These steps the
Mungana motioned him to mount, but when Jeekie tried to follow him he
turned and struck him contemptuously in the face. At once the Asika, who
was watching Vernon's approach through the eye-holes in the Little Bonsa
mask, said fiercely:
"Who bade you strike the servant of my guest, O Mungana? Let him come
also that he may stand behind us and interpret."
Her wretched husband, who knew that this public slight was put upon him
purposely, but did not dare to protest against it, bowed his head. Then
all three of them climbed to the dais, the priests and the musicians
remaining below.
"Welcome, Vernoon," said the Asika through the lips of the mask, which
to Alan, notwithstanding the dreadful cruelty of its expression, looked
less hateful than the lovely, tigerish face it hid. "Welcome and be
seated here on my left hand, since on my right you may not sit--as yet."
He bowed and took the chair to which she pointed, while her husband
placed himself in the other chair upon her right, and Jeekie stood
behind, his great shape towering above them all.
"This is a festival of my people, Vernoon," she went on, "such a
festival as has not been seen for years, celebrated because Little Bonsa
has come back to them.
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