The Four Simple Bráhmans. 185

tell you," said I, taking the leaf," that youwould be the first to speak out, and that youwould prove by your own conduct that I wasright in saying yesterday, when we went tobed, that women are babblers?"

Every one was surprised at the proceeding;nor could any of them comprehend the mean-ing of what was passing between my wifeand me; until I explained the kind of wagerwe had made overnight, before going to sleep." What!" they exclaimed," was it for a leafof betel that you have spread this alarmthrough your own house and the wholevillage?-for a leaf of betel that you showedsuch constancy, and suffered burning fromthe feet to the head upwards? Neverin the world was there seen such folly!"And So, from that time, I have been constantlyknown by the name of Betel Anantya.

The narrative being finished, the court wereof opinion that so transcendent a piece offolly gave him high pretensions in the depend-ing suit; but it was necessary also to hearthe fourth and last of the suitors, who thusaddressed them:

Story of the Fourth Bráhman.

The maiden to whom I was betrothed, hav-ing remained six or seven years at her father's

Dubois, 4621