Page:Vikram and the vampire; or, Tales of Hindu devilry (IA vikramvampireort00burtrich).pdf/307

 or from some presentiment of what was to occur, whichever you please, Raja Vikram, and it is no matter which. Still Sita could not help perceiving that there was a shade of sorrow upon the forehead of her fair new friend, and so when they retired to rest she asked the cause of it.

Then Chandraprabha related to her the sad tale: 'One day in the spring season, as I was strolling in the garden along with my companions, I beheld a very handsome Brahman, and our eyes having met, he became unconscious, and I also was insensible. My companions seeing my condition, brought me home, and therefore I know neither his name nor his abode. His beautiful form is impressed upon my memory. I have now no desire to eat or to drink, and from this distress my colour has become pale and my body is thus emaciated.' And the beautiful princess sighed a sigh that was musical and melancholy, and concluded by predicting for herself — as persons similarly placed often do — a sudden and untimely end about the beginning of the next month.

'What wilt thou give me,' asked the Brahman's daughter-in-law demurely, 'if I show thee thy beloved at this very moment?'

The Raja's daughter answered, 'I will ever be the lowest of thy slaves, standing before thee with joined hands.'

Upon which Sita removed the pill from her mouth, and instantly having become Manaswi, put it care-