His mind moved all in the past , and he revived every step of their wonderful first journey together , rubbing his hands and chuckling , till it pleased him to curl himself up into the sudden sleep of old age . Kim watched the last dusty sunshine fade out of the court , and played with his ghost-dagger and rosary . The clamour of Benares , oldest of all earth 's cities awake before the Gods , day and night , beat round the walls as the sea 's roar round a breakwater . Now and again , a Jain priest crossed the court , with some small offering to the images , and swept the path about him lest by chance he should take the life of a living thing . A lamp twinkled , and there followed the sound of a prayer . Kim watched the stars as they rose one after another in the still , sticky dark , till he fell asleep at the foot of the altar . That night he dreamed in Hindustani , with never an English word ... ` Holy One , there is the child to whom we gave the medicine , ' he said , about three o'clock in the morning , when the lama , also waking from dreams , would have fared forth on pilgrimage . ` The Jat will be here at the light . ' ' I am well answered . In my haste I would have done a wrong . ' He sat down on the cushions and returned to his rosary . ` Surely old folk are as children , ' he said pathetically . ` They desire a matter -- behold , it must be done at once , or they fret and weep ! Many times when I was upon the Road I have been ready to stamp with my feet at the hindrance of an ox-cart in the way , or a mere cloud of dust . It was not so when I was a man -- a long time ago . None the less it is wrongful -- ' ` But thou art indeed old , Holy One . ' ` The thing was done . A Cause was put out into the world , and , old or young , sick or sound , knowing or unknowing , who can rein in the effect of that Cause ? Does the Wheel hang still if a child spin it -- or a drunkard ? Chela , this is a great and a terrible world . ' '
I think it good , ' XXXXX yawned .
Benares English Jain Jat Kim day first ghost-dagger hindrance rosary