“This writing was indistinctly traced with a burnt stick, on a blank leaf torn out of a book.  In the first moment of indignation, I felt disposed to seek Balty Mahu, the great enemy of my life, and wreak my vengeance on him for all his persecutions; but the conviction that such a course would extinguish the last spark of hope, restrained me.  I then determined to see Shunah Shoo, and endeavour to remove his prejudices.  I accordingly called on him at his own house:  but after he had heard my vindication, (to which he evidently gave no credit,) he coolly told me that he meant to dispose of his daughter in another way.  The words fell like ice upon my heart.  I expostulated; and, offensive as was his haughty air, even had recourse to entreaty.  But he, in a yet harsher manner, told me that he must be permitted to manage his own affairs in his own way; and added, that he did not wish to be longer prevented from attending to them.  I was compelled to retire, with my heart almost as full of hatred for the father, as of love for the child.

“On the same night, I again betook myself to the street in which Shunah Shoo lived, but not by the ordinary route.  I cautiously approached his house.  All was stillness and quiet:  no light appeared to be burning in Veenah’s room, nor indeed in any other part of the house.  I hence concluded that they had now deprived her of light, as well as of pen and ink.  I continued in the street until near morning, straining my eyes and ears in the hope of catching something that would give me intelligence concerning her.  Often, in the course of that painful suspense, did I fancy I heard a noise at the lattice in Veenah’s apartment, or in some other part of the mansion; and once I persuaded myself I saw a light:  but these illusions served only to aggravate my disappointment.  The next morning, before I had left my room, my father informed me that Shunah Shoo, with his family, had left Benares early the preceding evening; but whither they had gone, he had not learnt.

“I rose, and immediately set about discovering their course; but all I could learn was, that they had embarked in one of the passage-boats which ply on the Ganges, and that Shunah had taken his palanquins and many of his servants with him:  and, as Balty Mahu had suddenly absented himself from college at the same time, I did not doubt that he had aided in executing the plan which he had also probably formed.  My father, who saw what I suffered, spared no pains to discover the place of their retreat; but our endeavours were all ineffectual.

“At the end of three months, in which time my anxiety increased rather than diminished, the mystery was dispelled.  It was now trumpeted through the city, that Shunah Shoo had returned to Benares in great pomp, accompanied by a wealthy Omrah of a neighbouring district, to whom he had given, or rather sold, his daughter.  The news came upon me like a clap of thunder.  My previous state of suspense was happiness