The Poison Tree | Page 6

man
and woman whose forms you saw in the sky?"
"No, I had never seen them. There cannot be anywhere a man so
handsome; I never saw such beauty."
On rising in the morning, Nagendra inquired of the people in the
village what would become of the dead man's daughter, where she
would live, and whether she had any relatives. He was told that there
was no dwelling-place for her, and that she had no relatives.
Then Nagendra said, "Will not some of you receive her and give her in
marriage? I will pay the expense, and so long as she remains amongst
you I will pay so much a month for her board and lodging."
If he had offered ready money many would have consented to his
proposal; but after he had gone away Kunda would have been reduced
to servitude, or turned out of the house. Nagendra did not act in so
foolish a manner; therefore, money not being forthcoming, no one
consented to his suggestion.
At length one, seeing him at the end of his resources, observed: "A
sister of her mother's lives at Sham Bazar; Binod Ghosh is the
husband's name. You are on you way to Calcutta; if you take her with
you and place her with her aunt, then this Kaystha girl will be cared for,
and you will have done your duty to your caste."
Seeing no other plan, Nagendra adopted this suggestion, and sent for
Kunda to acquaint her with the arrangement.
Champa accompanied Kunda. As they were coming, Kunda, seeing

Nagendra from afar, suddenly stood still like one stunned. Her feet
refused to move; she stood looking at him with eyes full of
astonishment.
Champa asked, "Why do you stand thus?"
Kunda, pointing with her finger, said, "It is he!"
"He! Who?" said Champa.
"He whom last night my mother pictured in the heavens."
Then Champa also stood frightened and astonished. Seeing that the
girls shrank from approaching, Nagendra came near and explained
everything. Kunda was unable to reply; she could only gaze with eyes
full of surprise.
CHAPTER III.
OF MANY SUBJECTS.
Reluctantly did Nagendra Natha take Kunda with him to Calcutta. On
arriving there he made much search for her aunt's husband, but he
found no one in Sham Bazar named Binod Ghosh. He found a Binod
Das, who admitted no relationship. Thus Kunda remained as a burthen
upon Nagendra.
Nagendra had one sister, younger than himself, named Kamal Mani,
whose father-in-law's house was in Calcutta. Her husband's name was
Srish Chandra Mittra. Srish Babu was accountant in the house of
Plunder, Fairly, and Co. It was a great house, and Srish Chandra was
wealthy. He was much attached to his brother-in-law. Nagendra took
Kunda Nandini thither, and imparted her story to Kamal Mani.
Kamal was about eighteen years of age. In features she resembled
Nagendra; both brother and sister were very handsome. But, in addition
to her beauty, Kamal was famed for her learning. Nagendra's father,
engaging an English teacher, had had Kamal Mani and Surja Mukhi

well instructed. Kamal's mother-in-law was living, but she dwelt in
Srish Chandra's ancestral home. In Calcutta Kamal Mani was
house-mistress.
When he had finished the story of Kunda Nandini, Nagendra said,
"Unless you will keep her here, there is no place for her. Later, when I
return home, I will take her to Govindpur with me."
Kamal was very mischievous. When Nagendra had turned away, she
snatched up Kunda in her arms and ran off with her. A tub of not very
hot water stood in an adjoining room, and suddenly Kamal threw
Kunda into it. Kunda was quite frightened. Then Kamal, laughing, took
some scented soap and proceeded to wash Kunda. An attendant, seeing
Kamal thus employed, bustled up, saying, "I will do it! I will do it!" but
Kamal, sprinkling some of the hot water over the woman, sent her
running away. Kamal having bathed and rubbed Kunda, she appeared
like a dew-washed lotus. Then Kamal, having robed her in a beautiful
white garment, dressed her hair with scented oil, and decorated her with
ornaments, said to her: "Now go and salute the Dada Babu (elder
brother), and return, but mind you do not thus to the master of the
house: if he should see you he will want to marry you."
Nagendra Natha wrote Kunda's history to Surja Mukhi. Also when
writing to an intimate friend of his living at a distance, named Hara
Deb Ghosal, he spoke of Kunda in the following terms:
"Tell me what you consider to be the age of beauty in woman. You will
say after forty, because your Brahmini is a year or two more than that.
The girl Kunda, whose history I have given you, is thirteen. On looking
at her, it seems