"Wilt thou?--shall it? Swear on my neck and my feet to give this, and I will do thy will. Yes, to humble her pride and her father's--who drove me from the temple one day, and I have hated him ever since. I shall hate thee too, afterwards; yet I will do it," cried the girl, excitedly, clapping her hands--"yet I will do it." "I swear," said the man, touching her neck. "Come and sit here by me." She did so, but neither spoke for some time. "Thou hast a sister, Moro Pundit, and she is beautiful. She ought to have been married ere this. A little more time, and can it be done?" she said, breaking the silence. The Brahmun winced. "She was betrothed once," he said, "but the man died." "Perhaps she was married," continued the girl, with a sneer, "and she is as Tara Bye, or worse. Is it not so?" "No! by the Holy Mother, no!" cried the Pundit, sharply, and with flashing eyes. "Breathe such a thing and I will have thy life. Beware what thou sayest, even to me! A word more, and I fling thee down the precipice!" "O, I fear not for my life," said the girl, carelessly, "the Mother takes care of that, and I will say nothing, lest I should lose my pretty gold zone. But what of thy sister? The Shastree wants a new wife, we hear; Anunda Bye wants a son to cheer her and him, and why should not thy sister be taken there? If I do not err, she can have her chance. She is of a good age--why not? Could she understand what to do? Could she be taught?" "Ah!" said the Pundit, abstractedly, "I had thought of it too, but it seemed impossible. I do not know him--yes--if----" "If?--why if? Art thou afraid? The girl is here--let me see her and know her, and leave the rest to us." "Gunga," said the Brahmun, after a pause. "If thou canst bring this about--if thou canst get me speech of this Shastree----" "Let me speak to the girl first. 'Radha,' that is her name, is it not? Let me see if she is resolute and as I hear of her. If she be, she shall have her desire; thou shalt have thine; and I--ah, yes! I will have more gold. Yes," she cried, clapping her hands again, "more gold! I will have gold anklets, like Tara's. Why should she wear gold anklets and mine be only silver? Wilt thou give them?--all I can hope, now she hath taken thy love from me----" "When my sister is Vyas Shastree's wife thou mayst have what thou wilt, Gunga. I swear it to thee on thy neck and feet. Art thou content? Yes, thou shalt see her now. Manage the matter as ye will, women's wits are sharper than mine. Now follow me unobserved," he said, rising. "Once more, Moro Pundit," continued Gunga, "tell me if the marriage can be performed now? Is there a fitting conjunction of planets?--within a month?" "Yes; till the Now Râtree; after that not for a long time." "Enough to do, enough to do, in the time," muttered the girl to herself. "Hast thou any women with thee--any relations?"