human
Come, daughter, said Anunda,
gpt
Nay, dear mother, not so. Am I a Toorki woman to veil my face? said Tara, quickly.
human
Am I ashamed of it? Art thou, mother?
gpt
If thou wert not so beautiful, Tara. I dread men's evil eyes on thee, my child, and I dread men's tongues more.
human
Ah, mother! I dread neither, replied the girl.
gpt
They have done me no harm as yet, and if my heart is pure and 'sutee' before God and the Holy Mother, she will protect me. She has told me so often, and I believe it. Come--I think--I think, she added, with an excited manner, as she clasped her heavy gold zone about her waist, her bosom heaving rapidly beneath the silken folds over it, and her eyes glowing strangely,
human
I think, mother, she came to me last night in my dream. She was very beautiful, O, very beautiful! She took hold of my hair, and said, 'Serve me, Tara, I will keep it for thee.'
gpt
Tara! art thou dreaming still? exclaimed Anunda.
human
Holy Mother! what light is in thine eyes? Put the thought far from thee, O dearest; it is but the echo of what thy father said last night when he comforted us both--it will pass away.
gpt
Perhaps so, mother, answered the girl, abstractedly.
human
Yet it seemed so real, I think I feel the touch on my hair still. I looked at it when I rose, and combed it out, but I saw nothing. Yes, it will pass away--everything passes away.
gpt
And what was she like, Tara?
human
O mother, I was almost too dazzled to see. I am even now dazzled, and if I shut my eyes the vision is there. There! cried the girl, closing her eyes and pointing forward,
gpt
she continued, after a pause,
human
Didst thou tell this to him--to thy father, Tara?
gpt
Yes, mother. I awoke before him and could not sleep again. I got up and drew water for him to bathe. I tended the fire, and sat down to read. Then he went and bathed; and when he had come out of the temple[2] and put on dry clothes, I read part of the 'Geeta' to him, but I was trembling, and he thought I was cold. Gradually I told him----
human
And what said he, daughter?
gpt
He seemed troubled, mother, and yet glad, I could not say which. He said he would ask 'the Mother' after the morning hymn was ended.
human
Come then, Tara, we will go to him at once. Nay, girl, as thou art, thy words have given me strength, my pearl; come.