From the corridor above a child's laugh rang out. Kit's mother, who was one of the little company, so reduced in strength now that she could scarcely speak, gave a little stifled cry, staggered forward, and would have fallen had not Tom caught her in time. 'How foolish I am!' she murmured. 'I thought it was Kit.'
'Your child,' said Tom tenderly, as, thinking of his own mother, he took her up in his strong young arms.
'Yes, my little Kit,' she moaned. 'They took him away. They were going to kill him; but they saw his beautiful curls, and they thought he was a girl. I beg your pardon for being so foolish. I think I can walk.'
But he saw that she was weaker than she thought, and he would not put her down until she was in the hands of Aglaia and her ayah.
Then he left them all to rest, sent a message to the Resident to let him know that they had arrived safely, and, at last, when he was sure that everything which hospitality demanded had been done, he sent for Hoosanee.
[CHAPTER XXX]
CHUNDER SINGH'S PRECAUTIONS
'Tell me everything,' said the rajah.
'I will try,' replied the poor fellow; 'but my master must not blame me more than he can help. I acted for the best.'