All round the house rows of casuarina-trees raising their heads into the clouds, stood like apparitions of the night.

At the touch of the wind these giant-faced apparitions whispered in their ghost language over Kunda Nandini's head.

The very ghosts, in their fear of the terrible night, spoke in low voices.

Occasionally the open shutters of the window flapped against the walls.

Black owls hooted as they sat upon the house; sometimes a dog seeing another animal rushed after it; sometimes a twig or a fruit fell to the ground.