DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22902#0032
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transparent, that many of those sanguine streams that carried
life through every part of her fair frame were distinctly visible.
A garment of fine white muslin, worked in gold, was thrown
loosely over her body, and collected about the middle with a
rich waistband of Benares-brocade; her flowing ghagree
waved in ample folds about her feet, a thin veil of sky-
blue silk half covered her graceful head ; while her dark
locks hung negligently in jetty curls over her fair forehead
and neck. An unusually large diamond of the purest ray
graced the right side of her head, and seemed like Vesperus
glimmering amongst gathering evening clouds. But amidst
all this luxury—this gay scene of splendour, why sits Souda-
meenee disconsolate ? Her blooming cheek reposes on her
delicate little palm, her elbow rests on a large pillow of
crimson velvet, and her beautiful black eyes, beaming with a
pensive lustre from beneath
" The soft languor of the drooping lid,"
seem fixed with a vacant gaze on the garden adjoining the
house.
The front door of the hall slowly opened, and a maid ser-
vant—a young girl of about twenty—approached her mistress,
and folding her hands together in token of deep reverence, said
in a low voice that Dame Leelavatee awaited her commands.
Soudameenee sat in such an abstracted mood of mind, that
she did not seem to listen to what had been said by her
maid, who, however, stood in the same attitude of respect,
until she happened to catch the eyes of her youthful mistress.
Soudameenee then asked her what she wanted, and the
girl again announced the coming of Leelavatee.
" Let her come in," said the Ameer's daughter, and the
little maid retired.
Soon after, an old woman, who had passed her sixtieth year,
hobbled into Soudameenee's presence, holding a thick Indian
transparent, that many of those sanguine streams that carried
life through every part of her fair frame were distinctly visible.
A garment of fine white muslin, worked in gold, was thrown
loosely over her body, and collected about the middle with a
rich waistband of Benares-brocade; her flowing ghagree
waved in ample folds about her feet, a thin veil of sky-
blue silk half covered her graceful head ; while her dark
locks hung negligently in jetty curls over her fair forehead
and neck. An unusually large diamond of the purest ray
graced the right side of her head, and seemed like Vesperus
glimmering amongst gathering evening clouds. But amidst
all this luxury—this gay scene of splendour, why sits Souda-
meenee disconsolate ? Her blooming cheek reposes on her
delicate little palm, her elbow rests on a large pillow of
crimson velvet, and her beautiful black eyes, beaming with a
pensive lustre from beneath
" The soft languor of the drooping lid,"
seem fixed with a vacant gaze on the garden adjoining the
house.
The front door of the hall slowly opened, and a maid ser-
vant—a young girl of about twenty—approached her mistress,
and folding her hands together in token of deep reverence, said
in a low voice that Dame Leelavatee awaited her commands.
Soudameenee sat in such an abstracted mood of mind, that
she did not seem to listen to what had been said by her
maid, who, however, stood in the same attitude of respect,
until she happened to catch the eyes of her youthful mistress.
Soudameenee then asked her what she wanted, and the
girl again announced the coming of Leelavatee.
" Let her come in," said the Ameer's daughter, and the
little maid retired.
Soon after, an old woman, who had passed her sixtieth year,
hobbled into Soudameenee's presence, holding a thick Indian