human
So the Pundit is not dancing back to the town as he came out, before the new Moorlee,
gpt
Nor thou either, Gunga. Dost thou not welcome a new priestess?
human
I marvel at it, she continued, with a sneer;
gpt
Ah! she will never join ye, he returned;
human
By the Holy Mother, she shall not remain so, Moro Trimmul. She--a widow--to think of setting herself above us! That cat-faced girl! If she has chosen to serve the Mother she must obey her rules, and be one of us. Think ye we will let her come there unless she is?
gpt
I was thinking about her,
human
I thought so, she replied,
gpt
Love thee! returned the man, bitterly--
human
As heavy as hers?
gpt
Thou shalt weigh the one against the other and thine shalt turn the scale--will that content thee?
human
Wilt thou?--shall it? Swear on my neck and my feet to give this, and I will do thy will. Yes, to humble her pride and her father's--who drove me from the temple one day, and I have hated him ever since. I shall hate thee too, afterwards; yet I will do it, cried the girl, excitedly, clapping her hands--
gpt
I swear, said the man, touching her neck.
human
Come and sit here by me.
gpt
Thou hast a sister, Moro Pundit, and she is beautiful. She ought to have been married ere this. A little more time, and can it be done?
human
She was betrothed once, he said,
gpt
Perhaps she was married, continued the girl, with a sneer,
human
No! by the Holy Mother, no! cried the Pundit, sharply, and with flashing eyes.
gpt
Breathe such a thing and I will have thy life. Beware what thou sayest, even to me! A word more, and I fling thee down the precipice!
human
O, I fear not for my life, said the girl, carelessly,
gpt
Ah! said the Pundit, abstractedly,
human
I had thought of it too, but it seemed impossible. I do not know him--yes--if----
gpt
If?--why if? Art thou afraid? The girl is here--let me see her and know her, and leave the rest to us.
human
Gunga, said the Brahmun, after a pause.
gpt
If thou canst bring this about--if thou canst get me speech of this Shastree----
human
Let me speak to the girl first. 'Radha,' that is her name, is it not? Let me see if she is resolute and as I hear of her. If she be, she shall have her desire; thou shalt have thine; and I--ah, yes! I will have more gold. Yes, she cried, clapping her hands again,
gpt
When my sister is Vyas Shastree's wife thou mayst have what thou wilt, Gunga. I swear it to thee on thy neck and feet. Art thou content? Yes, thou shalt see her now. Manage the matter as ye will, women's wits are sharper than mine. Now follow me unobserved,
human
Once more, Moro Pundit, continued Gunga,
gpt
Yes; till the Now Râtree; after that not for a long time.
human
Enough to do, enough to do, in the time, muttered the girl to herself.
gpt
Hast thou any women with thee--any relations?
human
Yes, her mother's sister--a widow; no more. Our mother is dead, my father is dead, and there are only ourselves left of a large family.
gpt
Then the Shastree will like the connection all the better, and--ye are rich, they say. Yes, I will bring the widow and Anunda together.
human
We have enough. In that respect I can satisfy the Shastree fully.
gpt
Ah! he will ask no questions. His wife is shrewd and clever, and will guide him, she replied;
human
My aunt is wise, as you will find when you know her; and as for the rest, Gunga, it is in my hands. I, too, am an astrologer and can cast Radha's nativity as I please.
gpt
Yes, it will answer, she said.
human
Now go by that path; we must not be seen together. I will come to thee before noon; we have no time to lose. Only remember thine oath, Moro Trimmul, and beware how thou triest to evade or deceive me. I would not hurt thee willingly; and for the sake of----. No matter now, she continued, gulping down what was rising in her throat,
gpt
I am in thy hands, Gunga, and may be trusted, he replied;
human
No--no more. No more like the old ones, she said, shaking her head mournfully.
gpt
Only the gold now--only the gold!
human
Specimens of Old Indian Poetry, translated from the original Sanskrit.
gpt
Yes, surely it is strange that the two nativities should fit so exactly, said Vyas Shastree to himself, some days after the events recorded in the last chapter, as, seated by himself upon his dais, and having given orders not to be disturbed, he appeared absorbed in a table of nativity which lay before him;