I spoke truly, when I said it was the language in use in Bombay; for it is the tongue of the white men there.

Now you will understand why I wanted you not to speak in it, to anyone but myself; and why I have stained your skin, once a week.

At present we are at peace with the English; but there may be war again, at any time, and in that case were it known that you are white, your life would not be safe for a moment; or you might be thrown into some dungeon, where you would perish miserably." She then explained to him why she had not attempted to take him down to Bombay, and restore him to his countrymen.

She had always hoped the time would come when she could do so but, until he grew up to manhood, it was necessary that he should stay with her; for, being without friends in Bombay he would, as a boy, be unable to earn his living.
The boy was greatly affected at the news.

There were things that he had never been able to understand; especially why Soyera should consider it necessary to wash him with dye so often, when neither his cousins nor the other children of his acquaintance were so treated--as far as he knew, for as he had been strictly charged never to speak of the process, which he considered an infliction, he had never asked questions of others.