XVIII.

CHANDRALEKHA AND THE EIGHT

Best Short Storie. I 133/

ROBBERS.

There was an ancient city named Kaivalyam,in the Pândiya country, and in that city there liveda dancing girl named Muttumôhanâ. She was anexcellent gem of womankind, for though born of thedancing- girls' caste, she was a very learned andpious woman, and never would she taste her foodwithout first going and worshipping in the temple ofSiva. She moved in the society of kings, ministers,and Brahmins, and never mingled with low people,however rich they might be. She had a daughternamed Chandralekhâ, whom she put to schoolwith the sons of kings, ministers and Brâhmins.Chandralekha showed signs of very great intelli-gence, even when she was beginning her alphabet,so that the master took the greatest care with hertuition, and in less than four years she began herlessons and became a great paṇḍitá.* However, as

* Learned woman.