Having made this league, they tormented poor Guzra Bai so much that, to save her from their persecutions, the Rajah built her a little house of her own, where she lived very, very happily for a short time.
At last one day he had occasion to go and visit a distant part of his dominions, but fearing his high-born wives might ill-use Guzra Bai in his absence, at parting he gave her a little golden bell, saying, "If while I am away you are in any trouble, or any one should be unkind to you, ring this little bell, and wherever I am I shall instantly hear it, and will return to your aid."
No sooner had the Rajah gone, than Guzra Bai thought she would try the power of the bell. So she rang it.
The Rajah instantly appeared. "What do you want?" he said.
"Oh, nothing," she replied. "I was foolish. I could hardly believe what you told me could be true, and thought I would try."
"Now you will believe, I hope," he said, and went away. A second time she rang the bell. Again the Rajah returned.
"Oh, pardon me, husband," she said; "it was wrong of me not to trust you, but I hardly thought you could return again from so far."
And again he went away. A third time she rang the golden bell. "Why do you ring again, Guzra Bai?" asked the Rajah sternly, as for a third time he returned.
"I don't know, indeed; indeed I beg your pardon," she said; "but I know not why, I felt so frightened."
"Have any of the Ranees been unkind to you?" he asked.