THE HINDOO WIFE. 
165 
whose domestic happiness was mixed up with the 
most offensive alloy, and who would therefore have 
gladly purchased at any cost a similar jewel to that 
which had fallen into his possession. 
The youthful Brahminee was a subject of daily 
conversation among idlers in the bazaar, where 
songs were sung to her beauty, at which the pride 
of an adoring husband kindled, and the natural vanity 
of his wife was excited beyond the controlling in- 
fluence of prudence. Conscious of the interest she 
excited, she was unable to resist the temptation of 
showing herself, when she could do so without vio- 
lating the rigid forms by which in the East female 
society is almost universally governed. Wherever 
she appeared, she arrested the admiration of all who 
saw her ; and, contrary to the general character of his 
caste, her husband was pleased at her being seen, as 
much as was consistent with the restrictions imposed 
upon all Hindoo women of the superior classes. 
One morning the young Brahminee had repaired to 
a tank, as usual, to perform her customary ablutions. 
It was in a retired spot, and the hour so early 
that she entertained no fears of interruption, as she 
had never yet been offensively intruded upon whilst 
performing those necessary ceremonials of her religion. 
Having finished her lustrations, she had just robed 
herself preparatory to her return, when a stranger sud- 
denly appeared on horseback at the edge of the tank, 
and familiarly accosted her. Seeing that he was a 
Mohammedan, she turned herself to proceed in another 
direction, when he rudely arrested her progress. She 
was extremely agitated at finding herself alone in the 
