Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/349

 IV.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 313 Ujani. While giving this order, the King smiled and said, “I depute you for this task because ] know that you have recently married a very beautiful bride, and you will not wish to stay long at Gauda ; | shall therefore have the thing done in the shortest possible time.” Dhanapati Sadagara left Ujani for Gauda con- signing young and lovely Khullana to the care of Lahané. Now Lahang bore Khullang§ no grudge. True to Durvala - i the promises she had made to her husband, she নিধি treated the girl with great kindness, taking parti- antag: cular care to prepare dainties for her, and looking to her comfort with the watchful eyes of a loving sister. But Durvala, the maid-servant, did not like this state of things. As long as there was no quarrel between the co-wives, thought she, the task of the maid-servant was but thankless drudgery. ‘As soon as there is a quarrel between such per- sons, either will hold my services dear if I can abuse the other.’”’ Thinking in this strain, she privately warned Lahana against indulging in such affection for the co-wife. ‘ Your dark thick hair is already strewn with gray,” she said, ‘the hair of Khullang, on the other hand, is as black as a cluster of bees and as pleasant to see as the plumes of a peacock. Your cheeks are darkened by the shadows of passing youth, whereas young Khullana’s face glows with the freshness of the The dawn; while her beauty is gradually brightening, contrast. yours is waning. When the merchant returns, he will be drawn by the fresher charms of his young wife and your position will be permanently in the 40