r expiation?
Whenever I see a helpless woman I will serve her to the utmost of my
power. Of the wealth I reserve to myself I will take only enough to
sustain life; the rest I will devote to the service of helpless women.
Even of that portion of my wealth that I give to Satish, I will
direct that half of it shall be devoted during my life to the support
of destitute women. Expiation! Sin may be expiated, sorrow cannot be.
The only expiation for sorrow is death. In dying, sorrow leaves you:
why do I not seek that expiation?"

Then covering his face with his hands, and remembering his Creator,
Nagendra Natha put from him the desire to seek death.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THOUGH ALL ELSE DIES, SUFFERING DIES NOT.

Srish Chandra was sitting alone in his _boita khana_ one evening, when
Nagendra entered, carpet-bag in hand, and throwing the bag to a
distance, silently took a seat. Srish Chandra, seeing his distressed
and wearied condition, was alarmed, but knew not how to ask an
explanation. He knew that Nagendra had received the _Brahmachari's_
letter at Benares, and had gone thence to Madhupur. As he saw that
Nagendra would not begin to speak, Srish Chandra took his hand and
said--

"Brother Nagendra, I am distressed to see you thus silent. Did you not
go to Madhupur?"

Nagendra only said, "I went."

"Did you not meet the _Brahmachari_?"

"No."

"Did you find Surja Mukhi? Where is she?"

Pointing upwards with his finger, Nagendra said, "In heaven."

Both sat silent for some moments; then Nagendra, looking up, said,
"You do not believe in heaven. I do."

Srish Chandra knew that formerly Nagendra had not believed in a
heaven, and understood why he now did so--understood that this heaven
was the creation of love.

Not being able to endure the thought that Surja Mukhi no longer
existed, he said to himself, "She is in heaven," and in this thought
found comfort.

Still they remained silent, for Srish Chandra felt that this was not
the time to offer consolation; that words from others would be as
poison, their society also. So he went away to prepare a chamber for
Nagendra. He did not venture to ask him to eat; he would leave that
task to Kamal.

But when Kamal Mani heard that Surja Mukhi was no more, she would
undertake no duty. Leaving Satish Chandra, for that night she became
invisible. The servants, seeing Kamal Mani bowed to the ground with
hair unbound, left Satish and hurried to her. But Satish would not