One person only, the gatekeeper, sometimes shook the chain to give warning at night.

But in his hand the chain did not speak so sweetly; it spoke threateningly, as though to say, "If you do not open, I will break the door." Now it seemed to say, "How are you, my Hira?
Arise, my jewel of a Hira!" Hira arose, and opening the outer door saw a woman.

At first she was puzzled, but in a moment, recognizing the visitor, she exclaimed, "Oh, _Ganga jal_![11] how fortunate I am!" [Footnote 11: _Ganga jal_--Ganges water; a pet name given by Hira to Malati.

To receive this at the moment of death it essential to salvation; therefore Hira expresses the hope to meet Malati in the hour of death.] Hira's _Ganga jal_ was Malati the milk-woman, whose home was at Debipur, near Debendra Babu's house.

She was a merry woman, from thirty to thirty-two years of age, dressed in a _sari_ and wearing shell bracelets, her lips red from the spices she ate; her complexion was almost fair, with red spots on her cheeks; her nose flat, her temples tattooed, a quid of tobacco in her cheek.