This day Surja Mukhi was present.  She sent to call Kamal to hear the singing.  Kamal came, bringing Kunda Nandini with her.  The Boisnavi sang—­

    “I would die for this blooming thorn,
    I will steal its honied sweets,
    I go to seek where it doth bloom,
    This fresh young bud.”

Kamal Mani frowned, and said:  “Boisnavi Didi, may ashes be thrown on your face!  Can you not sing something else?”

Haridasi asked, “Why?”

Kamal, more angrily, said:  “Why?  Bring a bough of the babla tree, and show her how pleasant it is to be pierced by thorns.”

Surja Mukhi said gently:  “We do not like songs of that sort; sing something suitable for the home circle.”

The Boisnavi, saying “Very well,” began to sing—­

    “By clasping the Pandit’s feet, I shall become learned in the Shastras;
    Learning thus the holy Shastras, who will dare speak ill of me?”

Kamal, frowning, said:  “Listen to this singing if it pleases you, sister.  I shall go away.”

She went, and Surja Mukhi also left, with a displeased countenance.  Of the rest of the women, those who relished the song remained, the others left; Kunda Nandini stayed.  She did not understand the hidden meaning of the songs, she scarcely even heard them.  Her thoughts were absent, so she remained where she was seated.  Haridasi sang no more, but talked on trivial subjects.  Seeing that there would be no more singing, all left except Kunda Nandini, whose feet seemed as though they would not move.  Thus, finding herself alone with Kunda, the Boisnavi talked much to her.  Kunda heard something of her talk, but not all.

Surja Mukhi saw all this from a distance, and when the two showed signs of being deep in conversation she called Kamal and pointed them out to her.

Kamal said:  “What of that? they are only talking.  She is a woman, not a man.”

“Who knows?” said Surja.  “I think it is a man in disguise; but I will soon find out.  How wicked Kunda must be!”

“Stay a moment,” said Kamal, “I will fetch a babla branch, and let her feel its thorns.”

Thus saying, Kamal went in search of a bough.  On the way she saw Satish, who had got possession of his aunt’s vermilion, and was seated, daubing neck, nose, chin, and breast with the red powder.  At this sight Kamal forgot the Boisnavi, the bough, Kunda Nandini, and everything else.

Surja Mukhi sent for the servant Hira.

Hira’s name has been mentioned once; it is now needful to give a particular account of her.  Nagendra and his father always took special care that the female servants of the household should be of good character.  With this design they offered good wages, and sought to engage servants of a superior class.  The women servants of the house dwelt in happiness and esteem, therefore many respectable women of small means took service with them.