She now took a chair; my friend the cornet, who evidently knew her well, made her a respectful salaam, and they held a very animated conversation together, of which, from their eyes being directed towards me ever and anon, I guessed myself to be the subject. I was a modest youth in those days, and felt a little embarrassed at the idea of being overhauled and discussed in an “unknown tongue.” The cornet said: “The Begum has been asking about you; she says you look very young; quite a _chokra_ (boy), and have a very _gureeb_ (quiet) look, though, she dares to say, you are a bit of a _nut cut_ (roguish fellow) for all that.” “Pray tell her,” said I, “that she does me too much honour, and that I really want language to express the extent of my obligation. As for the first fault, time doubtless will correct it; with respect to the other, you may say it is an hereditary complaint in our family.” The cornet explained, or tried to explain; the old lady laughed, nodded her head, and said it was “_burra taiz bhat_” (a very smart reply). She now retired to her apartment, after a fresh round of salaaming between her and the cornet. “I thought,” said I, when she had gone, “that it was not usual for native ladies to exhibit themselves in that way.” “Nor is it,” said he, “generally; but age and other circumstances lead to exceptions in this as well as in everything else. Besides,” added he, “though the old lady is both rich and devout, she does not, of course, hold a foremost place in native estimation.” The general, who had left us for a few moments, now returned, and after some little conversation, of which she was the subject, being spoken of in a laudatory strain, “Well, now,” said he, as if he had been revolving the matter deeply, “I don’t know, but I consider that old woman as much my wife as if we had had a page of Hamilton Moore read over to us. My faithful companion for forty years, and the mother of my children!” “But,” said the cornet, “your friend the Padre, you recollect, when he was passing, took dire offence at her making her appearance one day when he was here; do you recollect that, general? You had quite a scene.” The general here emitted a panegyrical effusion touching the whole clerical body, and the scrupulous Padre in particular, which, however, I will not repeat. After tiffin, the general, the cornet, and myself, went out to visit the fort and the neighbourhood, which I had a desire to see; the former, being old and infirm, rode in his _tonjon_ (a sort of chair-palankeen); my friend and I were on horseback.