_Enter_ RAY CHURN. _Ray._ Had not my brother caught hold of us, I would have put a stop to her breathing. I would have killed her; then, at the utmost, I had been hanged within six months.[27] That villain! _Nobin._ Ray Churn, where art thou going? _Ray._ Our mistress ordered me to call Putakur. The stupid Podi told me that the bailiff will bring the summons to-morrow. (_Exit Ray Churn._) _Nobin._ Oh! oh! oh! That which never took place in this family, has now come to pass. My father is very peaceful, honest, and of a sincere mind; knows not what disputes and enmities are; never goes out of the village; trembles with fear at the name of Court affairs, and even shed tears when he read the letter. If he is to go to Indrabad, he will turn mad; and if, to the jail, he will throw himself into the stream. Ah, such are the misfortunes that are to fall on him, while I, his son, am living! My mother is not so much afraid as my father is; she does not lose hope at once; with a firm mind, she is now invoking God. My deer-eyed is become, as it were, the deer in my volcano[28]; she is become mad with fear and anxiety. Her father died in an Indigo Factory; and her fear, now, is lest the same happens to her husband. How many sides am I to keep quiet? Is it proper to fly off with the whole family; or, is it not right that to do good unto others is the highest virtue? I shall not turn aside hastily. I see, I am not able to do any good to Shamanagara; still, what work is there which is beyond the power of exertion? Let me see what I can do. _Enter two Pundits._ _First P._ My child, is the house of Goluk Chunder Bose in this quarter? I heard from my uncle, that person is very honest—the grandeur of the Bose family. _Nobin._ (_Bowing before him._) Sir, I am his eldest son. _First P._ Yes! yes! very honest! To have such a son is not the result of a little virtue. _Second P._ We had been invited by Babu Arabindu, of Sougandha. To-day, we remain in the house of Goluk Chunder; and shall do good unto you. _Nobin._ This is my great fortune. Sirs, come by this way. (_Exit all._) ----- Footnote 22: This expression “striking the axe on my feet” signifies ruining myself. Footnote 23: That is, had the intrigue used by Ray not been detected, it would have proved very advantageous. Footnote 24: All these signify that let Death come upon thee. Footnote 25: The word “you” refers to the Indigo Planters. Footnote 26: This number, five, here referred to, are the persons whom he was trying to bring on his side for the law-suit.