Satish looked at her inquiringly, but made no
reply. Andwhile in such half-conscious state I actually felt a deep
breathingsomewhere near my bare feet.
Then, as shebowed low again to take the dust of his
feet, she repeated, I willsin no more. Its face seemedto be touching my feet, on
which its panting breath fell thickly. MeanwhileNabins wife lit upon the discovery
that her husband had seduced hersister.
In one of these Ispread my blanket and laid myself
down. They have gone to a better place, said Shivatosh.
The Swami put this down to her pride, and that hurt
his own pride.
Whenever it heard our cymbals, it wouldlook up to
heaven and voice forth a prolonged complaint.
Nor need I pause to make it clearthat Damini had no
compunction in asking anything from me.
At first he had defiantly proclaimed active
disbelief in all religionand social convention.
Satishpassed and repassed, longing to join in, but
could not, unasked.
She was not in the leastabashed as she asked: Where
are you off to, Srivilas Babu?
When Damini has to own defeat,her surrender will be
absolute. Satish looked at her inquiringly, but made no reply. The packet was
delivered by the postman to theSwami. The next day, when Damini opened the safe, she
found her jewel-boxmissing.
This coming from Damini, in the presence of Satish,
made my ears burn.
When Damini has to own defeat,her surrender will be
absolute. That is why, when Satish came up, I had to feel ashamed.
He began to display an exaggerated tolerance for
her contumacy.
We hurried after Damini, but when we arrived his
wife wasdead.
Well, well, lets have your idea a little more
clearly, said Satish. The Master could notgive up either of us without a
struggle.
I spent the nightwandering round and round along
the dark, deserted village lanes.
Did you not see the hideouscountenance of the
murderess? We must free ourselves altogether from the influence of
women.
The smoking of onepipe, however, did not suffice
for its adjudication.
It was in that sameshaded veranda along our rooms
that these readings took place. Sometimes I thought that this constant ecstasy of
emotion was provingtoo much for me.
The road along whichhe is taking his devotees leads
neither to courage, nor restraint, norpeace.
I did not come, continued Damini, wanting to please
your devotees. After hisdiscourse had progressed awhile, something in our faces gave
himpause.