Page:Sketches of some distinguished Indian women.djvu/116

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
104
SOME DISTINGUISHED INDIAN WOMEN.

semblable vceu, emanant d'une telle source, me touche trop profondement pour que je ne 1'exauce pas. Traduisez done 'La Femme dans Flnde Antique,' Mademoiselle. Je vous y autorise de tout mon coeur, et j'y appelle de tous mes voeux sympathiques le succes de votre entreprise. . . . Vous etes chretienne, Mademoiselle ; votre livre me le dit. Et en verite votre role nous permets de benir une fois de plus la divine religion, qui a permis a une Indienne de developper et de manifester cette valeur individuelle que le brahminisme enchaina trop souvent chez la femme."

In writing to acknowledge the permission thus generously granted to her, Toru Dutt told her new friend of her own bad state of health, and how greatly it interfered with the pursuit of her studies. She mentioned that her father proposed taking her to Europe again, so as to consult some eminent physician, and in the hope that a drier and more bracing air than that of Bengal might perhaps check the disease, or, at any rate, give her strength to battle against it. With this letter she sent her photograph and some of her translations from the Sanskrit. A month later she wrote again, from her bed, to which she was then confined by very severe illness and great pain. Yet, with the hopefulness so characteristic of persons suffering from consumption, she still looked forward to recovery, and