is strange, but the
sweet girl is ready to give her person and her life to you, her
charmer. For day and night she heaves sighs hot as the smoke from the
fire of love that burns in her heart. And teardrops carry her rouge
away and fall, like bees longing for the honey of her lotus-face. So,
if you wish it, I will tell you what is good for both of you."

And Lotus-lake said: "My good girl, the words which tell me that my
love is lonely and longing, frighten me and comfort me. You are our
only refuge. Devise a plan."

And Jasmine answered: "This very night I will bring Love-cluster
secretly to the garden. You must be outside. Then I will cleverly let
you in, and so you two will be united." Thus Jasmine delighted the
Brahman's son, and went away successful to please Love-cluster with the
news.

Then the sun and the daylight fled away, pursuing the twilight. And the
East adorned her face with the moon. And the white night-blooming
lotuses laughed, their faces expanding at the thought of the glory that
was coming to them. At that hour the lover Lotus-lake came secretly,
adorned and filled with longing, to the garden-gate of his beloved. And
Jasmine led Love-cluster secretly into the garden, for she had lived
through the day somehow.

Then Jasmine made her sit down under the mango trees, while she went
and let Lotus-lake in. So he entered and looked upon Love-cluster as
the traveller looks upon the shade of trees with thick foliage. And as
he drew near, she saw him and ran to him, for love took away her
modesty, and she fell on his neck. "Where would you go? I have caught
you, thief of my heart!" she cried. Then excessive joy stopped her
breathing and she died. She fell on the ground like a vine broken by
the wind. Strange are the mysterious ways of Love.

When Lotus-lake saw that terrible fall, he cried: "Oh, what does it
mean?" And he fainted and fell down. Presently he came to himself, and
took his darling on his lap. He embraced her and kissed her and wept
terribly. He was so borne down by the terrible burden of grief that his
own heart broke. And when they were both dead, the night seemed to die
away in shame and fear.

In the morning the relatives heard the story from the gardeners, and
came there filled with timidity and wonder and grief and madness. They
did not know what to do, but stood a long time with downcast eyes.
Unfaithful women disgrace a family.

Presently the husband Jewel-guard came back from his