all fitted with divans,
but with low windows and a bright outlook. They could be darkened,
during the heat of the day, by shutters. With the exception of these
windows, the others throughout the house contained no glass, the light
entering through innumerable holes that formed a filigree work in the
thin slabs of stone that filled the orifices.

The grounds round the palace were thickly planted with trees, which
constituted a grove rather than a garden, according to Dick's English
notions. This was, indeed, the great object of the planter, and
numerous fountains added to the effect of the overhanging foliage.

Dick wandered about, delighted. Early as it was, men with water skins
were at work among the clumps of flowers and shrubs, that covered the
ground wherever there was a break among the trees. Here and there were
small pavilions, whose roofs of sculptured stone were supported by
shafts of marble. The foliage of shrubs and trees alike was new to
Dick, and the whole scene delighted him. Half an hour later, his two
cousins joined him.

"We wondered what had become of you," Doast said, "and should not have
found you, if Rajbullub had not told us that he saw you come out here.

"Come in, now. Coffee is ready. We always have coffee the first thing,
except in very hot weather, when we have fruit sherbet. After that we
ride or shoot till the sun gets hot, and then come in to the morning
meal, at ten."

On going in, Dick found that his mother and the ranee were both up,
and they all sat down to what Dick considered a breakfast, consisting
of coffee and a variety of fruit and bread. One or two dishes of meat
were also handed round, but were taken away untouched.

"Now come out to the stables, Dick," the Rajah said. "Anwar, the
officer who commanded the escort, will meet us there. He will be your
instructor."

The stables were large. The horses were fastened to rings along each
side, and were not, as in England, separated from each other by
stalls. A small stone trough, with running water, was fixed against
each wall at a convenient height, and beneath this was a pile of
fodder before each horse.

"This is the one that I have chosen for you," the Rajah said, stopping
before a pretty creature, that possessed a considerable proportion of
Arab blood, as was shown by its small head. "It is very gentle and
well trained, and is very fast. When you have got perfectly at ease
upon it, you shall have something more difficult