y from her house and gave it to him. The
_Chandal_ twisted up a pungent life-destroying poison in paper, and
gave it to her.

In departing, Hira said, "Mind you betray this to no one, else we
shall both suffer."

The _Chandal_ answered, "I do not even know you, mother."

Thus freed from fear, Hira went home. When there she held the poison
in her hand, weeping bitterly; then, wiping her eyes, she said--

"What fault have I committed that I should die? Why should I die
without killing him who has struck me? I will not take this poison.
He who has reduced me to this condition shall eat it, or, if not, I
will give it to his beloved Kunda Nandini. After one of these two are
dead, if necessary I also will take it."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

HIRA'S GRANDMOTHER.

"Hira's old grandmother
Walks about picking up
A basket of cowdung.
With her teeth cracking pebbles.
Eating _jak_ fruit by the hundred."

Hira's grandmother hobbled along with the help of a stick, followed by
boys reciting the above unrivalled verses, clapping their hands and
dancing as they went. Whether any special taunt was meant by these
verses is doubtful, but the old woman became furious, and desired the
boys to go to destruction, wishing that their fathers might eat
refuse (a common form of abuse). This was a daily occurrence.

Arriving at the door of Nagendra's house, the grandmother escaped from
her enemies, who at sight of the fierce black moustaches of the
_durwans_ fled from the battlefield, one crying--

"Bama Charn Dobe
Goes to bed early,
And when the thief comes he runs away."

Another--

"Ram Sing Pare
With a stick marches boldly,
But at sight of a thief he flies to the tank."

A third--

"Lal Chand Sing
Doth briskly dance and sing,
Is death on the food,
But at work is no good."

The boys fled, attacked by the _durwans_ with a shower of words not to
be found in any dictionary.

Hira's grandmother, plodding along, arrived at the dispensary attached
to Nagendra's dwelling. Perceiving the doctor, she said, "Oh, father,
where is the doctor, father?"

"I am he."

"Oh, father, I am getting blind. I am twenty-eight or eighty years
old; how shall I speak of my troubles? I had a son; he is dead. I had
a granddaughter; she also--" Here the old woman broke down, and
began to whine like a cat.

The doctor asked, "What has happened to you?"

Without answering this question