Page:Between the twilights being studies of Indian women by one of themselves (IA betweentwilights00soraiala).pdf/43

Rh had got at last her heart’s desire, arrayed herself in garments gorgeous and becoming, and made her way to her Mother’s house. And her Mother embraced her right gladly, so that a great contempt was in Durga’s heart for the trouble at which she had been in coming.

But the Mother said within herself: “It is well my Lord is away and busy, it is well … else might he hurt this child of mine.”

Yet soon the question came: “And where is my Father?”

“At the Place of Sacrifice, where he makes a great feast,” said the gentle Mother. “Stay with me, my child; leave such-like things to the men-people.”

But Durga: “A Feast? Nay, then must I go and see” … and she heeded nothing.

And Dokhio was furious, in that after all his insult would be robbed of point.

“Why art thou come hither?” he thundered. And she: “Because my Father’s daughtersdaughter [sic] may not be kept from my Father’s Sacrifice.”

Then Dokhio cursed Shiva and all that belonged to him, which Durga hearing, passed out of life with grief inconsolable.