1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

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A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
GUL BEGUM sat b y the window again – but this time she was not
listless. Her whole attitude denoted alertness, she was listening for her
master’s footsteps. Would he return at all? and if so, what next? She
had seen and heard enough to know the danger he was in. she felt
certain that if it were not already too late, something must be done at
once, if that life that was so dear to her was to be saved.
It was three hours since the Chief Secretary had left his hou se, and
during those three hours her brain had been hard at work continually,
contriving, plotting. Alread y she had laid her plans, and had
commenced her preparations. She had had a long conversation with
Sardaro, had worked upon her feelings, and had persuaded her to coax
their master to let her go and see her mother. She had had a bad dream,
and could not rest, she said. She felt that some misfortune was coming
to their family, and that she must see her mother.
“We will send for your mother to come here, nothing is simpler,” the
old woman had said sympathetically. She had the greatest faith in
dreams and presentiments, and, moreover, she liked Gul Begum in a
way, and would have been glad to have done a good turn for one who
was in such favour with their master.
“Ah, that’s just what I don’t want even to suggested to Agha,” the girl
had pleaded anxiously. “I must go to her. I want to find out by m y own
observation to whom she is talking, and of whom she is making a
confidant. I can only do that b y going to the house m yself. I believe
she is talking too much, and imprudently. Sardaro, do help me. I will
do anything you like if you will help me in this. You can coax Agha.”
“I really don’t see how it is to be managed,” the elder woman had
replied nervously, b ut rather flattered; she did not know she was
thought to have so much influence. “Agha will never listen, and will
only think me a fool for my pains, and you something worse, perhaps,
for wishing to go out. You had much better let me send for your mother
to come here. You can question her closely, and without her suspecting
your object.”
“Then you will not help me,” the girl said, genuine trouble visible in
every feature. “I am indeed friendless! Ah, if I were only rich, I would
offer you anything to do this for me, this one little thing. As it is, I
have nothing worthy of your acceptance. I can only suggest a little gift,
a present so small that it is hardly worthy of your consideration. You
know that gold embroidered shirt front I was making for Agha? Well,
he says he prefers Feringhee (foreign) made shirts, and does not want
it. I was going to have made it into a peran for myself, but if you will
accept it, I shall be proud to see you wear it. I would much rather you
had it, Sardaro, indeed I would.” So intend was the girl in getting what
she wanted, so sure was she that events were about to occur which
would prevent her from ever wanting her gold embroidery more, that