_Nobin._ My dear love! Your heart is very sincere. There is not a second to you in sincerity in the female race. Is this my family reduced to this state! What was I, and what am I now become! The sum of my profits was seven hundred Rupees. I had fifteen warehouses for corn, sixteen bigahs of garden land, twenty ploughs and fifty harrows. What great feasts had I at the time of the Puja; the house filled with men, feasting the Brahmins, gifts to the poor, the feasting of friends and relations, the musical entertainments of the Voishnabas, and also pleasant theatrical representations. I have expended such large sums, and even given as donations one hundred Rupees. Being so rich, now I am obliged to take away the ornaments of my wife, and the wife of my young brother. What affliction? God, thou didst give these, and thou hast taken them again. Then, what sorrow? _Soirindri._ My dear, when I see you weep, my life itself weeps (_tears in her eyes_). Was there so much pain in my fate; am I thus destined to see such distress in my Lord? Do not prevent me any more. (_Takes out the amulet._) _Nobin._ My heart bursts when I see your tears (_rubbing the tears_). Stop my dear, of the moon-like face, stop (_taking hold of her hands_). Keep these; one day more, let me see. _Soirindri._ My dear, what further resource is left? Do, as I tell you now. If it be so destined, there shall be many ornaments afterwards (_aside, sneezing_); true, true. Aduri is coming. _Enter_ ADURI _with two letters_. _Aduri._ I can’t say whence the letters came; but my mistress told me to give them to you. (_Exit Aduri, after giving the letters._) _Nobin._ It shall be known by these letters whether your ornaments are to be taken or not. (_Opens the first letter._) _Soirindri._ Read it aloud. _Nobin._ (_Reads the letter._) “DEAR FRIEND,—_This is to make it known to you, that to give a sum of money to you at present is only to make a return of favours. My mother has taken leave of this world yesterday; and the day of her first funeral obsequies is very near. This have I written yesterday. The tobacco is not yet sold._ “_I am, yours_, “GHONOSYAM MUKERJI.” What misfortune is this! Is this my assistance on the funeral obsequies of the mother of the honorable Mukerji? Let me see what deadly weapon hast thou brought. (_Opens the letter._) _Soirindri._ My dear, it is very miserable to fall into despair after entertaining high hopes. Let the letter remain as it is. _Nobin._ (_Reads the letter._)