human
I rescued her myself from violence, he said,
gpt
Let her have her head shaved, and be such as I am; let her live with me, and bathe in cold water before dawn; let her say the name of God on her beads a thousand times an hour during the night; let her do menial service, cried the widow rapidly;
human
It were better if I were dead, she groaned--
gpt
Better if thou wast dead! echoed the widow.
human
Ay, much better. Such as thou art, were better dead than live, in a harlot's guise, to be a disgrace to the faith!
gpt
Nay, peace, sister, said her brother--
human
I will have none of this. While she is with us, she is our guest and daughter, and shall be cared for tenderly. Take her away, Amba, and let her rest. I will see Afzool Khan at the Durbar to-morrow, and inquire if what she says be true; but my heart already tells me it is so.
gpt
Come, she said,
human
I will not harm thee--come. And Tara rose and followed her to an inner room. The old lady had perhaps been afraid of her sister-in-law, or she was softened by Tara's beauty and grief, for, as she closed the door, she sat down and took her to her heart, laying her head on her bosom.
gpt
Thou art a gentle lamb, she said, stroking her head.
human
God help thee, child,