Srish Chandra, seeing his distressed
and wearied condition, was alarmed, but knew not how to ask an
explanation. He knew that Nagendra had received the _Brahmachari's_
letter at Benares, and had gone thence to Madhupur. As he saw that
Nagendra would not begin to speak, Srish Chandra took his hand and
said--
"Brother Nagendra, I am distressed to see you thus silent. Did you not
go to Madhupur?"
Nagendra only said, "I went."
"Did you not meet the _Brahmachari_?"
"No."
"Did you find Surja Mukhi? Where is she?"
Pointing upwards with his finger, Nagendra said, "In heaven."
Both sat silent for some moments; then Nagendra, looking up, said,
"You do not believe in heaven. I do."
Srish Chandra knew that formerly Nagendra had not believed in a
heaven, and understood why he now did so--understood that this heaven
was the creation of love.
Not being able to endure the thought that Surja Mukhi no longer
existed, he said to himself, "She is in heaven," and in this thought
found comfort.
Still they remained silent, for Srish Chandra felt that this was not
the time to offer consolation; that words from others would be as
poison, their society also.
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