“Who is there?” she had cried as startled she had sprung up from her chair.
“It is I, Nana,” whispered Dalima in a scarcely audible voice.
The fair young girl, whom we have tried faintly to depict to the reader, was called Anna. In ordinary conversation the servants usually addressed her as “Nonna” (Miss). But Dalima, either by reason of her youth or it may be because she was shy and gentle of nature, was Anna’s special favourite and enjoyed certain privileges with her young mistress over the other servants; she was indeed looked upon in the light of a companion, and so she always used to call her “Nonna Anna” which was first contracted into “Nonanna,” and then became simply “Nana.” Thus the reader will perceive that the name “Nana” has nothing whatever in common with Zola’s disgusting production, nor yet with the inhuman monster who made himself so sadly notorious at Cawnpore.
At the words “It is I, Nana,” Anna looked down and no sooner saw Dalima seated at her feet than she recovered from her scare. She offered to raise the maiden who, however, maintained her position on the floor of the verandah. “You here, Dalima,” cried she; “where in the world have you been? Mamma is dreadfully angry with you. Where have you come from?”
“Nana,” she replied, “I have been carried off!”
“By whom?” asked Anna.
“By some of Lim Ho’s men,” said Dalima.
“Lim Ho?” cried Anna now really frightened, “Lim Ho? What, have you been in his power?”
“Yes I have,” said the young girl.
“What, all night?”