"There is only one kind of reputation worth the having," laughed Yasmini;
"that of knowing how to win!"

"But what's this about poison?" Tess asked her.

"He always tries to poison me. Now he will try more carefully."

"You must take care! How will you prevent him?"

By quite unconscious stages Tess found herself growing concerned
about this young truant princess. One minute she was interested and
amused. The next she was conscious of affection. Now she was
positively anxious about her, to use no stronger word. Nor had she
time to wonder why, for Yasmini's methods were breathless.

"I shall eat very often at your house. And then you shall take a journey
with me. And after that the great pig Gungadhura shall be very sorry
he was born, and still more sorry that be tried to poison me!"

"Tell me, child, haven't you a mother?"

"She died a year ago. If there is such a place as hell she has gone
there, of course, because nobody is good enough for Heaven. But I
am not Christian and not Hindu, so hell is not my business."

"What are you, then?"

"I am Yasmini. There is nobody like me. I am all alone, believing only
what I know and laughing at the priests. I know all the laws of caste,
because that is necessary if you are to understand men. And I have