Secretly, however, Ramabai's revolutionary friends were still back of
him, though they pretended to bow to the yoke of the priests.
So upon this day matters stood thus: the colonel, Kathlyn, Bruce and
Winnie were prisoners again; Ahmed was in hiding, and Ramabai and his
wife mocked by those who once had cheered them. The ingratitude of
kings is as nothing when compared to the ingratitude of a people.
A most ridiculous country: to crown Kathlyn again (for the third time!)
and then to lock her up! Next to superstition as a barrier to progress
there stands custom. Everything one did must be done as some one else
had done it; the initiative was still chained up in the temples, it
belonged to the bald priests only.
But Umballa had made two mistakes: he should have permitted the white
people to leave the country and given a silken cord to the chief
eunuch, to apply as directed. There are no written laws among the dark
peoples that forbid the disposal of that chattel known as a woman of
the harem, or zenana. There are certain customs that even the all
powerful British Raj must ignore.
The catafalque of the dead king rested upon the royal platform. Two
troopers stood below; otherwise the platform was deserted. When
Ramabai and Pundita arrived and mounted the platform to pay their last
respects to a kindly man, the soldiers saluted gravely, even
sorrowfully. Ramabai, for his courage, his honesty and justice, was
their man; but they no longer dared serve him, since it would be at the
expense of their own lives.
"My Lord!" whispered Pundita, pressing Ramabai's hand. "Courage!" For
Pundita understood the man at her side. Had he been honorless, she
would this day be wearing a crown.
"Pundita, they hissed us as we passed."
"Not the soldiers, my Lord."
"And this poor man! Pundita, he was murdered, and I am powerless to
avenge him. It was Umballa; but what proof have I? None, none! Well,
for me there is left but one thing; to leave Allaha for good. We two
shall go to some country where honor and kindness are not crimes but
virtues."
"My Lord, it is our new religion."
"And shall we hold to it and go, or repudiate it and stay?"
"I am my Lord's chattel; but I would despise him if he took the base
course."
"And so should I, flower of my heart!" Ramabai folded his arms and
stared down moodily at the man who, had he lived, could have made
Pundita his successor. "Pundita, I have not yet dared tell you all;
but here, in the presence of death, truth will out. We can not leave.
Confiscation of property and death face us at every gate. No! Umballa
proposes to crush me gradually and make my life a hell. No man who was
my friend now dares receive me in his house. Worship is denied us,
unless we worship in secret. There is one pathway open." He paused.