166 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
his mind. He knew her resolved energy of purpose, 
her uncompromising notions of honour, her reckless- 
ness of suffering, her high sense of conjugal obliga- 
tions, and her scrupulosity in adhering to the most 
rigid observances which custom had, as it were, sanc- 
tified among the caste of which it was her pride to 
be a member. Dreading the fearful import of her 
words, and knowing the austere bent of her determi- 
nation, he struck again fiercely on the door with his 
shield, at the same time entreating, in a tone of the 
most pathetic persuasion, that she would immediately 
admit him. She did not condescend to reply. In 
the desperation of his mental agony, he repeated the 
stroke with all his might, and such was the force 
of the blow that the door flew open as if an engine 
had been directed against it. Rushing instantly into 
the house, with a look of wild inquiry, he saw not 
the object of his search. The apartment in which 
the bridal festivity had been held was deserted, and 
his heart throbbed heavily as a most horrible presen- 
timent passed darkly across his mind. 
He passed into a second chamber; the mistress 
was not there. Her maidens were in tears. He 
inquired, with an expression of agonizing apprehen- 
sion, where was his beloved. They pointed dis- 
tractedly towards an enclosure at the back of the 
house, maintaining an ominous silence. He flew to 
the spot and found all his worst fears most awfully 
verified. 
Immediately upon her husband’s departure for the 
field, the unhappy bride had ordered the pile to be 
raised, with the determination of sacrificing herself 
