Come thou and deliver him. I
have sworn that he shall return in thy place."
And from a smaller scroll, the Brahman read this:-
"I am fallen in the snare. Act thou as becomes a Rajputni."
Then that Daughter of the Sun lifted her head, for the thronging
of armed feet was heard in the Council Hall below. From the floor
she caught her veil and veiled herself in haste, and the Brahman
with bowed head followed, while her women mourned aloud. And,
descending, between the folds of the purdah she appeared white
and veiled, and the Brahman beside her, and the eyes of all the
Princes were lowered to her shrouded feet, while the voice they
had not heard fell silvery upon the air, and the echoes of the
high roof repeated it.
"Chief of the Rajputs, what is your counsel?" And he of Marwar
stepped forward, and not rais- ing his eyes above her feet,
answered,-
"Queen, what is thine?"
For the Rajputs have ever heard the voice of their women.
And she said,-
"I counsel that I die and my head be sent to him, that my blood
may quench his desire."
And each talked eagerly with the other, but amid the tumult the
Twice-Born said,-
"This is not good talk.
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