Kim breathed the proverb impersonally to the shadow-tops of the trees overhead . The Oorya grunted and held his peace . ` So then we go with her , Holy One ? ' ` Is there any reason against ? I can still step aside and try all the rivers that the road overpasses . She desires that I should come . She very greatly desires it . ' Kim stifled a laugh in the quilt . When once that imperious old lady had recovered from her natural awe of a lama he thought it probable that she would be worth listening to . He was nearly asleep when the lama suddenly quoted a proverb : ` The husbands of the talkative have a great reward hereafter . ' Then Kim heard him snuff thrice , and dozed off , still laughing . The diamond-bright dawn woke men and crows and bullocks together . Kim sat up and yawned , shook himself , and thrilled with delight . This was seeing the world in real truth ; this was life as he would have it -- bustling and shouting , the buckling of belts , and beating of bullocks and creaking of wheels , lighting of fires and cooking of food , and new sights at every turn of the approving eye . The morning mist swept off in a whorl of silver , the parrots shot away to some distant river in shrieking green hosts : all the well-wheels within ear-shot went to work . India was awake , and Kim was in the middle of it , more awake and more excited than anyone , chewing on a twig that he would presently use as a toothbrush ; for he borrowed right - and left-handedly from all the customs of the country he knew and loved . There was no need to worry about food -- no need to spend a cowrie at the crowded stalls . He was the disciple of a holy man annexed by a strong-willed old lady . All things would be prepared for them , and when they were respectfully invited so to do they would sit and eat . For the rest -- Kim giggled here as he cleaned his teeth -- his hostess would rather heighten the enjoyment of the road .
He inspected her XXXXX critically , as they came up grunting and blowing under the yokes .
Kim Oorya bullocks cowrie lama overpasses quilt twig well-wheels whorl