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 clouded the sky by their number—began to torment her again! The terrible infernal beings again appeared before her and this time with a rope made of prickly thorns and a fearful rod of scorpions—they bound down Shaibalini with that mysterious rope, and began to strike her with the deadly instrument of torture in their hand, as they dragged her away along with them. The stalwart figure of Sundari, it seemed to Shaibalini, raised her hands and shouted to the hellish beings, "Strike—strike her with your rod of torture. I repeatedly asked her to come away with me from Foster's budgrow, but she did not follow my advice. So, inflict on her as much pain as you can. I am an eye-witness to her sins, and so I say, punish her wicked soul with all your infernal tortures." Shaibalini with folded hands, her face turned upward, and her eyes streaming with tears, was imploring for mercy; but the strange and stern figure of Sundari would not listen to her entreaties, and seemed to shout as before, "Strike—strike hard that fallen woman. I am chaste and virtuous, whereas she is a traitor to her husband."

Shaibalini's eyes became dilated, and her face grew pale at the strange vision before her, and she