Then Hira said:  “It has become very late; now good-bye,” and smiling gently she arose and departed.

Debendra fell into a drunken sleep.

Early the next morning Hira related to Surja Mukhi all that she had heard from Debendra—­his three years’ passion, and his present attempt to play the lover to Kunda Nandini in the disguise of a Boisnavi.

Then Surja Mukhi’s blue eyes grew inflamed with anger, the crimson veins on her temples stood out.  Kamal also heard it all.

Surja Mukhi sent for Kunda Nandini, and when she came said to her—­

“Kunda, we have learned who Haridasi Boisnavi is.  We know that he is your paramour.  I now know your true character.  We give no place in our house to such a woman.  Take yourself away from here, otherwise Hira shall drive you away with a broom.”

Kunda trembled.  Kamal saw that she was about to fall, and led her away to her own chamber.  Remaining there, she comforted Kunda as well as she could, saying, “Let the Bou (wife) say what she will, I do not believe a word of it.”

CHAPTER XV.

THE FORLORN ONE.

In the depth of night, when all were sleeping, Kunda Nandini opened the door of her chamber and went forth.  With but one dress, the seventeen-year-old girl left the house of Surja Mukhi, and leaped alone into the ocean of the world.  Kunda had never set foot outside the house; she could not tell in which direction to go.

The dark body of the large house loomed against the sky.  Kunda wandered for some time in the dark; then she remembered that a light was usually to be seen from Nagendra’s room.  She knew how to reach the spot; and thinking that she would refresh her eyes by seeking that light, she went to that side of the house.  The shutters were open, the sash closed.  In the darkness three lights gleamed; insects were hovering near trying to reach the light, but the glass repelled them.  Kunda in her heart sympathized with these insects.  Her infatuated eyes dwelt upon the light; she could not bring herself to leave it.  She sat beneath some casuarina-trees near the window, every now and then watching the fireflies dancing in the trees.  In the sky black clouds chased each other, only a star or two being visible at intervals.  All round the house rows of casuarina-trees raising their heads into the clouds, stood like apparitions of the night.  At the touch of the wind these giant-faced apparitions whispered in their ghost language over Kunda Nandini’s head.  The very ghosts, in their fear of the terrible night, spoke in low voices.  Occasionally the open shutters of the window flapped against the walls.  Black owls hooted as they sat upon the house; sometimes a dog seeing another animal rushed after it; sometimes a twig or a fruit fell to the ground.  In the distance the cocoanut palms waved their heads, the rustling of the leaves of the fan palm reached the ear.  Over all the light streamed, and the insect troop came and went.  Kunda sat there gazing.