The Rajah answered, 'It is all true, beautiful lady. I am the Rajah of a neighbouring land; pray tell me who are you?'
She replied, 'I am the Eagles' child.' But he laughed: 'Nay,' he said, 'that cannot be, you are some great Princess.' 'No,' she answered, 'I am no royal lady; what I say is true. I have lived all my life in this tree. I am only the Eagles' child.' Then the Rajah said, 'If you are not a Princess born, I will make you one; say only that you will be my Queen.'
Surya Bai consented, and the Rajah took her to his kingdom, and made her his Queen. But Surya Bai was not his only wife, and the first Ranee, his other wife, was both envious and jealous of her.[1]
The Rajah gave Surya Bai many trustworthy attendants to guard her and be with her, and one old woman loved her more than all the rest, and used to say to her—'Don't be too intimate with the first Ranee, dear lady, for she wishes you no good, and she has power to do you harm. Some day she may poison or otherwise injure you.' But Surya Bai would answer her, 'Nonsense! what is there to be alarmed about? Why cannot we both live happily together like two sisters?' Then the old woman would rejoin, 'Ah, dear lady, may you never live to rue your confidence! I pray my fears may prove folly.' So Surya Bai went often to see the first Ranee, and the first Ranee also came often to see her.
One day they were standing in the palace court-yard, near a tank, where the Rajah's people used to bathe, and the first Ranee said to Surya Bai, 'What pretty jewels you have, sister! let me try them on for a minute, and see how I look in them.'
The old woman was standing beside Surya Bai, and she whispered to her, 'Do not lend your jewels.' 'Hush, you silly old woman,' answered she; 'what harm will it do?' and she gave the Ranee her jewels. Then the Ranee said, 'How pretty all your things are! do you not think they look well even on me? Let us come down to the tank, it is as clear as glass, and we can see ourselves reflected in it, and how these jewels will shine in the clear water!'
The old woman, hearing this, was much alarmed, and begged Surya Bai not to venture near the tank, but she said, 'I bid you be silent, I will not distrust my sister;' and she went down to the tank. Then, when no one was near, and they were both leaning
