Suddenly the sound of the whip swishing through the air, the sharp crack against her quailing body, ceased. Tears fell down her cheeks; her breath came in sobs. Sandhu stood behind her, stroking her neck with his hand, whispering words of comfort, telling her of his pride in her, assuring her that his love would never fail her. She twisted her head round and kissed his hand, the hand that had whipped her. Sandhu began to undo the ropes. Anya and Tanya came forward. As her bonds fell away, Cressida stumbled and would have fallen had not the girls held her fast. Each with an arm around her, they led her from the courtyard, her torn cotton shift her only covering.
The two girls half supported, half carried the limp and exhausted Cressida to her room. Her body was racked with painful sobs. To
