Page:The Dravidian Nights Entertainments.djvu/45
movements of her face, and concluding with himself that he would highly provoke her if he remained in that state for a longer time, awoke as if from deep slumber.
"How is it my lord that you went away to sleep so early as that?" were the words which the princess spoke to her drowsy or apparently drowsy husband. The minister's son begged pardon for his neglect, and pointed out the bustle of the day as the reason for his weariness.
The princess was satisfied by the reason and requested him to accept the fruits, sweetmeats, &c., that she had brought and also herself. Buddhichâturya did full justice to what she brought in the platter, and after washing his hands began to chew betel-leaves and nuts. The princess not much pleased with the retired spirit of her husband, and wishing to arouse his love by artificial means played some lovely songs on her guitar. The minister's son never returned her loves and kept on closely to his tâmbûla-chewing.
Let us not think for one moment even Baddhichâturya to be unfit to return her loves. He, as the Sanyâsi robed Sankara had ordered, had meant the elder of the princesses for his king Madanakâma and so kept aloof from her regardless of her love evincements towards him. But when she came very near him with a smiling countenance, he devised a plan of wiling away the