unlikely they would be allowed to be with the little Prince. He
must, however, have some one with him to whom the child was accustomed,
and Roy, being still quite a lad, might not be considered dangerous.
Then his gift of story-telling might make the ladies in the women's
apartments more inclined to have him. Anyhow she must try her best to
secure his stopping with his young master, and to this end she ordered
him some fine clothes and gave him a finely bedizened lute; for since he
came to Kabul they had found out that he could play the _vina_
beautifully.

Thus just before sunsetting, leaving poor Head-nurse and Foster-mother
in floods of tears, while poor little Bija was sobbing her very heart
out, and good dog Tumbu was slowly wagging his tail as his eyes asked
sorrowfully if he might not come, too, she started on her journey, going
round by the Chief Palace on her way.

Now, Dearest-Lady's visits were considered to be an honour, so she had
no difficulty in gaining admittance. And once inside the women's
apartments she simply turned to the first attendant and said curtly that
she had come to see the Heir-to-Empire and say farewell to him;
therefore he must either be brought to her or she must go to him.
Boldness succeeded, as it always does, and she was shown into a room
where she found little Prince Akbar playing contentedly with Down the
cat, who was running about after a ball like a young kitten. She stopped
when she saw Dearest-Lady, and giving an apologetic _miaow_, as who
should say, "I was obliged to amuse him somehow," settled herself down
on the rug and began as usual to purr. Of course Mirak forgot all about
her in his joy at seeing Dearest-Lady and Roy, and it was some time
before the former could ask the attendant how the cat had managed to get
there.

"Highness," said the woman, "it is impossible to keep cats out if they
want to come in. She appeared at the window three times, and three times
I put her downstairs. Then I gave in. It is no use quarrelling with
cats."

Meanwhile notice of Her Highness Dearest-Lady's arrival had reached
Kumran's wife and she hastened to little Akbar's prison room. But once
more Dearest-Lady was bold and took the first word.

"I came to bid the boy farewell, content to trust him to thy kind care,
my niece," she said; "and also to leave with him this Rajput singer, who
has the art of amusing the child--and other folk also. Roy! sing us one
of thy tales, that the Prince