CHAPTER XVIII.

THE CAGED BIRD.

Hira had lost her place, but her relation with the Datta family was not ended.  Ever greedy for news from that house, whenever she met any one belonging to it Hira entered into a gossip.  In this way she endeavoured to ascertain the disposition of Nagendra towards Surja Mukhi.  If she met no one she found some pretext for going to the house, where, in the servants’ quarters, while talking of all sorts of matters, she would learn what she wished and depart.  Thus some time passed; but one day an unpleasant event occurred.  After Hira’s interview with Debendra, Malati the milk-woman became a constant visitor at Hira’s dwelling.  Malati perceived that Hira was not pleased at this; also that one room remained constantly closed.  The door was secured by a chain and padlock on the outside; but Malati coming in unexpectedly, perceived that the padlock was absent.  Malati removed the chain and pushed the door, but it was fastened inside, and she guessed that some one must be in the room.  She asked herself who it could be?  At first she thought of a lover; but then, whose lover?  Malati knew everything that went on, so she dismissed this idea.  Then the thought flashed across her that it might be Kunda, of whose expulsion from the house of Nagendra she had heard.  She speedily determined upon a means of resolving her doubt.

Hira had brought from Nagendra’s house a young deer, which, because of its restlessness, she kept tied up.  Malati, pretending to feed the creature, loosened the fastening, and it instantly bounded away.  Hira ran after it.

Seizing the opportunity of Hira’s absence, Malati began to call out in a voice of distress:  “Hira!  Hira!  What has happened to my Hira?” Then rapping at Kunda’s door, she exclaimed:  “Kunda Thakurun, come out quickly; something has happened to Hira!”

In alarm Kunda opened the door; whereupon Malati, with a laugh of triumph, ran away.  Kunda again shut herself in.  She did not say anything of the circumstance to Hira, lest she should be scolded.

Malati went with her news to Debendra, who resolved to visit Hira’s house on the following day, and bring the matter to a conclusion.

Kunda was now a caged bird, ever restless.  Two currents uniting become a powerful stream.  So it was in Kunda’s heart.  On one side shame, insult, expulsion by Surja Mukhi; on the other, passion for Nagendra.  By the union of these two streams that of passion was increased, the smaller was swallowed up in the larger.  The pain of the taunts and the insults began to fade; Surja Mukhi no longer found place in Kunda’s mind, Nagendra occupied it entirely.  She began to think, “Why was I so hasty in leaving the house?  What harm did a few words do to me?  I used to see Nagendra, now I never see him.  Could I go back there? if she would not drive me away I would go.”  Day and night Kunda revolved these thoughts; she soon determined that she must return to the Datta house or she would die; that even if Surja Mukhi should again drive her away, she must make the attempt.  Yet on what pretext could she present herself in the court-yard of the house?  She would be ashamed to go thither alone.  If Hira would accompany her she might venture; but she was ashamed to open her mouth to Hira.