dangling her ear-drops rushes after you with her flaming tongue, then also the bright mingles with the sweet. When the water of the Ganges is lit up by the moon and the foaming crests of waves thrown up by the wind glitter in the moonlight, then the bright mingles with the sweet; and when the sparkling champagne fizzes up and glistens in its crystal glass, then again the bright mingles with the sweet. When the soft south-breeze mingles with the star-lit night, when the dining—fee[1] of a Bramhin is kept in silver on the leaf—plate corner filled with delicate sweets, then also the bright mingles with the sweet. When the spring cuckoo trills away in a flush of joy at the advent of the morning sun, and lastly, when a woman resplendent with jewels sings in the radiance of rows of lights, then also the bright mingles with the sweet.
The bright mingled with the sweet, but none of that mingled with the heart of the Shetths. What mingled with theirs was Gurgan Khan.
The flames of war had now been kindled throughout Bengal. Without waiting for any orders from Calcutta, Mr. Ellis of Patna had attacked the fort there. At first he succeeded in taking it, but the Mussalman forces despatched from Monghyr combining with the Patna garrison soon recovered it for the Nawab. Ellis and the other Englishmen at Patna, who fell into their hands, were taken as prisoners to Monghyr. Both parties were now preparing for war in right earnest. Gurgan Khan was talking with the Shetths on this subject. The dancing and music was a mere blind; neither the Jagatshetths nor Gurgan Khan paid the least attention to it. They were only following the beaten track—
- ↑ Among the Hindus the feeding of a Bramhin is regarded as a meritorious act and it is usually accompanied by a dining-fee.
