I only waited for the order to take away the tray . ' ` It is I that am the woman of ill-omen , ' cried the old lady penitently . ` We that go down to the chattris -LSB- the big umbrellas above the burning-ghats where the priests take their last dues -RSB- clutch hard at the bearers of the chattis -LSB- water-jars -- young folk full of the pride of life , she meant ; but the pun is clumsy -RSB- . When one can not dance in the festival one must e ` en look out of the window , and grandmothering takes all a woman 's time . Thy master gives me all the charms I now desire for my daughter 's eldest , by reason -- is it ? -- that he is wholly free from sin . The hakim is brought very low these days . He goes about poisoning my servants for lack of their betters . ' ` What hakim , mother ? ' ` That very Dacca man who gave me the pill which rent me in three pieces . He cast up like a strayed camel a week ago , vowing that he and thou had been blood-brothers together up Kulu-way , and feigning great anxiety for thy health . He was very thin and hungry , so I gave orders to have him stuffed too -- him and his anxiety ! ' ' I would see him if he is here . ' ` He eats five times a day , and lances boils for my hinds to save himself from an apoplexy . He is so full of anxiety for thy health that he sticks to the cook-house door and stays himself with scraps . He will keep . We shall never get rid of him . ' ` Send him here , mother ' -- the twinkle returned to Kim 's eye for a flash -- ` and I will try . ' ` I 'll send him , but to chase him off is an ill turn . At least he had the sense to fish the Holy One out of the brook ; thus , as the Holy One did not say , acquiring merit . '
` He is a very wise XXXXX .
Dacca Kim apoplexy bearers blood-brothers burning-ghats cook-house day dues hakim