Surely it was a little to see me that thou didst come ? ' ` The horses are cold , and it is past their feeding-time , ' whined the driver . ` Go to Jehannum and abide there with thy reputationless aunt ! ' Kim snarled over his shoulder . ' I am all alone in this land ; I know not where I go nor what shall befall me . My heart was in that letter I sent thee . Except for Mahbub Ali , and he is a Pathan , I have no friend save thee , Holy One . Do not altogether go away . ' ' I have considered that also , ' the lama replied , in a shaking voice . ` It is manifest that from time to time I shall acquire merit if before that I have not found my River -- by assuring myself that thy feet are set on wisdom . What they will teach thee I do not know , but the priest wrote me that no son of a Sahib in all India will be better taught than thou . So from time to time , therefore , I will come again . Maybe thou wilt be such a Sahib as he who gave me these spectacles ' -- the lama wiped them elaborately -- ` in the Wonder House at Lahore . That is my hope , for he was a Fountain of Wisdom -- wiser than many abbots ... Again , maybe thou wilt forget me and our meetings . ' ` If I eat thy bread , ' cried Kim passionately , ` how shall I ever forget thee ? ' ` No -- no . ' He put the boy aside . ' I must go back to Benares . From time to time , now that I know the customs of letter-writers in this land , I will send thee a letter , and from time to time I will come and see thee . ' ` But whither shall I send my letters ? '
wailed XXXXX , clutching at the robe , all forgetful that he was a Sahib .
Ali India Jehannum Kim Lahore Pathan Sahib abbots lama letter-writers