"Alhumd-ul-illa!" I cried, "they are safe then; I have been waiting here since morning, and in anxiety enough about them."
"No wonder," said the old lady, "for the khanum seemed to be pale and weakly-looking; but Mashalla! she is beautiful, and my lord too is in every way worthy of her."
"She has been ill," said I, carelessly, "and her coming is in consequence of a vow she made."
"May Alla give her a long life and many children! I feel an involuntary interest in a pair whom he hath joined together, in every way so fitted for each other; but I go, noble sir, my companions await my coming."
She also passed on, and in a few moments more the cart I so longed to see turned the corner of some projecting houses, and advanced slowly towards the gate. How my heart throbbed! was it her, my life, my soul, or was I doomed to a third disappointment? It stopped, and I could have fallen down and worshipped the old nurse, who first emerged from the closely-curtained vehicle; I ran towards her, but was stopped by the driver. "It is a zenana, noble sir," he said, "and courtesy requires you to go out of sight, lest their faces should be seen in descending."
"Peace, fool! the women are my own."
"That alters the case," said the man; "and my lord's displeasure must not fall on his slave for this delay; the axletree cracked in passing a rivulet, which is a circumstance no foresight could have prevented, seeing that it was newly fitted after the Mohorum."
"It matters not," said I; "but you may now leave us; I will return and pay you your hire: there is an empty cart yonder which I will engage for them to return in."
The fellow retired to a short distance, and my breath went and came as I put my head into the curtains and saw my beloved sitting unveiled, beautiful beyond description, and her fine features glowing with the excitement of her success. "Shookur khoda!" she exclaimed, "you are here, my own best and dearest; you have not been unfaithful to your poor slave." I caught her in my arms, and imprinted numberless kisses on her lips.
"Toba! Toba! for shame!" cried the old nurse; "cannot you refrain for a while? Assist her to dismount, and we will go into the Durgah."