Page:The King of the Dark Chamber.djvu/193

Rh the pain that was biting at my heart; and all through it I heard the plaintive "Speak, wife!" of the nightbird echoing in the tumult outside! . . . It was the helpless wail of the dark night, Surangama!

Last night's heavy and melancholy air seemed to hang on for an eternity—oh, what a dismal and gloomy night!

But would you believe it—I seemed to hear the soft strains of the vina floating through all that wild din and tumult! Could he play such sweet and tender tunes, he who is so cruel and terrible? The world knows only my indignity and ignominy—but none but my own heart could hear those