THE VEILED CANDIDATES From the four ends of the principality they came, the veiled candidates; from the north, the east, the south and west.

They came in marvelous palanquins, in curtained howdahs, on camels, in splendid bullock carts.

Many a rupee resolved itself into new-bought finery, upon the vague chance of getting it back with compound interest.
What was most unusual, they came without pedigree or dowry, this being Ramabai's idea; though, in truth, Umballa objected at first to the lack of dowry.

He had expected to inherit this dowry.

He gave way to Ramabai because he did not care to have Ramabai suspect what his inner thoughts were.