The man did not find his second task quite such an easy one to perform as the former. The Resident van Gulpendam and his wife were seated with some visitors at the usual card-tables; but the daughter of the house had already retired to her own room, and had given her baboe leave to go to bed without waiting up any longer. The fellow found it therefore necessary to go to the back of the premises, and at length he contrived to get one of the servants to go and rouse Dalima.
The young girl was terribly shocked at hearing the dreadful tidings of her father, whom the rascal represented as being in a dying state. She at once rushed into the pandoppo and entered the bedroom of her young mistress who, fortunately, had not yet retired to rest.
“Nana, give me leave!” she cried, in the greatest agitation, as soon as she had opened the door.
“Come,” said Anna, “what is the matter with you? do try and be calm.” The young lady had perceived at once that there was something very wrong, and tried to quiet her servant’s excitement by herself remaining perfectly cool and self-possessed.
Thereupon Dalima told her that a man had just arrived from Kaligaweh with a message from her father who was lying at death’s door, and who wished, for the last time perhaps, to see his daughter.
“Oh, Nana,” begged the poor girl, “do try and get me leave to go home!”
“But, Dalima,” objected Anna, “what is the time?” And looking at a handsome clock on a console close by, she continued, “Why it is close upon midnight!—It is out of the question—You could not possibly go out in the dark!”
“Oh!” cried Dalima, in pleading tones, “Nana knows that I am very brave. I know the way perfectly. I shall take the short cut over the hills; by that road I shall get to Kaligaweh without meeting anybody.”
“That is just it,” rejoined Anna; “it is that very solitude that I am most frightened at. You might come across a tiger or a wild boar.”
“Why, Nana! there are no tigers anywhere in the neighbourhood; if there were we must have heard of them, and as for boars, I am not the least bit afraid of them, they always run away if they possibly can. Do pray, dearest Nana, get me leave to go. I promise you that by to-morrow night I shall be back again.”