Then the woman, clasping his feet, wept over them, saying, “Arise, arise, my all!  I have suffered so much.  To-day all my sorrow is ended.  I am not dead.  Again I have come to serve you.”

Could delusion last longer?  Nagendra embraced Surja Mukhi, and laid his head upon her breast.  Together they wept; but how joyous was that weeping!

CHAPTER XXXVI.

EXPLANATION.

In due time Surja Mukhi satisfied Nagendra’s inquiries, saying—­

“I did not die.  What the Kabiraj said of my dying was not true.  He did not know.  When I had become strong through his treatment, I was extremely anxious to come to Govindpur to see you.  I teased the Brahmachari till he consented to take me.  On arriving here, we learned you were not in the place.  The Brahmachari took me to a spot six miles from here, placed me in the house of a Brahmin to attend on his daughter, and then went in search of you:  first to Calcutta, where he had an interview with Srish Chandra, from whom he heard that you were gone to Madhupur.  At that place he learned that on the day we left Haro Mani’s house it was burned, and Haro Mani in it.  In the morning people could not recognize the body.  They reasoned that as of the two people in the house one was sick and one was well, that the former could not have escaped from want of strength; therefore that Haro Mani must have escaped and the dead person must be myself.  What was at first a supposition became established by report.  Ram Krishna heard the report, and repeated it to you.  The Brahmachari heard all this, and also that you had been there, had heard of my death, and had come hither.  He came after you, arriving last night at Protappur.  I also heard that in a day or two you were expected home.  In that belief I came here the day before yesterday.  It does not trouble me now to walk a few miles.  As you had not come I went back, saw the Brahmachari, and returned yesterday, arriving at one this morning.  The window being open, I entered the house and hid under the stairs without being seen.  When all slept I ascended; I thought you would certainly sleep in this room.  I peeped in, and saw you sitting with your head in your hands.  I longed to throw myself at your feet, but I feared you would not forgive my sin against you, so I refrained.  From within the window I looked, thinking, ‘Now I will let him see me.’  I came in, but you fell senseless, and since then I have sat with your head on my lap.  I knew not that such joy was in my destiny.  But, fie! you love me not; when you put your hand upon me you did not recognize me!  I should have known you by your breath.”

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE SIMPLETON AND THE SERPENT.