_Vasantasena._ Oh, dear! To think that this little fellow has to suffer because others are wealthy. Ah, mighty Fate! the destinies of men, uncertain as the water-drops which fall upon a lotus-leaf, seem to thee but playthings! [_Tearfully._] Don't cry, my child. You shall have a gold cart to play with.
_Vasantasena._ A slave of your father's, won by his virtues.
_Radanika._ My child, the lady is your mother.
_Rohasena._ That's a lie, Radanika. If the lady is my mother, why does she wear those pretty ornaments?
_Vasantasena._ My child, your innocent lips can say terrible things. [_She removes her ornaments. Weeping._] Now I am your mother. You shall take these ornaments and have a gold cart made for you.
_Rohasena._ Go away! I won't take them. You're crying.
_Vasantasena._ [_Wiping away her tears._] I'll not cry, dear. There! go and play. [_She fills the clay cart with her jewels._] There, dear, you must have a little gold cart made for you.
[_Enter Vardhamanaka, driving a bullock-cart._]
_Vardhamanaka._ Radanika, Radanika! Tell mistress Vasantasena that the covered cart is standing ready at the side-door.
_Radanika._ [_Entering._] Mistress, Vardhamanaka is here, and he says that the cart is waiting at the side-door.
_Vasantasena._ He must wait a minute, girl, while I get ready.
_Rad._ Wait a minute, Vardhamanaka, while she gets ready. [_Exit._
_Vardhamanaka._ Hello, I've forgotten the cushion. I must go and get it. But the nose-rope makes the bullocks skittish. I suppose I had better take the cart along with me. [_Exit._
_Vasantasena._ Bring me my things, girl. I must make myself ready. [_She does so._]
[_Enter, driving a bullock-cart, Sthavaraka, servant to Sansthanaka._]
_Sthavaraka._ Sansthanaka, the king's brother-in-law, said to me "Take a bullock-cart, Sthavaraka, and come as quick as you can to the old garden Pushpakaranda." Well, I'm on my way there. Get up, bullocks, get up! [_He drives about and looks around._] Why, the road is blocked with villagers' carts. What am I to do now? [_Haughtily._] Get out of my way, you! Get out of my way! [_He listens._] What's that? you want to know whose cart this is? This cart belongs to Sansthanaka, the king's brother-in-law. So get out of my way--and this minute, too! [_He looks about._] Why, here's a man going in the other direction as fast as he can. He is trying to hide like a runaway gambler, and he looks at me as if I were the gambling-master. I wonder who he is. But then, what business is it of mine? I must get there as soon as I can. Get out of my way, you villagers, get out of my way! What's that? you want me to wait a minute and put a shoulder to your wheel? Confound you! A brave man like me, that serves Sansthanaka, the king's brother-in-law, put a shoulder to your wheel? After all, the poor fellow is quite alone. I'll do it. I'll stop my cart at the side-door to Charudatta's orchard. [_He does so._] I'm coming! [_Exit._