144 AMRA. 



"Oh my father! " 



" No more," said the Brahman, gently, " I am answered in that 

 one word ; but all that I have yet done seems as nothing in mine 

 eyes : for the love I bear my son is wide as the wide earth, and my 

 bounty shall be as the boundless firmament. Know that I have read 

 thy soul I Start not I I have received letters from the South coun- 

 try. Amra is no longer the wife of Adhar; for Adhar has vowed 

 himself to a life of penance and celibacy in the temple of Indore, by 

 order of an offended prince ; may he find peace ! The writings of 

 divorce are drawn up, and my daughter being already past the age 

 when a prudent father hastens to marry his child, in order that the 

 souls of the dead may be duly honoured by their posterity, I have 

 sought for her a husband, such as a parent might desire ; learned in 

 the sciences, graced with every virtue ; of unblemished life, of unmixed 

 caste, and rich in the goods of this world." 



The Brahman stopped short. Faizi, breathing with difficulty, felt 

 the blood pause at his heart. 



" My son ! " continued the old man, " I have not coveted pos- 

 sessions or riches, but the gods have blessed me with prosperity ; be 

 they praised for their gifts ! Look around upon this fair dwelling, 

 upon those fertile lands, which spread far and wide, a goodly pros- 

 pect ; and the herds that feed on them, and the bondsmen who cul- 

 tivate them ; with silver and gold, and garments, and rich stores 

 heaped up, more than I can count all these do 1 give thee freely : 

 possess them ! and with them I give thee a greater gift, and one that 

 1 well believe is richer and dearer in thine eyes my daughter, my 

 last and best treasure I Thus do I resign all worldly cares, devoting 

 myself henceforth solely to pious duties and religious meditation: 

 tor the few days he has to live, let the old man repose upon thy love ! 

 A little water, a little rice, a roof to shelter him, these thou shall be- 

 stow he asks no more." 



The Brahman's voice faltered. He rose, and Govinda stood up, 

 trembling in every nerve. The old priest then laid his hand so- 

 lemnly upon his bowed head and blessed him. "My son! to me 

 far more and better than many sons, be thou blest as thou hast bles- 

 sed me ! The just gods requite thee with full measure all thou hast 

 done ! May the wife I bestow on thee bring to thy bosom all the 

 felicity thou broughtst to me and mine, and thy last hours be calm 

 and bright, as those thy love has prepared for me ! " 



" Ah, curse me not ! " exclaimed Govinda, with a cry of horror ; 

 for in the anguish of that moment he felt as if the bitter malediction, 

 thus unconsciously pronounced was already fulfilling. He flung 



