Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/339

 IV.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 303 had cooked, Kalaketu praised her for her good cooking, what did she care that no food was left for her! Did she not feel gratified that ber husband was happy, though she might have to fast all day herself? And who was this woman that came now to rob her of her husband’s love—the only thing she prized in life? Alas, exposure and hardship had sullied her youthful beauty ; could she ever be a match for this paragon of beauty! She had no qualifications to commend her to her hus- band, except her love for him. What will she do now? Her heart broke at these thoughts. But Chandi was not at all moved by the accounts of poverty. “Very well Phullara,” she said, “ from this day there will be no more poverty in this house. You see my jewels? With them I can buy a king- dom. Come, do not grieve, you will have a share of my wealthandI shall not be blamed for coming here: for Kalaketu himself brought me, drawing me hither by his noble qualities. ’ This was what Phullara understood her to say. But indeed her words bore another sense, and in that sense were true ; for she said Kglaketu himself had brought her there dound with the string of his bow. The word 4 in Bengali means both a bow-string and noble qualities. Grief was like torend Phullara’s heart at these last words of Chandi. She could no longer suppress her feelings. Great tears fell from her eyes, and she turned and went weeping all the way to meet Kalaketu at Golaghat. There, as the hunter was negotiating the sale, Phuliara approached him with tearful eves. He was struck with wonder—never Phullar4 feels Jea- lousy. The Jea- lous wife and her hungry lord,