"Oh, what I see! Who are you?" She could say no more—she fainted and fell on the bed.
Pratap instantly fetched water and began to sprinkle it on the face of Shaibalini. Her face now wore the charming beauty of a sweet bedewed lily. The water wetted her handsome locks, uncurled them and then trickled down in drops. Her tresses looked as beautiful as mosses hanging from a lotus.
Shaibalini soon recovered her consciousness. Pratap stood up. Shaibalini then very calmly asked,
"Who are you? Is it Pratap or some angel has come to deceive me?"
Pratap. "Yes, I am Pratap."
Shaibalini. When I was in the boat I once thought that I heard your voice. But instantly I felt that it was a mere illusion. I had then just risen from sleep in the midst of a dream and so I thought it to be only a delusion of my mind.
Shaibalini then breathed a deep sigh and was silent. Pratap found that Shaibalini had fully recovered, and was, therefore, about to leave the room, without a word, when Shaibalini entreated him not to go away. Pratap stopped against his will.
"Why have you come here?" then inquired Shaibalini.
97
