Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/117

Rh being so anxious about Mahendra's taking this great vow?

J. Has Mahendra taken the vow?

S. Not yet, but he will. To-night I shall initiate him.

J. We do not know what anxiety has been shown to induce Mahendra Sinha to take the vow. What has become of his wife and child? Where have they been kept? I found a girl to-day beside the stream and have left her with my sister. Beside her lay a beautiful woman. Can it be, that they are the wife and child of Mahendra? I thought it was so.

S. They are Mahendra's wife and child.

Bhavananda started up. He then knew that the woman whom he had revived was the wife of Mahendra, but he did not think it needful to give out anything.

"How did Mahendra's wife die," asked Jivananda.

S. She killed herself with poison.

J. Why did she kill herself?

S. God had bidden her in a dream to die.

B. Was it for the benefit of our Society that this command came?

S. So it would seem from what Mahendra said. It is now near the end of the day and I must go to do the religious duties of the hour and then I shall be engaged in initiating the new Children.

B. Children? Why, is there anybody other than Mahendra who presumes to be your disciple to-day?

S. Yes, another stranger. I never saw him before,