There was not light enough to recognize any one, but something might
be guessed from form and gait. Nagendra studied these for a moment,
then falling at the feet of the standing figure, in troubled tones he
said--
"Whether thou art a god or a human being, I am at thy feet; speak to
me, or I shall die!"
What the woman said he could not understand, but no sooner had the
sound of her voice entered his ear than he sprang to his feet and
tried to grasp the form. But mind and body again became benumbed, and,
like the creeper from the tree, he sank at the feet of the
enchantress; he could not speak. Again the woman, sitting down, took
his head upon her lap. When Nagendra once more recovered from stupor
it was day. The birds were singing in the adjacent garden. The rays of
the newly risen sun were shining into the room. Without raising his
eyes Nagendra said--
"Kunda, when did you come? This whole night I have been dreaming of
Surja Mukhi. In my dream I saw myself with my head on Surja Mukhi's
lap. If you could be Surja Mukhi, how joyful it would be!"
The woman answered, "If it would delight you so much to see that
unhappy being, then I am she."
Nagendra started up, wiped his eyes, sat holding his temples, again
rubbed his eyes and gazed; then bowing his head, he said in a low
voice--
"Am I demented, or is Surja Mukhi living? Is this the end of my
destiny, that I should go mad?"
Then the woman, clasping his feet, wept over them, saying, "Arise,
arise, my all! I have suffered so much.
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