“Khair ast!” “That is nothing—you can paint leaves on the trees in the picture!”
I showed him the work of the art students, and he was greatly pleased with their progress.
As the Armenian was ill with fever I had been compelled to take the Hindustani Gnat to translate, and I said to him:
“Seeing that His Highness has been ill and has not desired me to treat him, he probably does not wish me to return to this country when my leave expires. Enquire if this is so.”
The Interpreter said in Persian to His Highness: “The Doctor asks whether it is Amîr Sahib’s wish that he bring Mrs. Gray with him to this country when he returns?”
I had not asked this. His Highness answered:
“Most certainly; I said so before,” and addressing me he said:
“I look upon you as one of my household; I wish you and your wife to live here permanently: going to England for a time and again returning.”
He then repeated his promise of defraying the expenses of the journey and that of the two English maid-servants who were to be brought; he indicated the position where a house was to be built for us, near his own Palace, and talked for some time as to the arrangement of the house; and he said as regards the veil over the face, that it was, for a European lady, entirely optional.
Cogitation: Decision.