THE SEPAKATION. 
191 
The spirit of him whom she had so grievously 
wronged., though somewhat calmed by her fortitude, 
was dreadfully disturbed at the idea of witnessing 
the forfeiture of a life far dearer than his own, and 
in a manner so utterly out of the course of nature ; 
but there was now no evading the penalty, — it had 
been challenged and must be paid. The victim con- 
tinued unperturbed ; her eye beamed with a holy 
and concentrated resolution — a solemn energy of 
purpose, which showed that her confidence greatly 
overbalanced her fears. 
The following day was fixed upon for this stern 
trial of a woman’s fortitude. Meanwhile, the un- 
happy husband could not forbear seeking an interview 
with the doomed Brahminee, though by the laws of 
his order he was bound not to admit her approach 
within a certain distance of his body ; in this in- 
stance, however, the strength of revived affection pre- 
vailed over the arbitrary restrictions imposed by hu- 
man authority, though recognised by all genuine Hin- 
doos, and he determined that their last meeting in 
this world should be at least one of reciprocal for- 
giveness. 
The home of the solitary was not likely to be in- 
truded upon, from his known ascetic habits; he 
therefore proposed that the condemned should pass 
some hours with him ere they should be separated for 
ever. To this proposal the latter would not assent, 
lest she should involve him in the disgrace of a for- 
feiture like her own, and thus reduce him to the ne- 
cessity of reaping those bitter fruits which invariably 
spring from the seeds of guilt. " It was sufficiently 
