Surya Bai’s attendant then told how she had been the late Ranee’s waiting-woman, and how the Rajah had thrown her into prison on her mistress’s death; in return for which intelligence the old Milkwoman imparted to her how the wonderful mango had tumbled into her can as she slept under the tree, and how it had miraculously changed in the course of an hour into a beautiful little lady. “I wonder why she should have chosen my poor house to live in, instead of any one else’s,” said the old woman.
Then Surya Bai’s attendant said, “Have you ever asked her her history? Perhaps she would not mind telling it to you now.”
So the Milkwoman called the girl, and as soon as the old attendant saw her, she knew it was none other than Surya Bai, and her heart jumped for joy; but she remained silent, wondering much, for she knew her mistress had been drowned in the tank.
The old Milkwoman turned to Surya Bai and said, “My child, you have lived long with us, and been a good daughter to me; but I have never asked you your history, because I thought it must be a sad one; but if you do not fear to tell it to me now, I should like to hear it.”
Surya Bai answered, “Mother, you speak true; my story is sad. I believe my real mother was a poor Milkwoman like you, and that she took me with her one day when I was quite a little baby, as she was going to sell milk in the bazaar. But being tired with the long walk, she sat down to rest, and placed me also on the ground, when suddenly a great Eagle flew down and carried me away. But all the father and mother I ever knew were the two great Eagles.”
“Ah, my child! my child!” cried the Milkwoman, “I was that poor woman; the Eagles flew away with my eldest girl when she was only a year old. Have I found you after these many years?”
And she ran and called all her children, and her husband, to tell them the wonderful news.
Then was there great rejoicing among them all.
When they were a little calmer, her mother said to Surya Bai, “Tell us, dear daughter, how your life has been spent since first we lost you.” And Surya Bai went on:
“The old Eagles took me away to their home, and there I lived happily many years. They loved to bring me all the beautiful things they could find, and at last one day they both went to fetch me a diamond ring from the Red Sea; but while they were gone the fire went out in the nest: so I went to an old woman’s hut, and got her to give me some fire; and next day (I don’t know how it was), as I was opening the outer door of the cage, a sharp thing, that was sticking in it, ran into my hand and I fell down senseless.