Srish Chandra would
have gone with him, but Nagendra would not allow it. The wretched man
wandered up and down the road like a madman for hours. He wished to
forget himself in the crowd, but at that time there was no crowd; and
who can forget himself? Then he returned to the house, and sat down
with Srish Chandra, to whom he said: "The _Brahmachari_ must have
learned from her where she went, and what she did. Tell me all he said
to you."
"Why talk of it now?" said Srish; "take some rest."
Nagendra frowned, and commanded Srish Chandra to speak.
Srish perceived that Nagendra had become like a madman. His face was
dark as a thunder-cloud. Afraid to oppose him, he consented to speak,
and Nagendra's face relaxed. He began--
"Walking slowly from Govindpur, Surja Mukhi came first in this
direction."
"What distance did she walk daily?" interrupted Nagendra.
"Two or three miles."
"She did not take a farthing from home; how did she live?"
"Some days fasting, some days begging--are you mad?" with these
words Srish Chandra threatened Nagendra, who had clutched at his own
throat as though to strangle himself, saying--
"If I die, shall I meet Surja Mukhi?"
Srish Chandra held the hands of Nagendra, who then desired him to
continue his narrative.
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