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88 The incident of the pen took place when the princess and the kotál's son were each about fifteen years of age, and instead of estranging the heart of the one from the other, it produced such feelings in both of them as seemed vague and indefinable to themselves, but which may safely be said to have been the first germs of love.

Next day, the pen that the kotál's son was using slipped from his hand, and the ink from it was spilt on the princess's face and clothes. A tremor seized the former; and he was hesitatingly beginning an apology, when the latter picked up the pen and made it over to him. The boy, for reasons best known to himself, went home before the usual hour of dismissal, leaving his bundle of books behind, but taking away the pen. The pathshala broke up at the appointed time, but Pushpamala lagged behind. It struck twelve, yet she had not arrived home, and her mother grew anxious. The princess at length reached home in a strange humour, and in spite of the importunities of her mother, did not even touch the food before her, but retired into her room. The kotál's son too was in an unhappy frame of mind. Having reached home he moved about restlessly, unable to fix his mind on anything that had formerly interested him. Fate at last directed his wandering steps into his father's bedroom. Lying down on the bed he fell into a reverie which was suddenly broken in upon by the banyan leaf, on which the king had drawn up and signed the contract between him and the young man's father with regard to their unborn children, falling upon him. Taking up the leaf, and reading what was written on it, the kotál's son learned that he had the right to demand the princess's hand. Rushing into the king's presence, with a sword in his hand and the leaf in his pocket, he begged for the fulfilment of the royal promise. The king was at first thrown into confusion; but in the twinkling of an eye, he collected himself, and ordered the young kotál to be driven out. The young man, much mortified, left the palace and walking at random, reached one of the seven tanks near by,