And Nagendra, is this the stainless character you have preserved so long?  Is this the return for your Surja Mukhi’s devotion?  Shame! shame! you are a thief; you are worse than a thief.  What could a thief have done to Surja Mukhi?  He might have stolen her ornaments, her wealth, but you have come to destroy her heart.  Surja Mukhi never bestowed anything upon the thief, therefore if he stole, he was but a thief.  But to you Surja Mukhi gave her all; therefore you are committing the worst of thefts.  Nagendra, it were better for you to die.  If you have the courage, drown yourself.

Shame! shame!  Kunda Nandini; why do you tremble at the touch of a thief?  Why are the words of a thief as a thorn in the flesh?  See, Kunda Nandini! the water is pure, cool, pleasant; will you plunge into it? will you not die?

Kunda Nandini did not wish to die.

The robber said:  “Kunda, will you go to-morrow to Calcutta?  Do you go willingly?”

Willingly—­alas! alas!  Kunda wiped her eyes, but did not speak.

“Kunda, why do you weep?  Listen.  With much difficulty I have endured so long; I cannot bear it longer.  I cannot say how I have lived through it.  Though I have struggled so hard, yet see how degraded I am.  I have become a drunkard.  I can struggle no longer; I cannot let you go.  Listen, Kunda.  Now widow marriage is allowed I will marry you, if you consent.”

This time Kunda spoke; she said “No.”

“Why, Kunda? do you think widow marriage unholy?”

“No.”

“Then why not?  Say, say, will you be my wife or not? will you love me or no?”

“No.”

Then Nagendra, as though he had a thousand tongues, entreated her with heart-piercing words.  Still Kunda said “No.”

Nagendra looked at the pure, cold water, and asked himself, “Can I lie there?”

To herself Kunda said:  “No, widow marriage is allowed in the Shastras; it is not on that account.”

Why, then, did she not seek the water?

CHAPTER XIV.

LIKE TO LIKE.

Haridasi Boisnavi, returning to the garden-house, suddenly became Debendra Babu, and sat down and smoked his huka, drinking brandy freely at intervals until he became intoxicated.

Then Surendra entered, sat down by Debendra, and after inquiring after his health, said, “Where have you been to-day again?”

“Have you heard of this so soon?” said Debendra.

“This is another mistake of yours.  You imagine that what you do is hidden, that no one can know anything about it; but it is known all over the place.”

“I have no desire to hide anything,” said Debendra.

“It reflects no credit upon you.  So long as you show the least shame we have some hope of you.  If you had any shame left, would you expose yourself in the village as a Boisnavi?”

Said Debendra, laughing, “What a jolly Boisnavi I was!  Were you not charmed with my get-up?”