THE SIGNS OF LOVE.
As a cotton rag placed near fire becomes burnt, so the heart of Hira
became ever more inflamed by the remarkable beauty of Debendra. Many a
time Hira's virtue and good name would have been endangered by
passion, but that Debendra's character for sensuality without love
came to her mind and proved a safeguard. Hira had great power of
self-control, and it was through this power that she, though not very
virtuous, had hitherto easily preserved her chastity. The more
certainly to rule her heart, Hira determined to go again to service.
She felt that in daily work her mind would be distracted, and she
would be able to forget this unfortunate passion which stung like the
bite of a scorpion. Thus when Nagendra, leaving Kunda Nandini at
Govindpur, was about to set forth, Hira, on the strength of past
service, begged to be re-engaged, and Nagendra consented. There was
another cause for Hira's resolve to resume service. In her greed for
money, anticipating that Kunda would become the favourite of Nagendra,
she had taken pains to bring her under her own sway. "Nagendra's
wealth," she had reflected, "will fall into Kunda's hands, and when it
is Kunda's it will be Hira's." Now Kunda had become the mistress of
Nagendra's house, but she had not obtained possession of any special
wealth. But at this time Hira's mind was not dwelling on this matter.
Hira was not thinking of wealth; even had she done so, money obtained
from Kunda would have been as poison to her.
Hira was able to endure the pain of her own unsatisfied passion, but
she could not bear Debendra's passion for Kunda. When Hira heard that
Nagendra was journeying abroad, and that Kunda would remain as
_grihini_ (house-mistress), then, remembering Haridasi _Boisnavi_, she
became much alarmed, and stationed herself as a sentinel to place
obstacles in the path of Debendra. It was not from a desire to secure
the welfare of Kunda Nandini that Hira conceived this design. Under
the influence of jealousy Hira had become so enraged with Kunda, that
far from wishing her well she would gladly have seen her go to
destruction. But in jealous fear lest Debendra should gain access to
Kunda, Hira constituted herself the guardian of Nagendra's wife.
Thus the servant Hira became the cause of suffering to Kunda, who saw
that Hira's zeal and attention did not arise from affection. She
perceived that Hira, though a servant, showed want of trust in her,
and continually scolded and insulted her. Kunda was of a very peaceful
disposition; though rendered ill by Hira's conduct she said nothing to
her. Kunda's nature was calm, Hira's passionate. Thus Kunda, though
the master's wife, submitted as if she were a dependant; Hira lorded
it over her as if she were the mistress. Sometimes the other ladies of
the house, seeing Kunda suffer, scolded Hira, but they could not stand
before Hira's eloquence.
The _Dewan_ hearing of her doings, said to Hira: "Go away; I dismiss
you."
Hira replied, with flaming eyes: "Who are you to dismiss me? I was
placed here by the master, and except at his command I will not go. I
have as much power to dismiss you as you have to dismiss me."
The _Dewan_, fearing further insult, said not another word. Except
Surja Mukhi, no one could rule Hira.
One day, after the departure of Nagendra, Hira was lying alone in the
creeper-covered summer-house in the flower-garden near to the women's
apartments. Since it had been abandoned by Surja Mukhi and Nagendra,
Hira had taken possession of this summer-house. It was evening, an
almost full moon shone in the heavens. Her rays shining through the
branches of the trees fell on the white marble, and danced upon the
wind-moved waters of the _talao_ close by. The air was filled with the
intoxicating perfume of the scented shrubs. There is nothing in nature
so intoxicating as flower-perfumed air. Hira suddenly perceived the
figure of a man in a grove of trees; a second glance showed it to be
Debendra. He was not disguised, but wore his own apparel.
Hira exclaimed in astonishment: "You are very bold, sir; should you be
discovered you will be beaten!"
"Where Hira is, what cause have I for fear?" Thus saying, Debendra sat
down by Hira, who, after a little silent enjoyment this pleasure,
said--
"Why have you come here? You will not be able to see her whom you
hoped to see."
"I have already attained my hope. I came to see you."
Hira, not deceived by the sweet, flattering words she coveted, said
with a laugh: "I did not know I was destined to such pleasure; still,
since it has befallen me, let us go where I can satisfy myself by
beholding you without interruption. Here there are many obstacles."
"Where shall we go?" said Debendra.
"Into that summer-house; there we need fear nothing."
"Do not fear for me."
"If there is nothing to fear for you, there is for me. If I am seen
with you what will be my position?"
Shrinking at this, Debendra said: "Let us go. Would it not be well
that I should renew acquaintance with your new _grihini_?"
The burning glance of hate cast on him by Hira at these words,
Debendra failed to see in the uncertain light.
Hira said: "How will you get to see her?"
"By your kindness it will be accomplished," said Debendra.
"Then do you remain here on the watch; I will bring her to you."
With these words Hira went out of the summer-house. Proceeding some
distance, she stopped beneath the shelter of a tree and gave way to a
burst of sobbing: then went on into the house--not to Kunda Nandini,
but to the _darwans_ (gatekeepers), to whom she said--
"Come quickly; there is a thief in the garden."
Then Dobe, Chobe, Paure, and Teowari, taking thick bamboo sticks in
their hands, started off for the flower-garden. Debendra, hearing from
afar the sound of their clumsy, clattering shoes, and seeing their
black, napkin-swathed chins, leaped from the summer-house and fled in
haste. Teowari and Co. ran some distance, but they could not catch
him; yet he did not get off scot-free. We cannot certainly say whether
he tasted the bamboo, but we have heard that he was pursued by some
very abusive terms from the mouths of the _darwans_; and that his
servant, having had a little of his brandy, in gossip the next day
with a female friend remarked--
"To-day, when I was rubbing the Babu with oil, I saw a bruise on his
back."
Returning home, Debendra made two resolutions: the first, that while
Hira remained he would never again enter the Datta house; the second,
that he would retaliate upon Hira. In the end he had a frightful
revenge upon her. Hira's venial fault received a heavy punishment, so
heavy that at sight of it even Debendra's stony heart was lacerated.
We will relate it briefly later.