CHAPTER XVII.

HIRA’S QUARREL.  THE BUD OF THE POISON TREE.

“Yes, that will do.  Kunda shall submit.  But if we do not make Surja Mukhi appear as poison in the eyes of Nagendra, nothing can be accomplished.”

So Hira set herself to divide the hearts hitherto undivided.

One morning early, the wicked Hira came into her mistress’s house ready for work.  There was a servant in the Datta household named Kousalya, who hated Hira because she was head servant and enjoyed the favour of the mistress.  Hira said to her:  “Sister Kushi, I feel very strange to-day; will you do my work for me?”

Kousalya feared Hira, therefore she said:  “Of course I will do it; we are all subject to illness, and all the subjects of one mistress.”

It had been Hira’s wish that Kousalya should give no reply, and she would make that a pretext for a quarrel.  So, shaking her head, she said:  “You presume so far as to abuse me?”

Astonished, Kousalya said:  “When did I abuse any one?”

“What!” said Hira, angrily, “you deny it?  Why did you speak of my illness?  Do you think I am going to die?  You hope that I am ill that you may show people how good you are to me.  May you be ill yourself.”

“Be it so!  Why are you angry, sister?  You must die some day; Death will not forget you, nor will he forget me.”

“May Death never forget you!  You envy me!  May you die of envy!  May your life be short!  Go to destruction!  May blindness seize upon you!”

Kousalya could bear no more.  She began to return these good wishes in similar terms.  In the act of quarrelling Kousalya was the superior.  Therefore Hira got her deserts.

Then Hira went to complain to her mistress.  If any one could have looked at her as she went, they would have seen no signs of anger on her face, but rather a smile on her lips.  But when she reached her mistress, her face expressed great anger, and she began by using the weapon given by God to woman—­that is to say, she shed a flood of tears.

Surja Mukhi inquired into the cause.  On hearing the complaint, she judged that Hira was in fault.  Nevertheless, for her sake, she scolded Kousalya slightly.

Not being satisfied with that, Hira said:  “You must dismiss that woman, or I will not remain.”

Then Surja Mukhi was much vexed with Hira, and said:  “You are very encroaching, Hira; you began the quarrel, the fault was entirely yours, and now you want me to dismiss the woman.  I will do nothing so unjust.  Go, if you will.  I will not bid you stay.”

This was just what Hira wanted.  Saying “Very well, I go,” her eyes streaming with tears, she presented herself before the Babu in the outer apartments.

The Babu was alone in the boita khana—­he was usually alone now.  Seeing Hira weeping, he asked, “Why do you weep, Hira?”