“You absurd boy!” interrupted Alicia, “do you think that I would cross that dirty court-yard in white satin slippers?”
“Yes, if it were a very slough!” exclaimed Robin; “if that were the only way of getting into the house. Do you not see,” he added more quietly, “that if you display your jewels you may very well ask the Hindu ladies to show you theirs? And should a black locket appear amongst them, why, you would pounce down upon it like a cat on a mouse!”
“Robins scheme is not so very wild as it seemed at first,” thought Alicia.
“What say you to my plan?” asked the lad.
“That it would be all very well—if you could only carry it out yourself.”
“I!” exclaimed Robin, with a burst of uncontrollable mirth. “Fancy me in white satin, attempting to force my great splay-foot into one of your delicate slippers!”
“This is too serious a matter for mirth,” said Alicia, who for once could resist the infection of Robin’s laugh. “Of course if any one goes, I must go. But it would be so very strange to put on finery here—in this jungle!”
“It would be making the very best use of finery,” cried Robin, who was grave enough now. “It would be consecrating it to the cause of humanity. I never thought when I saw you arrayed in your wedding attire, and considered you almost too fine to be my sister, that you might make it a means of delivering a zenana prisoner, and perhaps of bringing her under Christian influence.”
Alicia sighed, reflected a few moments, then said—“Robin, we must have a prayer together before I venture, I feel so weak and nervous. I never engaged in anything so strange and difficult before.”
The brother and sister knelt down together, and Kripá Dé prostrated himself on the floor, though he could only guess the import of the prayer. After its conclusion Alicia went to her own room, unlocked and opened one of her large boxes, and from its envelopment of silver paper took out the dress which she had worn at her bridal.