oke; she said "No."

"Why, Kunda? do you think widow marriage unholy?"

"No."

"Then why not? Say, say, will you be my wife or not? will you love me
or no?"

"No."

Then Nagendra, as though he had a thousand tongues, entreated her with
heart-piercing words. Still Kunda said "No."

Nagendra looked at the pure, cold water, and asked himself, "Can I lie
there?"

To herself Kunda said: "No, widow marriage is allowed in the Shastras;
it is not on that account."

Why, then, did she not seek the water?

CHAPTER XIV.

LIKE TO LIKE.

Haridasi _Boisnavi_, returning to the garden-house, suddenly became
Debendra Babu, and sat down and smoked his _huka_, drinking brandy
freely at intervals until he became intoxicated.

Then Surendra entered, sat down by Debendra, and after inquiring after
his health, said, "Where have you been to-day again?"

"Have you heard of this so soon?" said Debendra.

"This is another mistake of yours. You imagine that what you do is
hidden, that no one can know anything about it; but it is known all
over the place."

"I have no desire to hide anything," said Debendra.

"It reflects no credit upon you. So long as you show the least shame
we have some hope of you. If you had any shame left, would you expose
yourself in the village as a _Boisnavi_?"

Said Debendra, laughing, "What a jolly _Boisnavi_ I was! Were you not
charmed with my get-up?"

"I did not see you in that base disguise," replied Surendra, "or I
would have given you a taste of the whip." Then snatching the glass
from Debendra's hand, he said, "Now do listen seriously while you are
in your senses; after that, drink if you will."

"Speak, brother," said Debendra; "why are you angry to-day? I think
the atmosphere of Hembati has corrupted you."

Surendra, lending no ear to his evil words, said, "Whose destruction
are you seeking to compass by assuming this disguise?"

"Do you not know?" was the reply. "Don't you remember the
schoolmaster's marriage to a goddess? This goddess is now a widow, and
lives with the Datta family in that village. I went to see her."

"Have you not gone far enough in vice? Are you not satisfied yet, that
you wish to ruin that unprotected girl? See, Debendra, you are so
sinful, so cruel, so destructive, that we can hardly associate with
you any longer."

Surendra said this with so much firmness that Debendra was quite
stunned. Then he said, seriously: "Do not be angry with me; my heart