"Alas!" cried she, "what will become of me, separated from you? How shall I endure the continual anguish of knowing you exposed to wounds and death? The heir which we hoped would be born in joy and festivity, now will enter life amid tears and despair! Perhaps he will be born an orphan—for if the father is killed, the mother will not survive!"
I listened to this and felt my heart ache under my coat of horn.
The Prince, much affected, could hardly restrain his tears. He made an effort, however, to master his emotion, and replied with calmness.
"Every man," said he, "owes his life to his Country; and the Prince more than any other man. Our honour, and the welfare of our people are more dear to us than our own happiness. We must set an example of courage and self-sacrifice, instead of allowing ourselves to be softened by tears.
"If the war proves cruel to me—and I die—you, my beloved Wife, will live to bring up our Child; and hereafter we shall find each other, and be forever happy in the life to come!"
He gently disengaged the clasp of her delicate arms. The veil of the Princess caught on the breastplate of the Prince and was torn. The Prince gathered a fragment, and kept it as a talisman.
And now Alemguir was in the howdah, and it was to me that the Princess appealed, with breathless sobs.
"Iravata, thou who art strong, and who lovest thy Master, and who ought to love me, for thou hast the soul of one of my Ancestors.... Guard the Prince! Protect him, and bring him back to me living—for if he comes not back I shall die!"
Speaking these words the Princess became as pale as snow, and fell fainting into the arms of her servants.
I made a resolve in my heart to defend my Master with all my might, and not to fail in risking my life for the safety of his.