THE SLAVE GIRL OF AGRA
a care, old man, the cleverest schemer sometimes over-reaches himself."
Poor greetings had Gokul Das from Nobo Kumar's wife. To all appearances she had retired from all worldly concerns, and had given herself up to religious rites and devotions.
And yet her new surroundings at Debipur sometimes called back memories of old days, when she had come to this very house as a bride, and lived in it as its mistress. The Palace, the gardens, the temples, were the same, but the warm lights and sunny tints which had brightened her young life were gone, and the shades of evening were closing around. Like many a pious woman in India, the Lady of Debipur calmly awaited the close as a relief from the bonds of this life, and prayed that the next might bring her nearer to heaven.
It was in those early days that she had first seen Gokul Das. She had singled him out for his poverty and his meekness, and he had been grateful to her for her compassionate kindness. Years passed, and Nobo Kumar's wife heard with joy that the humble young man showed gleams of a bright intelligence and was winning the favour of her husband.
They came closer together when Nobo Kumar lost his estate. Gokul Das followed his master like a shadow and became an inmate of his house, and Nobo Kumar's lady no longer veiled herself in his presence. She spoke to him freely every day, and at all times of the day. It was then that she perceived something of his deep schemes and his silent ambitions.
"That man will succeed, my husband," she said, "and will win back our estate."
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