THE SLAVE GIRL OF AGRA
the Indian Empire wished to wed the daughter of the Persian adventurer. The wise Akbar disapproved of such an alliance, and by his orders young Mihr-un-Nissa was married to Sher Afghan, a brave and worthy man. Estates and a high appointment in Bengal were bestowed on the happy husband; and Mihr-un-Nissa was to accompany her lord to that distant province to be safely out of Prince Selim's way.
Shortly before her departure for Bengal she had been invited to the Palace to see Rakiya Begum, the eldest Queen of Akbar, and she had consented to give a last interview to Prince Selim.
The attendants left the room and Mihr-un-Nissa remained alone. But the Prince, if he had expected some response to his passion, was disappointed. Mihr-un-Nissa knew the decorum expected of a married lady and the wife of a high officer of State. If she sat outside the purda to receive the Prince she remained closely veiled. And if she did the Prince the favour of speaking to him her words were measured and dignified, and gave no encouragement to the heir-apparent.
"Will this be our last meeting, sweet lady?" asked the disappointed Prince, somewhat chilled by the cold reception.
"There should have been no meeting at all, Prince," calmly answered Mihr-un-Nissa, "for I am a married wife and may not be seen even by the most exalted Prince or Potentate. But Queen Rakiya Begum has been more than a mother to me since my childhood, and her request was a command. And something too," she added in a softer voice, "was due to the claims of our friendship."
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