woy da in ted to pos Cign as who an ་ ་་ deal !uenje* and that if Ing. I det period in dep fisting ild sink at once fi on the dr into the lowest ava fit and pry for the ath16. How I wish now & I 1 Lor, le cuse my cɔnid ace rete ad de gaat tɔ t'e di itteres en mys! nether. I were bitter to r Croy in the Metroa toca to t a king. luft, I ewoke at five o'li k in the magna berea miech, my person with the pos nded for at de kings exp/DSC to fuepoco in king my bair by rulag it ah Ve ril an exulted to sea 7453 S, waving T so jowls I was sei., with a fof I could ot Felp skipping qui dm "We were all ready at last. A small gilt chariot of a tower-like form, made of ivory and decorated with garlands and crowns of flowers, drawn by a pair of milkwhite ponies, and attended by Amazons dressed superbly in green and gold, conveyed me, as the Queen Thèwâdee, to the grand hall where we were to perform. My companions, similarly attended, followed me on foot. His Majesty, the princes, and princesses, surrounded by all the courtiers, were already there. The king and royal family were seated on a raised dais under a tapering golden canopy. O, "The moment the king saw me approach, my ponies led gently forward by Amazons, he rose and, before the whole court of lords and nobles and princes assembled, inquired my name of one of the duennas. This recalled me once more to his memory, for he said aloud, 'Ah! we remember, she is the one who dances so beautifully.' what a moment of triumph that was for me! I felt as if my heart in its wild, ecstatic throbs would burst through its gorgeous fetters of silk and gold. I rose up in my chariot and bowed low before him three times. But, how now!' he exclaimed angrily, looking around; 'where are the nobles who are to lead the ponies? Let those Amazons fall back to the right and left.' In an instant there emerged from the crowd two most distinguished-looking noblemen, dressed in flowing white robes, threaded with gold and sparkling with gems; they took their places beside the ponies on either side of my chariot. One was P'haya* Râtani, the other was a stranger to me. They did homage to me, as if I were a real queen, and stationed themselves at my ponies' heads. "At this moment I was saluted with a burst of music and the curtain fell. P'haya Râtani bent his head close * Duke. |