human
He is in the upper room, he said,
gpt
Enough, Chimna; take care of my servant till I return, said Radha.
human
You can sit here; if I want you I will call; and so saying she passed through a door into the inner court, and up the steps which led to the apartments above, which were steep and narrow. The door was closed at the top of them, and she knocked before she opened it. Her brother unfastened it inside.
gpt
Enter, he said quickly;
human
and he hastily arranged a few pillows and a travelling mattress for her,
gpt
O, I am weary, Radha, he continued,
human
Brother, you are ill, she replied;
gpt
Ay, sister, and there is more, and he pointed to a heap of letters on the floor;
human
Is this Moro Trimmul, my brother, who is speaking? said the girl, with some scorn in her tone, and drawing herself up.
gpt
I thought he, like Tannajee and the master, could see no hindrance to the cause of the Holy Mother but death. He used to say so in--in--the old times,
human
The old times? he echoed.
gpt
Yes, the old times, when thou hadst a royal lover, girl; not a drivelling book-worm!
human
Hush, Moro, returned Radha sharply;
gpt
Is it to be forgotten? Dost thou forget it, Radha?--then, when we brought thee back from him?
human
He never loved me, she returned;
gpt
Not for the mad child, but for the beautiful girl, would he care; he does care, Radha. O sister, why was this hateful marriage done, so far away from us?
human
Nay, brother, thou knowest best; but I am content--he is very kind to me; and they all love Radha now, even Anunda.
gpt
Radha, said her brother, raising himself on his arms and looking at her intently, and till his eyes seemed to flash with a light glowing beneath them.
human
Radha, do not lie. If thou art my sister, thy heart is far away among the blue mountains and their deep forests, and with our Prince. If it be not so, the witchcraft of that house hath compassed thee with a spell, as it has me.
gpt
Witchcraft, brother? they do no witchcraft,
human
By the Mother, they do, he cried;
gpt
Moro, thou art ill; this is fever, returned his sister anxiously.
human
I was like this yesterday, and Anunda gave me some medicine, and I slept, and it passed away. Let me fetch some, or send the woman for it.
gpt
No, no, Radha, he said hoarsely,
human
Brother, dear brother, said the girl,
gpt
Radha, I am not ill, he replied;
human
I need no tending. Was I ill yesterday, when I overcame the Brahmuns from Punderpoor in the discussion at night, and when I could have said the Ramayun by heart? Was I ill to-day when I strove with the Nassuk Brahmuns in logic? No, girl, I am not ill in body, only at heart. And when she comes to the temple, and goes round the shrine crowned with flowers, clashing the cymbals and singing hymns with the priests, then I see the charm on her bosom, and it sparkles; and I hear her ringing voice, and I grow mad, Radha--mad ... and this fever comes on me, and I burn as they do in hell--as I do now. Look! he cried in a shrill cry of pain,
gpt
he continued in a plaintive voice, after a pause, stretching out his hands and shutting his eyes, as he turned away,
human
What can I do? what can I do? cried Radha, wringing her hands.
gpt
He will die. Ho, Chimna!
human
Silence, Radha; for your life call no one. I will strike you if you do, he said, raising his arm.
gpt
Look, she is gone! she was there--there, even now. I turned away, for her eyes burned me; there was no love in them--none. She came and mocked me, and you are witness of it. Why did she come in the air? She is a spirit--a witch--and it is always thus. There--look----