‘Ay, why not?’
‘I understand thy thoughts, but they must pass away from thee. She is no daughter of his. She hath but newly used the missee;[[7]] she must be his wife. Hast thou not asked the servants?’
[7]. A powder which women apply to their teeth only after marriage.
‘I have not, mother; but art thou sure of this?’
‘I am.’
‘Then a bright vision has faded from my eyes,’ said Kasim despondingly: ‘the brightest vision I have yet seen in my young life. It seemed to be the will of Allah that she should be mine; for she had been lost to the world and to him, only that I saved her!’
‘Forbid such thoughts,’ said his mother quietly, for she knew the fiery yet gentle spirit of the young man, and how easily she might offend where she only intended kindness. ‘She can be nothing to thee, Kasim.’
‘Her fate is with mine, mother: from the moment I was impelled to rescue her from the waters, I felt that my life was connected with hers. I knew not, as she lay on the sand-bank, that she was beautiful or young; and I could not have hesitated, had there been a thousand devils in my path, or the raging waters of the Toombuddra.’