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THE RIVER STAIRS
181
Then crying, "You are he, Master!" she fell on her face on my stony bosom, and sobbed.
When she came to herself, and sat up, the Sanyasi said slowly: "I am leaving this place to-night that you may not see me again. Know that I am a Sanyasi, not belonging to this world. You must forget me."
Kusum replied in a low voice: "It will be so, Master."
The Sanyasi said: "I take my leave."
Without a word more Kusum bowed to him, and placed the dust of his feet on her head. He left the place.
The moon set; the night grew dark. I heard a splash in the water. The wind raved in the darkness, as if it wanted to blow out all the stars of the sky.
