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hands； and； with all the strength and intensity of her soul； wished that she could then and there melt into nothingness。 It was the same papiya whose song floated into the room with the south breeze； and no one heard it。 Endless are the beauties of the earth…but alas； how easily everything is twisted out of shape。
II
Returning from without； Hemanta asked his wife： 〃Is it true？〃
〃It is；〃 replied Kusum。
〃Why didn't you tell me long ago？〃
〃I did try many a time； and I always failed。 I am a wretched woman。〃
〃Then tell me everything now。〃
Kusum gravely told her story in a firm unshaken voice。 She waded barefooted through fire； as it were； with slow unflinching steps； and nobody knew how much she was scorched。 Having heard her to the end； Hemanta rose and walked out。
Kusum thought that her husband had gone； never to return to her again。 It did not strike her as strange。 She took it as naturally as any other incident of everyday life…so dry and apathetic had her mind become during the last few moments。 Only the world and love seemed to her as a void and make…believe from beginning to end。 Even the memory of the protestations of love； which her husband had made to her in days past； brought to her lips a dry； hard； joyless smile； like a sharp cruel knife which had cut through her heart。 She was thinking； perhaps； that the love which seemed to fill so much of one's life； which brought in its train such fondness and depth of feeling； which made even the briefest separation so exquisitely painful and a moment's union so intensely sweet； which seemed boundless in its extent and eternal in its duration； the cessation of which could not be imagined even in births to comethat this was that love！ So feeble was its support！ No sooner does the priesthood touch it than your 〃eternal〃 love crumbles into a handful of dust！ Only a short while ago Hemanta had whispered to her： 〃What a beautiful night！〃 The same night was not yet at an end； the same yapiya was still warbling； the same south breeze still blew into the roam； making the bed…curtain shiver； the same moonlight lay on the bed next the open window； sleeping like a beautiful heroine exhausted with gaiety。 All this was unreal！ Love was more falsely dissembling than she herself！
III
The next morning Hemanta； fagged after a sleepless night； and looking like one distracted； called at the house of Peari Sankar Ghosal。 〃What news； my son？〃 Peari Sankar greeted him。
Hemanta； flaring up like a big fire； said in a trembling voice： 〃You have defiled our caste。 You have brought destruction upon us。 And you will have to pay for it。〃 He could say no more； be felt choked。
〃And you have preserved my caste； presented my ostracism from the community； and patted me on the back affectionately！〃 said Peari Sankar with a slight sarcastic smile。
Hemanta wished that his Brahmin…fury could reduce Peari Sankar to ashes in a moment； but his rage burnt only himself。 Peari Sankar sat before him unscathed； and in the best of health。
〃Did I ever do you any harm？〃 demanded Hemanta in a broken voice。
〃Let me ask you one question；〃 said Peari Sankar。 〃My daughtermy only child…what harm had she done your father？ You were very young then； and probably never heard。 Listen； then。 Now； don't you excite yourself。 There is much humour in what I am going to relate。
〃You were quite small when my son…in…law Nabakanta ran away to England after stealing my daughter's jewels。 You might truly remember the commotion in the village when he returned as a barrister five years later。 Or； perhaps； you were unaware of it； as you were at school in Calcutta at the time。 Your father； arrogating to himself the headship of the community； declared that if I sent my daughter to her husband's home； I must renounce her for good； and never again allow her to cross my threshold。 I fell at your father's feet； and implored him； saying： 'Brother； save me this once。 I will make the boy swallow cow…dung； and go through the prayaschittam ceremony。 Do take him back into caste。' But your father remained obdurate。 For my part； I could not disown my only child； and； bidding good…bye to my village and my kinsmen； I betook myself to Calcutta。 There； too； my troubles followed me。 When I had made every arrangement for my nephew's marriage； your father stirred up the girl's people； and they broke the match off。 Then I took a solemn vow that； if there was a drop of Brahmin blood flowing in my veins； I would avenge myself。 You understand the business to some extent now； don't you？ But wait a little longer。 You will enjoy it； when I tell you the whole story； it is interesting。
〃When you were attending college； one Bipradas Chatterji used to live next door to your lodgings。 The poor fellow is dead now。 In his house lived a child…widow called Kusum； the destitute orphan of a Kayestha gentleman。 The girl was very pretty； and the old Brahmin desired to shield her from the hungry gaze of college students。 But for a young girl to throw dust in the eyes of her old guardian was not at all a difficult task。 She often went to the top of the roof； to hang her washing out to dry； and； I believe； you found your own roof best suited for your studies。 Whether you two spoke to each other； when on your respective roofs； I cannot tell； but the girl's behaviour excited suspicion in the old man's mind。 She made frequent mistakes in her household duties； and； like Parbati （The wife of Shiva the Destroyer）； engaged in her devotions； began gradually to renounce food and sleep。 Some evenings she would burst into tears in the presence of the old gentleman； without any apparent reason。
〃At last he discovered that you two saw each other from the roofs pretty frequently； and that you even went the length of absenting yourself from college to sit on the roof at mid…day with a book in your hand； so fond had you grown suddenly of solitary study。 Bipradas came to me for advice； and told me everything。 'Uncle；' said I to him； ‘for a long while you have cherished a desire to go on a pilgrimage to Benares。 You had better do it now； and leave the girl in my charge。 I will take care of her。'
〃So he went。 I lodged the girl in the house of Sripati Chatterji； passing him off as her father。 What happened next is known to you。 I feel a great relief to…day； having told you everything from the beginning。 It sounds like a romance； doesn't it？ I think of turning it into a book； and getting it printed。 But I am not a writing…man myself。 They say my nephew has some aptitude that wayI will get him to write it for me。 But the best thing would be； if you would collaborate with him； because the conclusion of the story is not known to me so well。〃
Without paying much attention to the concluding remarks of Peari Sankar； Hemanta asked： 〃Did not Kusum object to this marriage？〃
〃Well；〃 said Peari Sankar； 〃it is very difficult to guess。 You know； my boy； how women's minds are constituted。 When they say 'no；' they mean 'yes。' During the first few days after her removal to the new home； she went almost crazy at not seeing you。 You； too； seemed to have discovered her new address somehow； as you used to lose your way after starting for college； and loiter about in front of Sr