_Sabitri._ _Chastity is the store of gold which is given by Providence; it is so valuable that it makes the beggar woman, a queen._ If you can rescue this jewel before it is soiled, from the hands of the Indigo monkey, then shall I say that you have actually answered the purpose of my being your mother. Such injustice I never heard of. Now, Ghose Bou, let us go out-side. ---------- THIRD ACT—THIRD SCENE. MR. ROSE’S CHAMBER. ------- MR. ROSE _sitting. Enter_ PODI MOYRANI & KHETROMANI. _Khetra._ My aunt, don’t speak of such things to me; I can give up my life, but my chastity never; cut me in pieces, burn me in the fire, throw me into the water, and bury me under ground; but as to touching another man that can I never do. What will my husband think? _Podi._ Where is your husband now, and where are you? This shall no one know. Within this night, I shall bring you back with me to your mother. _Khetra._ Very well, the husband may not know it—but God above will know it, and I shall never be able to throw dust in his eyes. Like the fire of the brick-kiln it will still burn within my breast, and the more my husband shall love me for my constancy, the more my soul shall be tortured. Openly or secretly, I never can take a paramour. _Podi._ My child, come, come to the Saheb. Whatever you have to say, say to him. To speak to me is like _crying in the wilderness_. _Planter Rose._ To speak to me is _throwing pearls at the hog’s feet_. Ha, ha, ha, we Indigo Planters, are become the companions of Death; can our Factories remain, if we have pity? By nature, we are not bad; our evil disposition has increased by Indigo cultivation. Before, we felt sorrow in beating one man; now, we can beat ten persons with the Ramkant (leather strap), making them senseless; and immediately after, we can, with great laughter, take our dinner or supper. _Torap._ I will swim over the stream to my house, this night. What more shalt thou hear of my fate; I broke down the window of the Attorney’s stable, and immediately ran off to the Zemindary of Babu Bosonto, and then in the night came to my wife and children. This Planter has stopped every thing; has he left any means for men to live by ploughing? How very terrible are the thrusts of the Indigo? Again, the advice is given to serve for it. Now, Sir, where are your kicks with your shoes on, and your beating on the head? (_Thrusts him with his knees_). _Nobin._ Torap, what is the use of beating him? We ought not to be cruel, because they are so; I am going. (_Exit Nobin, with Khetromani._)