Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/351

 IV.] | BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 315 of your husband.” Lahana said: ‘“ But it is absurd ! Ihave hitherto ruled my house alone. If I find that he grows indiffierent to me, while Khullang is in high favour, I shall not be able to brook it. My course has always been like this. If I founda flaw in my husband, however small it might be, I made much of it, and continually harped upon his weak point. I cannot consent to live here likeatame lamb. It was foolish to send for you, Lila, in order to receive this advice!” She then dismissed the wise woman, and after consultation with Durvala, had recourse to another device. She had a letter written, pur- 2 porting to have been addressed to herself by Dhanapati, from Gauda. It ran as follows :— ‘My blessings on you, my loving wife, Lahana ! পা I hope you and all with you are all well. I am at letter. Gauda and shall probably stay for sometime longer. I have some misgivings about Khullana, and my de- cision is deliberate. I feel that my marriage with her has not been approved of by the gods. It was an inauspicious affair. No sooner was I married to her, than there came a command from the Raja of Ujani requiring meto leave home and to sojourn in distant parts; and since then I have had no peace of mind. It is not safe or desirable to treat Khullana with love and affection, lest Provi- dence be further enraged and hurl more miseries upon me. You must do asI say. As soonas you get this letter, strip her of all ornaments and fine apparel. Give her a rag of coarse khuea cloth to wear, and appoint her to tend the sheep in the fields. Give her half a meal of coarse quality and let her sleep in the place where the rice is husked. Do not omit to carry out these orders.”