh paced up and down with the swagger of a Rajput in front of the bunnia's shop, she stood for a little, her eyes searching the crowd for her Sahib. When he laughed, and called softly, "Gulab," her eyes almost wept for joy, for not seeing him at once, a dread that he had gone had chilled her.
"I don't care a damn!" he declared in English, his mind still on the personal trail. Seeing that she, not understanding, had taken the sharp tone as a rebuke, he said, "If I had been alone, Gulab, I'd have been troubled sorely, but perhaps the gods have sent you to help out." "Ah, yes, God pulled our paths together. And if Bootea is but a sacrifice that will be a favour, she is happy."
For a space of a few seconds she did not answer; then she said, and Barlow felt her voice was being held under control by force of will: "I am Bootea, one in the care of Ajeet Singh. That is the present, Sahib, and the past " She touched the iron bracelet on her arm, and looked into Barlow's eyes as if she asked him to bury the past. "Sorry, girl forgive me," he said.
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