THE END.
After Kunda Nandini's death, people asked where she obtained the
poison, and all began to suspect that it was Hira's work.
Nagendra directed that Hira should be called, but she was not to be
found; since Kunda's death she had disappeared. From that time no one
ever saw Hira in that part of the country; her name was no longer
heard in Govindpur.
Once only, a year later, she showed herself to Debendra. The poison
tree planted by Debendra had by that time borne fruit; he was seized
with a malignant disease, and as he did not cease drinking, the
disease became incurable. During the first year after Kunda's death,
Debendra's summons came. Two or three days before his death, as he lay
on his bed without power to rise, there suddenly arose a great noise
at the door.
In answer to Debendra's inquiries, the servant said, "A mad woman
wants to see you, sir; she will not be forbidden."
He gave orders that she should be admitted. The woman appeared.
Debendra saw that she was reduced by want, but observed no sign of
madness; he thought her a wretched beggar-woman. She was young, and
retained the signs of former beauty, but now she was a sight indeed.
Her apparel soiled, ragged, patched, and so scanty that it barely
reached her knees, while her back and head remained uncovered; her
hair unkempt, dishevelled, covered with dust and matted together; her
body never oiled, withered-looking, covered with mud. As she
approached, she cast so wild a glance on Debendra that he saw the
servants were right--she was truly a mad-woman.
After gazing at him some time, she said, "Do you not know me? I am
Hira."
Recognizing her, Debendra asked in astonishment, "Who has brought you
to this condition?"
Hira, with a glance full of rage, biting her lip and clenching her
fist, approached to strike Debendra; but restraining herself she said,
"Ask again who has brought me to this condition: this is your doing.
You don't know me now, but once you took your pleasure of me. You
don't remember it, but one day you sang this song"--bursting forth
into a love-song.
In this manner reminding him of many things, she said: "On the day you
drove me out I became mad. I went to take poison. Then a thought of
delight came to me; instead of taking it myself, I would cause either
you or Kunda Nandini to do so. In that hope I hid my illness for a
time; it comes and goes; when it was on me I stayed at home, when well
I worked. Finally, having poisoned your Kunda, my trouble was soothed;
but after seeing her death my illness increased. Finding that I could
not hide it any longer, I left the place. Now I have no food. Who
gives food to a mad woman? Since then I have begged. When well I beg;
when the disease presses I stay under a tree. Hearing of your
approaching death, I have come to delight myself in seeing you. I give
you my blessing, that even hell may find no place for you."
Thus saying, the mad-woman uttered a loud laugh. Alarmed, Debendra
moved to the other side of the bed; then Hira danced out of the house,
singing the old love-song.
From that time Debendra's bed of death was full of thorns. He died
delirious, uttering words of the love-song.
After his death the night-watch heard with a beating heart the
familiar strain from the mad-woman in the garden.
The "Poison Tree" is finished. We trust it will yield nectar in many a
house.
* * * * *
GLOSSARY OF HINDU WORDS.
_Attar_. Commonly called in England _Otto_ of Roses.
_Bari_. The Hindu home.
_Bhagirati_. A river, branch of the Ganges.
_Boiragi_. A religious devotee.
_Boisnavi_. A female mendicant; a votary of Vishnu.
_Boroari_. A Hindu festival.
_Boita khana_. The sitting-room of the male members
of the household, and their guests.
_Bonti_. A fish knife.
_Bou_. The wife.
_Brahmachari_. A student of the Vedas.
_Brahman_. An officiating Hindu priest
_Brahmo Somaj_. The church of the Theistic sect or Brahmos.
_Dada Babu_. Elder brother.
_Dahuk_. A bird of the Crane species.
_Didi_. Elder sister.
_Duftur Khana_. Accountant's office.
_Durga_. A Hindu goddess.
_Darwan_. A doorkeeper.
_Ghat_. Landing steps to a river or tank.
_Ghi_. Clarified butter.
_Gomashta_. Factor or agent; a rent-collector.
_Grihini_. The house-mistress.
_Ganga_. The river Ganges.
_Joisto_. The Hindu month corresponding to May--June.
_Kabiraj_. A Hindu physician.
_Kacheri_. Courthouse, or Revenue-office.
_Kayasta_. The writer caste.
_Khansamah_. A Mahommedan butler.
_Korta_. The master of the house.
_Ma Thakurani_. A title of respect to the mistress.
_Mahal_. A division of a house.
_Malini_. A flower girl.
_Manji_. A boatman.
_Naib_. A deputy, representing the Zemindar.
_Pandit_. A learned Brahman.
_Papiya_. A bird.
_Puja_. Hindu worship.
_Puja Mahal_. The division of the house devoted to worship.
_Pardah_. A screen or curtain.
_Ryot_. A tiller of the soil.
_Sari_. A woman's garment.
_Shastras_. Hindu sacred books.
_Shradda_. An obsequial ceremony, in which food and
water are offered to deceased ancestors.
_Siva_. A Hindu Cod.
_Sraban_. The Hindu months corresponding to July--August.
_Talao_. A tank or enclosed pond
_Thakur_. The Deity; sometimes applied as a title of
honour to the master of the house.
_Thakur Ban_. The chamber occupied by the family deity.
_Tulsi_. A plant held sacred by the Hindus.
_Zemindar_. A landholder.
_Zillah_. A district or local division.
* * * * *
End of Project Gutenberg's The Poison Tree, by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee