good king say such beautiful things, and then let all this time pass without even sending a message? (She reflects.) Yes, we must send him the ring he left as a token.  But whom shall we ask to take it?  The hermits are unsympathetic because they have never suffered.  It seemed as if her friends were to blame and so, try as we might, we could not tell Father Kanva that Shakuntala was married to Dushyanta and was expecting a baby.  Oh, what shall we do? (Enter PRIYAMVADA.)

Priyamvada.  Hurry, Anusuya, hurry!  We are getting Shakuntala ready for her journey.

Anusuya (astonished).  What do you mean, my dear?

Priyamuada.  Listen.  I just went to Shakuntala, to ask if she had slept well.

Anusuya.  And then——­

Priyamvada.  I found her hiding her face for shame, and Father Kanva was embracing her and encouraging her.  “My child,” he said, “I bring you joy.  The offering fell straight in the sacred fire, and auspicious smoke rose toward the sacrificer.  My pains for you have proved like instruction given to a good student; they have brought me no regret.  This very day I shall give you an escort of hermits and send you to your husband.”

Anusuya.  But, my dear, who told Father Kanva about it?

Priyamvada.  A voice from heaven that recited a verse when he had entered the fire-sanctuary.

Anusuya (astonished).  What did it say?

Priyamvada.  Listen. (Speaking in good Sanskrit.)

  Know, Brahman, that your child,
  Like the fire-pregnant tree,
  Bears kingly seed that shall be born
  For earth’s prosperity.

Anusuya (hugging PRIYAMVADA).  I am so glad, dear.  But my joy is half sorrow when I think that Shakuntala is going to be taken away this very day.

Priyamvada.  We must hide our sorrow as best we can.  The poor girl must be made happy to-day.

Anusuya.  Well, here is a cocoa-nut casket, hanging on a branch of the mango-tree.  I put flower-pollen in it for this very purpose.  It keeps fresh, you know.  Now you wrap it in a lotus-leaf, and I will get yellow pigment and earth from a sacred spot and blades of panic grass for the happy ceremony. (PRIYAMVADA does so.  Exit ANUSUYA.)

A voice behind the scenes.  Gautami, bid the worthy Sharngarava and Sharadvata make ready to escort my daughter Shakuntala.

Priyamvada (listening).  Hurry, Anusuya, hurry!  They are calling the hermits who are going to Hastinapura. (Enter ANUSUYA, with materials for the ceremony.)

Anusuya.  Come, dear, let us go. (They walk about.)

Priyamvada (looking ahead).  There is Shakuntala.  She took the ceremonial bath at sunrise, and now the hermit-women are giving her rice-cakes and wishing her happiness.  Let’s go to her. (They do so.  Enter SHAKUNTALA with attendants as described, and GAUTAMI.)