R. Come to mother. She has been expecting you for many days.
Kala kneels to the Princess.
Y. Gopa, take his bundle. [The maid takes his bundle and carries it into the house.] What news do you bring of Prince Siddhattha?
K. I followed the Prince from place to place and saw him last near Benares in the forest of Uruvela.
Y. How is his health, and will he come back?
K. His health is probably good, but he does not think of coming back—not yet. O my dear lady! If you could see him! he is as thin as a skeleton. I could count all his ribs.
R. What is the trouble with father.
K. He is fasting. He lives on a hempcorn a day; think of it, one little hempcorn a day!
Y. Oh, he will die! My poor husband. I must follow him and attend to his wants. He needs his wife's loving care. I will leave my home and follow him.
K. Could you help him, princess? He might not like it, and the monks abhor women. Moreover, I was told that he takes food again, every morning a cup of rice milk. The day I left he looked better. Still, he was pretty pale.