So she stood radiant as a vision
of Shri, and it appeared that rays encircled her person.
And the Rana, unarmed save for his sword, had the saffron dress
of a bridegroom and the jeweled cap of the Rajput Kings, and
below in the hall were the Princes and Chiefs, clad even as he.
Then, raising her lotus eyes to her lord, the Princess said,-
"Beloved, the time is come, and we have chosen rightly, for this
is the way of honour, and it is but another link forged in the
chain of existence; for until existence itself is ended and
rebirth destroyed, still shall we meet in lives to come and still
be husband and wife. What room then for despair?"
And he answered,-
"This is true. Go first, wife, and I follow. Let not the door
swing to behind thee. But oh, to see thy beauty once more that is
the very speech of Gods with men! Wilt thou surely come again to
me and again be fair?"
And for all answer she smiled upon him, and at his feet performed
the obeisance of the Rajput wife when she departs upon a journey;
and they went out together, the Queen unveiled.
As she passed through the Princes, they lowered their eyes so
that none saw her; but when she stood on the steps of the palace,
the women all turned eagerly toward her like stars about the
moon, and lifting their arms, they began to sing the dirge of the
Rajput women.
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