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 Pratap was carried away by emotion and he shed tears.

"It is impossible for me to be happy," said Shaibalini in a melancholy but serious tone. "So long as you shall be in this world, I shall not be happy—"

"Why, Shaibalini?" enquired Pratap in surprise.

"So long as you shall be in this world, pray, do not appear before me," replied Shaibalini with emotion. "The mind of a woman is extremely frail and I do not know how long I shall be able to keep it under my control. We must not meet again, in this life."

Pratap didn't make any reply. He quickly mounted his horse and set off for the battle-field. His little band of warriors followed him.

When Chandra Shekhar saw Pratap going, he asked,

"Where are you going?"

"To the field of battle," was Pratap's brief reply.

"Don't—for God's sake, don't go—there is no escaping out of the hands of the English," cried out Chandra Shekhar anxiously.