CHAPTER XXVI.
THE SIGNS OF LOVE.
As a cotton rag placed near fire becomes burnt, so the heart of Hira became ever more inflamed by the remarkable beauty of Debendra.

Many a time Hira's virtue and good name would have been endangered by passion, but that Debendra's character for sensuality without love came to her mind and proved a safeguard.

Hira had great power of self-control, and it was through this power that she, though not very virtuous, had hitherto easily preserved her chastity.

The more certainly to rule her heart, Hira determined to go again to service.
She felt that in daily work her mind would be distracted, and she would be able to forget this unfortunate passion which stung like the bite of a scorpion.

Thus when Nagendra, leaving Kunda Nandini at Govindpur, was about to set forth, Hira, on the strength of past service, begged to be re-engaged, and Nagendra consented.