_Soirindri._ How very good-natured our Bindu Madhab is? His words are honey. When we hear his letters read, they _rain like drops of nectar_. I never saw such love towards one’s brother as his; and also his brother shows the greatest affection for him. When he hears the name of Bindu Madhab, his heart overflows with joy, and it becomes, as it were, expanded. Also, as he is, so our Saralota is, (_pressing Saralota’s cheek_) Saralota is _as honesty itself_ (_Saralota_). Have I not brought with me my huká? I see, that as I cannot remain without it for a moment, that is the first thing which I have forgotten to bring along with me. _Enter_ ADURI. Aduri, will you just go and bring me some ashes of tobacco? _Aduri._ Where shall I now seek for it? _Soirindri._ It is stuck on the thatched roof of the cook-room, on the right side of the steps leading into the room. _Aduri._ Then, let me bring the ladder from the threshing floor; else how can I reach to the roof? _Saralota._ Very well. _Soirindri._ Why can she not understand our mother-in-law’s word? Don’t you understand what steps are, and what Dain[11] signifies? _Aduri._ Why shall I become a Dain; it is my fate. _As soon as a poor woman becomes old and her teeth fall out_ _she is immediately called a Dain._ I shall speak of this to our mistress; am I become so old as to be called a Dain? _Soirindri._ (_Rising up._) Youngest Bou, sit down, I am coming; to-day we shall hear the Betal of Vidyeasagar. (_Soirindri goes away._) _Aduri._ That Sagar allows marriage to the widows; fie! fie! Are there not two parties to that? I am of the Ajah’s[12] party. _Saralota._ Aduri, did your husband love you well? _Aduri._ O young Haldarni, do not raise that word of sorrow now. Even up to this day, when his face comes before my mind’s eye, my heart, as it were, bursts with sorrow. He loved me very much. And he even wanted to give me a daughter-in-law. He even did not give me time to sleep. Whenever I felt drowsy, he said, “O my love, are you sleeping.” _Saralota._ Did you call him by his name? _Aduri._ Fie! fie! fie! The husband is one’s Lord. Is it proper to call him by his name? _Saralota._ Then, how did you call him? _Aduri._ I used to say, “O! do you hear me.” _Enter_ SOIRINDRI _again_. _Soirindri._ Who has irritated this fool again? _Aduri._ She was inquiring after my husband, therefore I was speaking with her. _Soirindri._ (_Laughing._) I never saw a greater fool than this our youngest Bou. While having so many subjects of talk, still you are exciting Aduri in order to hear from her about her husband.