"I will devote my life to expiating the death of Surja Mukhi. What
expiation? All the joys of which Surja Mukhi was deprived in leaving
her home, I will henceforth give up. Wealth, servants, friends, none
of these will I retain. I will subject myself to all the sufferings
she endured. From the day I leave Govindpur I will go on foot, live
upon rice, sleep beneath a tree or in a hut. What further expiation?
Whenever I see a helpless woman I will serve her to the utmost of my
power. Of the wealth I reserve to myself I will take only enough to
sustain life; the rest I will devote to the service of helpless women.
Even of that portion of my wealth that I give to Satish, I will
direct that half of it shall be devoted during my life to the support
of destitute women. Expiation! Sin may be expiated, sorrow cannot be.
The only expiation for sorrow is death. In dying, sorrow leaves you:
why do I not seek that expiation?"
Then covering his face with his hands, and remembering his Creator,
Nagendra Natha put from him the desire to seek death.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THOUGH ALL ELSE DIES, SUFFERING DIES NOT.
Srish Chandra was sitting alone in his _boita khana_ one evening, when
Nagendra entered, carpet-bag in hand, and throwing the bag to a
distance, silently took a seat.
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