
A devoted missionary finds himself caught between duty and desire as he navigates the tranquil yet complex world of an Indian guru’s household. Charged with converting a solitary young woman, he must conceal his intentions while wrestling with an unexpected surge of personal doubt and yearning. The narrative follows his restless mind as he confronts the fragile balance between spiritual conviction and the pull of human connection.
When the guru’s procession departs, the missionary resolves to broaden his purpose, aiming to reach a distant settlement instead of a single soul. Along the way he pauses beneath a majestic cannella‑alba tree, its blossoms and carved dates stirring memories of a secret encounter with a mysterious priestess. The lush scenery and quiet introspection highlight his inner conflict, as reverence for his mission clashes with the faint, forbidden stirrings of the heart.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (170K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Carlo Traverso, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2015-04-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1783–1859
A sharp, lively voice of Irish Romanticism, this novelist became famous for blending fiction, travel writing, and bold social commentary. Her books brought Irish life and politics to a wide readership in Britain and beyond.
View all books