Hira continued: "Now hear what my troubles are. I also loved a man
more than my own life. He was not my husband, but why should I hide my
sin from my mistress? it is better to confess it plainly."
These shameless words did not enter Kunda's ear; in it the word
"suicide" was repeating itself, as though a demon kept whispering,
"Would it not be better for you to destroy yourself than to endure
this misery?"
Hira continued: "He was not my husband, but I loved him better than
the best husband. I knew he did not love me; he loved another sinner,
a hundred times less attractive than I." At this point, Hira cast a
sharp, angry glance from under her eyelids at Kunda, then went on:
"Knowing this, I did not run after him, but one day we were both
wicked."
Beginning thus, Hira briefly related the terrible history. She
mentioned no name, neither that of Debendra nor that of Kunda. She
said nothing from which it could be inferred whom she had loved, or
who was beloved by him. At length, after speaking of the abuse she had
received, she said--
"Now what do you suppose I did?"
"What did you do?"
"I went to a _Kabiraj_. He has all sorts of poisons by which life can
be destroyed.
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