se days. Still the populace
were pleased with the little Prince's bearing, and many a hand was
raised to welcome him.

Before they reached the frowning palace, indeed, where Prince Askurry
kept a right royal court as Governor of Kandahar, Head-nurse's mind was
full of the things she intended to insist upon for the honour and
dignity of her small charge. Meanwhile she had to obey the order to take
him at once into Princess Sultanam's apartments. Now Princess Sultanam
was Prince Askurry's wife, and she had a boy of her own who was about
three years older than Baby Akbar, and a little daughter who had just
been born about a month before. So, as she lay among cushions at the
farther end of the long room, with Prince Askurry, who had hurried to
see his wife on his return, beside her, she looked suspiciously at the
child which Head-nurse put down on the Persian carpet as soon as she
came into the room; since though others might carry him to the upstarts
at the farther end, _she_ was not going to do so, when _they_ were
clearly bound to come humbly to the Heir-to-Empire and prostrate
themselves before him!

So there stood Baby Akbar, fair and square, steadying himself by
Head-nurse's petticoats, but for all that looking bold and big and
brave.

Now Princess Sultanam was a kindly foolish woman at heart, much given to
impulses, and the sight of the upstanding little boy made her think
instantly what a fine man he would make, and that brought another
thought which made her sit up delightedly and clap her hands.

"I have it, my lord!" she exclaimed, turning to Prince Askurry. "It is a
grand idea! We will betroth our little Amina to this young master. That
will settle everything and they will be the handsomest couple in the
country!"

Now, strange as this may sound to my readers, Prince Askurry, who was
accustomed to the Indian habit of settling that quite little boys and
girls should marry each other when they grew up, could not help at once
seeing that his wife's suggestion was not such a bad one. It would help
him to keep a hold over the little Heir-to-Empire. If King Humayon
returned it would make him more inclined to forgive, and if he did not,
why! it would prevent cruel brother Kumran from stepping in and getting
all, since as father-in-law to the young king he, Askurry, would be
Regent.

Still, taken aback, he hummed and hawed.

"It would be a long time to wait until they are old enough to marry," he
began.

"Lo