Chapter XXXVIII. 
The catastrophe

Chapter XXXIX. 
Kunda’s tongue is loosened

Chapter XL. 
The end

GLOSSARY OF HINDU WORDS

For the assistance of the reader, the names of the
principal characters in the tale are given—­

Nagendra Natha Datta A wealthy Zemindar.

Surja Mukhi His wife.

Debendra Datta Cousin to Nagendra.

Srish Chandra Mittra Accountant in a Merchant’s Office

Kamal Mani His wife, sister to Nagendra.

Satish Their baby boy.

Tara Charan Adopted brother of Surja Mukhi.

Kunda Nandini An Orphan Girl.

HIRA Servant in Nagendra’s household.

CHAPTER I.

NAGENDRA’S JOURNEY BY BOAT.

Nagendra Natha Datta is about to travel by boat.  It is the month Joisto (May—­June), the time of storms.  His wife, Surja Mukhi, had adjured him, saying, “Be careful; if a storm arises be sure you fasten the boat to the shore.  Do not remain in the boat.”  Nagendra had consented to this, otherwise Surja Mukhi would not have permitted him to leave home; and unless he went to Calcutta his suits in the Courts would not prosper.

Nagendra Natha was a young man, about thirty years of age, a wealthy zemindar (landholder) in Zillah Govindpur.  He dwelt in a small village which we shall call Haripur.  He was travelling in his own boat.  The first day or two passed without obstacle.  The river flowed smoothly on—­leaped, danced, cried out, restless, unending, playful.  On shore, herdsmen were grazing their oxen—­one sitting under a tree singing, another smoking, some fighting, others eating.  Inland, husbandmen were driving the plough, beating the oxen, lavishing abuse upon them, in which the owner shared.  The wives of the husbandmen, bearing vessels of water, some carrying a torn quilt, or a dirty mat, wearing a silver amulet round the neck, a ring in the nose, bracelets of brass on the arm, with unwashed garments, their skins blacker than ink, their hair unkempt, formed a chattering crowd.  Among them one beauty was rubbing her head with mud, another beating a child, a third speaking with a neighbour in abuse of some nameless person, a fourth beating clothes on a plank.  Further on, ladies from respectable villages adorned the ghats (landing-steps) with their appearance—­the elders conversing, the middle-aged worshipping Siva, the younger covering their faces and plunging into