140 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



the ancient regime. No doubt the Zenana is sacred 

 against the modernising influence of the present Maharaja. 

 Even the ayah noticed the state of decay, for seeing the 

 Eanee look surprised, I inquired the cause : " Menisahib, 

 I only told her this old house will tumble down on her 

 head soon." 



Once the Ranee pointed to a painting on the wall, 

 representing a Hindoo god stepping from his chariot. 

 I asked what she was saying. The ayah remarked with 

 nonchalance, " I have asked her to point you out her god." 

 I began heartily to wish my woman's shyness would 

 return, for no part of the Ranee's life or occupations 

 were sacred from her inquiries ; and she occasionally 

 seemed to translate enough to give an idea that it was 

 I who prompted the questions. She ended by saying, 

 " The Ranee tells me it is very kind of us to have come to 

 see her." Her feelings were a little hurt when the Ranee 

 did not shake hands with her at parting. 



I have been rather consoled since by the Raja, who 

 thinks it a great joke, and tells me the Ranee only speaks 

 " Pahari " (the Hill dialect), and understood little or 

 nothing of the ayah's Hindustani. I am now lost in 

 admiration of my ayah. She must have an imagin- 

 ation and power of lying that I should not have given 

 her credit for in my wildest dreams. 



