Chandra Mukhi added, “Her hair is like tow.”

Kapal said, “Her forehead is too high.”

Kamala said, “Her lips are thick.”

Harani observed, “Her figure is very wooden.”

Pramada added, “The woman’s bust is like that of a play actor, it has no grace.”

In this manner it soon appeared that the beautiful Boisnavi was of unparalleled ugliness.

Then Lalita said, “Whatever her looks may be, she sings beautifully.”

But even this was not admitted.  Chandra Mukhi said the singing was coarse; Mukta Keshi confirmed this criticism.

Ananga said, “The woman does not know any songs; she could not even give us one of Dasu Rai’s songs.”

Kanak said, “She does not understand time.”

Thus it appeared that Haridasi Boisnavi was not only extremely ugly, but that her singing was of the worst description.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE BABU.

Haridasi Boisnavi, having left the house of the Datta family, went to Debipur.  At this place there is a flower-garden surrounded by painted iron railings.  It is well stocked with fruit trees and flowering shrubs.  In the centre is a tank, upon the edge of which stands a garden-house.  Entering a private room in this house, Haridasi threw off her dress.  Suddenly that dense mass of hair fell from the head; the locks were borrowed.  The bust also fell away; it was made of cloth.  After putting on suitable apparel and removing the Boisnavi garments, there stood forth a strikingly handsome young man of about five and twenty years of age.  Having no hair on his face he looked quite a youth; in feature he was very handsome.  This young man was Debendra Babu, of whom we have before had some slight knowledge.

Debendra and Nagendra were sprung from the same family, but between the two branches there had been feud for successive generations, so that the members of the Debipur family were not on speaking terms with those of Govindpur.  From generation to generation there had been lawsuits between the two houses.  At length, in an important suit, the grandfather of Nagendra had defeated the grandfather of Debendra, and since that time the Debipur family had been powerless.  All their money was swallowed up in law expenses, and the Govindpur house had bought up all their estates.  From that time the position of the Debipur family had declined, that of the other increased, the two branches no longer united.

Debendra’s father had sought in one way to restore the fallen fortunes of his house.  Another zemindar, named Ganesh, dwelt in the Haripur district; he had one unmarried daughter, Hembati, who was given to Debendra in marriage.  Hembati had many virtues; she was ugly, ill-tempered, unamiable, selfish.  Up to the time of his marriage with her, Debendra’s character had been without stain.  He had been very studious, and was by nature steady and truth-loving.