Now _ashes have fallen on your ready-made rice_; the Yama[7] of Indigo has attacked you, and you have no safety. ----- Footnote 6: An instrument made use of for breaking down buildings. Footnote 7: Yama is Death, the king of terror. ----- ---------- FIRST ACT—FOURTH SCENE. GOLUK CHUNDER BASU’S HALL. ------- _Enter_ SOIRINDRI _preparing a hair-string_. _Soirindri._ I never did prepare such a piece of hair-string. The youngest Bou[8] is the most fortunate, since whatever I do in her name proves successful. The hair-string I have made, is the thinnest possible. According to the hair, the hair-string is made. Oh! how beautiful the hair is; it is like unto that of the Goddess Kali. The face is as the lotus, always smiling. People may say whatever they choose to one whom they do not like. I don’t attend to that. For my part, I feel pleasure when I see the face of the youngest Bou. I consider the youngest Bou in the same light, as I do Bipin. The youngest Bou loves me as her own mother. SARALOTA _enters with a braid in her hand_. _Saralota._ My sister, just see whether I have been able to make the under part of this braid? Is it not made? _Soirindri._ (_Seeing the braid._) Yes, now it is well made. O! my sister, this part is made somewhat bad; the yellow does not look well after the red colour. _Saralota._ I wove it by observing your braid. _Soirindri._ Is the yellow after the red in that? _Saralota._ No; in that the green is after the red. But because my green thread is finished, therefore I placed the yellow after that. _Soirindri._ You were not able, I see, to wait for the market-day. I see, my sister, every thing is in haste with you. As it is said, “_Hurry is in Brindabun; but as soon as the desire rises, there is no more waiting._”[9] _Saralota._ Oh! What fault have I committed for that? Can that be got in the market? At the last market-day, my mother-in-law sent for it; but that was not got. _Soirindri._ When they write a letter this time to my husband’s brother, we shall send to ask for threads of various colours. _Saralota._ Sister, how many days are there still remaining of this month? _Soirindri._ (_Laughingly._) On the place where the pain is, the hand touches. As soon as his[10] College closes, he shall come home, therefore you are counting the days. Ah! my sister, your mind’s words are come out. _Saralota._ I say truly, my sister; I never meant that.