The girl stared at him as unconcernedly as before.
The bewildered Kanti screwed up courage for another effort, and asked
tenderly after the wounded dove, but with no avail. The increasing
laughter in the room betokened an amusing joke.
At last Kanti learned that the girl was deaf and dumb, the companion of
all the animals and birds of the locality. It was but by chance that
she rose the other day when the name of Sudha was called.
Kanti now received a second shock. A black screen lifted from before
his eyes. With a sigh of intense relief, as of escape from calamity,
he looked once more into the face of his bride. Then came the true
Auspicious Vision. The light from his heart and from the smokeless
lamps fell on her gracious face; and he saw it in its true radiance,
knowing that Nabin's blessing would find fulfilment.