BRINGING HOME A BRIDE 463
to conduct myself in word and deed that the girl ' s parents might not discover my natural stupidity. " Knowing as
I do," said my mother as I took leave of her, " the shallowness of thy pate, I very much fear that thou wilt commit some foolish mistake or other." But I promised to conform to her instructions and to be on my best behaviour; and so departed.
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I was very well received by my father-in-law, who gave a grand feast to all the Brahmins of the village in honour of my visit. At length, the day appointed for our departure
having arrived, my wife and I were permitted to start. On taking leave of us, my father-in-law poured out his blessings upon us both, but wept most bitterly, as if he had a presentiment of the misfortune that was about to befall his unfortunate daughter.
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It happened to be the hottest part of the year; and the heat, on the day of our departure, was something terrible. Moreover, we had to traverse a desert plain several miles across, and the sand, heated by the burning sun, soon
began to scorch the feet of my young wife, who had been brought up in comfort in her father ' s house, and was not
accustomed to such hardships. Unable to endure the fatigues of the journey, she burst into tears. I led her on by the hand, and tried my best to rally her spirits. But it was in vain. She soon became so utterly tired that she could not move another step, and lay down on the ground, declaring that she was prepared to die on that very spot.
My distress may easily be imagined. Seated by her side, I could not think what to do next, when suddenly I spied a merchant passing by, leading a number of bullocks laden with various kinds of goods. I accosted him at once, and,
with tears in my eyes, told him the trouble I was in, and entreated him to help me with his good advice in my distressing position. The merchant approached my wife, and, looking at her attentively, informed me that, in consequence of the stifling heat then prevailing, the poor
girl ' s life would be equally in danger, whether she remained where she was or proceeded farther on her journey. " Rather than that you should be subjected to the pain of seeing her perish before your very eyes, and perhaps also be exposed to the suspicion of having yourself killed her,