LIBRARY THE TALES OF THE CHAPTER I. THE BUTCHER'S STORY (continued). THE negotiation of marriage between the son of Saruk and the daughter of Hurrees-Al-Alghar had indeed taken place, so that there seemed but little chance of success for poor Ashuk, who with a heavy heart proceeded to his uncle at Cambay. Young Ajeez, in the meantime, was studying hard all the tricks practised in mercantile pursuits, under his able and experienced father, to qualify himself for the situation of supercargo of the ship, which in a year or two was to be richly freighted by Saruk, and probably by Nugdee Hurrees, whom they much wished to persuade to risk a large sum of money. This was the speculation he was pondering upon when the unhappy widow applied to him for the loan of one hundred rupees. But, to the disappointment of Saruk, the old miser was not inclined so highly to appreciate piece-goods and cornelians as his neighbours, and finally refused to risk any part of his capital in the concern. Although averse to the mercantile speculation, cld Nugdee gave a ready consent to the proposition of marriage between Ajeez and his. daighter, to whom he promised one lac of rupees, provided Ajeez could command only half that sum. Saruk was therefore the more anxious to dispatch his son to Bengal in charge of a valiable cargo, in the hope that on his return, aided a little by himself, the boy might be enabled to place at the feet of the miser the fifty thousand rupees, for which he was to receive one lac and the lovely Kheir Neyut as his bride. Independent of present advantage, Saruk indulged in the hope that, on the death of the miser, Ajeez would undoubtedly become his heir. Thus do mortals lay out plans for their worldly advantage, and become so persuaded of the final success of them, that they are little able to bear a failure with fortitude and resignation to the will of Providence. So was it with Saruk, who dreamed not of the danger of the sea, or of the changing winds of heaven, and the equally fluctuating mind of old Nugdee; but, above all, the interference of any other mortal on earth, by whose schemes the wishes of his soul could be overthrown. Ashuk remained two years with his uncle at Cambay. In vain did this kind relative try to fix the youth's attention to business; the sports of the chase, hawking, hunting, &c., together with the recollection of his beloved Kheir Neyut, entirely engrossed his thoughts. Under these circumstances his uncle was compelled to send him back to his desponding mother, delivering into his hands a letter containing a bill of exchange for four hundred rupees for the poor woman's use, with the intelligence that she must expect no farther assistance from him. He regretted the impossibility of fixing the mind of his nephew to business, and recommended Beewah to 1 procure for him a junior situation in the Nuwab's troops, a soldier's life being evidently more suitable to the boy's disposition. Beewah with pain beheld the return of her unprofitable son, whom she severely reproved. On comprehending the contents of the letter she felt the utmost gratitude for the present it contained, and caused an answer to be penned immediately, to thank the considerate donor. The first use she determined to make of the money was to pay off her debt to old Nugdee Hurrees; and for this purpose, accompanied by Ashuk, she proceeded to the miser's habitation, Just as they approached the outer gate they espied Saruk and his son Ajeez in the act of taking leave of the old fellow both passed Beewah and Ashuk, casting looks of ineffable contempt on them. Nugdee Hurrees admitted the widow and her son, ushering them into the old shed as before. Having stated her business, Beewah presented her rupees; and the miser, having calculated the enormous interest, together with the cruel bonus, Beewah found she must dip very deep into the four hundred rupees received from her good relative. The money being paid, Ashuk recommended his mother to demand a deed of release, and thus hoped to hear Kheir Neyut summoned to bring pen, ink, &c. The old miser having no objection to the demand, accordingly called out to his daughter to bring pen and ink, but, as before, refused to provide the paper. This detestable meanness was likely to deprive Ashuk of a sight of the lovely girl, who would probably have performed her task ere he should return with the paper. The anxious fair one, however, perceiving him about to quit the mansion, guessed the object of his errand, and delayed producing the ink until he re turned. Thus Ashuk had the felicity of being once more near his beloved, who was grown more beautiful and captivating than ever. To speak to her, however, was impossible; and he was meditating how he could find an opportunity of addressing her, when the wind blew away the half-written deed from the feet of the miser, whose attention was directed towards mending a miserable stump of a pen. Kheir Neyut flew to pick up the paper; and Ashuk following for the same purpose, both met near the gate, screened by the shed from the eyes of Beewah and the miser. 'How fortunate is this, lovely Kheir Neyut! How long is it since I beheld thee! Say, wilt thou allow me an interview tomorrow night?' 'We shall be overheard, Ashuk. distance from the ground.' My window is at a great 'Then will I climb up to it. Deny me not, or I shall die with disappointment.' 'For heaven's sake then, Ashuk, be cautious. night.' Come at mid This was all the lovers had time to say, as the miser called out for his paper, which receiving from the hands of his daughter, he leisurely and cautiously finished the deed of release, which he handed to the widow. Beewah and her delighted son returned home, from whence the former repaired to court, in order to speak a good word for her son, and obtain for him if possible some junior situation in the army. Ashuk, whose whole mind was devoted to Kheir Neyut, and the means by which he could ascend to her window, hastened to the shop of Hussun al Habul, a rope-maker, to whom he gave |