The Poison Tree: A Tale of Hindu Life in Bengal

again that he was dead, but she could not bring that thought clearly into her mind. At length she could no longer call, no longer think. The fan still moved in

o large as it seemed in her vision. The light was splendid, and refreshing to the eyes. But in the midst of that magnificent halo there was no moon; in its place Kunda saw the figure of a goddess of unparalleled brilliance. It seemed as if this brilliant goddess-ruled halo left the upper sky and descended gradually lower, throwing out a thousand rays of light, until it stood over Kunda's head. Then she saw that the central be

ed much, and I know thou hast yet more to suffer; thou so young, thy tender frame ca

o reply: "Whit

finger indicating the shining c

timeless, shoreless ocean of stars, and to

t somewhat grave face saddened, her brows knitt

n, bowed to the dust with affliction, thou rememberest me, and weepest to come to me, I will return. Then do thou come. But now do thou, looking on the horizon, follow the design of my finger. I wi

ure of a man more beautiful than a god. Beholding his high, capacious forehead, his sincere kindly glance, his swan-like n

ving as a cloud in the

benevolent, he will be the cause of thy

to the heaven

k hi

time that of a man, but a young woman of bright complexion and lot

dress is a Rakshasi.[2] When

female

me dark, the halo disappeared from the sky,

awoke fro

e villagers performed the necessary rites for the dead, one of the female neighbours remaining with the bereaved girl.

d to her own house, but sent her dau

nd by talking of various matters, but she saw that Kunda did not attend. She wep

t do you see that you look i

with her, but I feared to do so; now I mourn that I did not. If s

"How can the

replied by rela

re you acquainted with the man and w

e cannot be anywhere a man so ha

come of the dead man's daughter, where she would live, and whether she had any relativ

r in marriage? I will pay the expense, and so long as she remains

ay Kunda would have been reduced to servitude, or turned out of the house. Nagendra did not act i

zar; Binod Ghosh is the husband's name. You are on you way to Calcutta; if you take her with you and place

d this suggestion, and sent for Kunda

ra from afar, suddenly stood still like one stunned. Her feet refus

, "Why do yo

with her finger,

o?" sai

t my mother pictur

shrank from approaching, Nagendra came near and explained everything. Ku