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 "I had a talk with Abhiram Swami. In the opinion of the holy father, your marriage with Jagat Singha can never take place; your father will spurn such a proposal. Should this matter reach his ears, I will thank my stars, if I can escape disgrace and punishment."

"Why go then?" With a down-cast face, Tilottama faintly uttered these words;

"Why go then?"

Bimala. "Why? Have I not promised the Prince that I will see him to-night, and acquaint him with our name and lineage? What he will do with the mere knowledge of us, I can't tell. But let me now make ourselves known to him, leaving him to do what he thinks best under the circumstances. If the Prince really loves you—"

Before she could finish, Tilottama gagged her mouth with her cloth.

"I am ashamed to hear your words," said she. "You may go wherever you like; but you shall not speak of me to any one or to me of any one."

Bimala again laughed. "Who then told you to plunge into this ocean in this girlish age?" said she.

"Off!" exclaimed Tilottama. "I won't hear you any more."

Bimala. "Then I shan't go to the temple?"

Tilottama. "Am I forbidding you to go any where? You may go wherever you will."

"Then I must not go," said Bimala laughing.

"Go," said Tilottama, looking down.

Bimala again laughed. After a while she said, "I go. Don't you sleep till my return."