passed down the corridor i saw the princess who was in her sitting room and on the look out for me i was afraid to stay in the room with my daughter she said drawing me to the window because every extra person who is breathing the air to her that is why i slipped away when i had taken you in tell me what you think of her i think she looks terribly ill madame i replied yes yes more than ill i shall not have my child with me long am quite prepared for it i have expected tr the strange story of my life it feared it dreaded it for months past but it has been very near during these past few days it comes nearer with every moment she was pleased to see you she continued with a great effort at cheerfulness she seemed to be so she begged me to go and see her again you will send for me at any time that i can be of the smallest pleasure or distraction to her you are remaining in she said i am remaining for the present because i dread leaving and the doctor fears for my taking a journey while my health is so bad as it is just now i don t think that i shall get the fever i don t feel like it ah one never knows it would be better to get away i cannot go of course i could not move my daughter in her present condition that is out of the question but your tie here is broken you have yourself and your husband to think of my dear friend she went on laying her slim hand upon my shoulder with a gesture of affection such as only the shadow of grief ever in those who have but just learned to know each other for his sake you ought to get away not for a few days i said drawing a deep breath i am not fit to take a journey and is not fit to do so either i have to think of her a little some indians do think of the natives you know though the majority do not some treat the natives as if they were dirt under their feet and as if their lives were worth nothing but this poor soul clung to my little child with a devotion which has any devotion i have ever seen and i cannot drag her off on a journey until she has somewhat recovered from her exhaustion and grief i shall remain here for the present i ended people who have been used to living in india do not run away like scared from the mere chance of so i remained on and every day sometimes twice nurse would come round and fetch me to pay a visit to the young princess sometimes i would stay news from � half an hour beside her not talking much but just sitting there at others she would be tired in ten minutes and one day she said to me mrs do you sing as a matter of fact i did sing not very much not to pride myself upon it � for i had never had the advantage or chance of receiving really good training � but i had a pleasant little pipe and i sang or i had been used to sing to please myself and those who loved me having found out so much she insisted on my singing to her she was passionately fond of music and the landlord of the hotel des who would i think have given his head to make the ladies happy or comfortable brought in a little piano from his wife s sitting room and put it in the large and airy apartment into which princess s bed was moved every morning through the folding doors from her sleeping chamber after the coming of the piano i used to spend hours there during the course of the day going over all the songs that i had ever known not attempting to sing but just over the airs which were her and mine and sometimes the princess herself would come and sit listening and once or twice she came into the corridor with me and told me with tear laden eyes that never never should she be able to make me any adequate return for what i had been able to do for her but i cannot help being anxious and uneasy about you she ended you ought to be away from this place it is not right of you to stay here the risk is too great i shall not go away just at present i replied quietly the doctor thinks that i am better where i am and i have written to my physician in london sir who his opinion i am taking great care of myself i carry a perfect of and here touching the bosom of my dress and i am taking and all sorts of and i don t think you need worry about me the strange story of my life princess i don t indeed and while i can make such a difference to princess i would rather stay where i am than go out into the world among strangers again you forget i went on i am not like who has a home to go to my home is thousands and thousands of miles away if i went back to it i should be alone j the same i could not go to join my husband no woman could get to the district where he is and if she could get there she would not be permitted to do so as affairs are at present so that i am better here than i should be anywhere else don t trouble yourself about me i am happier here and therefore i think that i am safer 