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StoriesfromTagoreRabindranathTagore

Translation:C.F.Andrews,NishikantaSen,revisedbytheAuthor

TheMacmillanCompany,NewYork,1918

PREFACE

EVERYexperiencedteachermusthavenoticedthedifficultyofinstructingIndianchildrenoutofbooksthatarespeciallyintendedforuseinEnglishschools.Itisnotmerelythatthesubjectsareunfamiliar,butalmosteveryphrasehasEnglishassociationsthatarestrangetoIndianears.TheenvironmentinwhichtheyarewrittenisunknowntotheIndianschoolboyandhismindbecomesoverburdenedwithitsdetailswhichhefailstounderstand.Hecannotgivehiswholeattentiontothelanguageandthusmasteritquickly.

The present Indian story-book avoids some at least of these impediments. Thesurroundingsdescribed in it are thoseof the students’ everyday life; the sentiments andcharacters are familiar. The stories are simply told, and the notes at the end will besufficient to explain obscure passages. It should be possible for the Indian student tofollow thepagesof thebookeasilyand intelligently.Those studentswhohave read thestories in theoriginalwillhave the furtheradvantageofknowingbeforehand thewholetrend of the narrative and thus they will be able to concentrate their thoughts on theEnglishlanguageitself.

It is proposed to publish together in a single volume theoriginal storieswhoseEnglishtranslationsaregiven in thisReader.Versionsof thesamestories in thedifferent Indianvernacularshavealreadyappeared,andothersarelikelytofollow.

Twoofthelongeststoriesinthisbook—“MasterMashai”and“TheSonofRashmani”—arereproducedinEnglishforthefirsttime.Therestofthestorieshavebeentaken,withslightrevision,fromtwoEnglishvolumesentitled“TheHungryStones”and“Mashi.”Ashortparagraphhasbeenadded from theoriginalBengali at theendof the storycalled“ThePostmaster.”ThiswasunfortunatelyomittedinthefirstEnglishedition.

ThelistofwordstobestudiedhasbeenchosenfromeachstoryinordertobringtonoticedifferenttypesofEnglishwords.Thelistsareinnosenseexhaustive.TheendinviewhasbeentoendeavourtocreateaninterestinIndianwordsandtheirhistory,whichmayleadontofurtherstudy.

CONTENTS

PAGE

THECABULIWALLAH 3THEHOME-COMING 21ONCETHEREWASAKING 35THECHILD’SRETURN 51MASTERMASHAI 69SUBHA 101THEPOSTMASTER 115THECASTAWAY 129THESONOFRASHMANI 151THEBABUSOFNAYANJORE 203NOTES 223

THECABULIWALLAH

STORIESFROMTAGORE

I

THECABULIWALLAH

MYfiveyears’olddaughterMinicannotlivewithoutchattering.Ireallybelievethatinallher life she has notwasted aminute in silence.Hermother is often vexed at this, andwouldstopherprattle,butIwouldnot.ToseeMiniquietisunnatural,andIcannotbearitlong.Andsomyowntalkwithherisalwayslively.

Onemorning,forinstance,whenIwasinthemidstoftheseventeenthchapterofmynewnovel,my littleMinistole into theroom,andputtingherhand intomine,said:“Father!Ramdayalthedoor-keepercallsacrowakrow!Hedoesn’tknowanything,doeshe?”

BeforeIcouldexplaintoherthedifferencesoflanguageinthisworld,shewasembarkedon the full tide of another subject. “What do you think, Father?Bhola says there is anelephantintheclouds,blowingwateroutofhistrunk,andthatiswhyitrains!”

Andthen,dartingoffanew,whileIsatstillmakingreadysomereplytothislastsaying:“Father!whatrelationisMothertoyou?”

WithagravefaceIcontrivedtosay:“GoandplaywithBhola,Mini!Iambusy!”

Thewindowofmyroomoverlookstheroad.Thechildhadseatedherselfatmyfeetnearmy table, and was playing softly, drumming on her knees. I was hard at work onmyseventeenth chapter, where Pratap Singh, the hero, had just caught Kanchanlata, theheroine, inhisarms,andwasabout toescapewithherbythe third-storywindowof thecastle, when all of a sudden Mini left her play, and ran to the window, crying: “ACabuliwallah! a Cabuliwallah!” Sure enough in the street below was a Cabuliwallah,passingslowlyalong.Heworetheloose,soiledclothingofhispeople,withatallturban;therewasabagonhisback,andhecarriedboxesofgrapesinhishand.

Icannottellwhatweremydaughter’sfeelingsatthesightofthisman,butshebegantocallhimloudly.“Ah!”Ithought,“hewillcomein,andmyseventeenthchapterwillneverbefinished!”AtwhichexactmomenttheCabuliwallahturned,andlookedupatthechild.When she saw this, overcome by terror, she fled to her mother’s protection anddisappeared.Shehadablindbelief that insidethebag,whichthebigmancarried, therewereperhaps twoor threeotherchildren likeherself.Thepedlarmeanwhileenteredmydoorwayandgreetedmewithasmilingface.

Soprecariouswasthepositionofmyheroandmyheroine, thatmyfirst impulsewastostopandbuysomething,sincethemanhadbeencalled.Imadesomesmallpurchases,anda conversation began about Abdurrahman, the Russians, the English, and the FrontierPolicy.

Ashewasabouttoleave,heasked:“Andwhereisthelittlegirl,sir?”

AndI,thinkingthatMinimustgetridofherfalsefear,hadherbroughtout.

Shestoodbymychair,andlookedat theCabuliwallahandhisbag.Heofferedhernuts

andraisins,butshewouldnotbe tempted,andonlyclungthecloser tome,withallherdoubtsincreased.

Thiswastheirfirstmeeting.

Onemorning,however,notmanydayslater,asIwasleavingthehouse,Iwasstartledtofind Mini, seated on a bench near the door, laughing and talking, with the greatCabuliwallahatherfeet.Inallherlife,itappeared,mysmalldaughterhadneverfoundsopatientalistener,saveherfather.Andalreadythecornerofherlittlesariwasstuffedwithalmonds and raisins, the gift of her visitor. “Why did you give her those?” I said, andtaking out an eight-anna bit, I handed it to him. Theman accepted themoneywithoutdemur,andslippeditintohispocket.

Alas, onmy return an hour later, I found the unfortunate coin hadmade twice its ownworthoftrouble!FortheCabuliwallahhadgivenittoMini;andhermother,catchingsightofthebrightroundobject,hadpouncedonthechildwith:“Wheredidyougetthateight-annabit?”

“TheCabuliwallahgaveitme,”saidMinicheerfully.

“TheCabuliwallahgaveityou!”criedhermothermuchshocked.“OMini!howcouldyoutakeitfromhim?”

I,enteringatthemoment,savedherfromimpendingdisaster,andproceededtomakemyowninquiries.

Itwasnot thefirstorsecondtime,Ifound, that thetwohadmet.TheCabuliwallahhadovercomethechild’sfirstterrorbyajudiciousbriberyofnutsandalmonds,andthetwowerenowgreatfriends.

Theyhadmanyquaint jokes,whichafforded themmuchamusement.Seated in frontofhim,lookingdownonhisgiganticframeinallhertinydignity,Miniwouldrippleherfacewithlaughterandbegin:“OCabuliwallah!Cabuliwallah!whathaveyougotinyourbag?”

Andhewould reply, in thenasalaccentsof themountaineer:“Anelephant!”Notmuchcauseformerriment,perhaps;buthowtheybothenjoyedthefun!Andforme,thischild’stalkwithagrown-upmanhadalwaysinitsomethingstrangelyfascinating.

ThentheCabuliwallah,not tobebehindhand,wouldtakehis turn:“Well, littleone,andwhenareyougoingtothefather-in-law’shouse?”

NowmostsmallBengalimaidenshaveheardlongagoaboutthefather-in-law’shouse;butwe, being a little new-fangled, had kept these things from our child, andMini at thisquestionmusthavebeena triflebewildered.Butshewouldnotshowit,andwithreadytactreplied:“Areyougoingthere?”

AmongstmenoftheCabuliwallah’sclass,however,itiswellknownthatthewordsfather-in-law’shousehaveadoublemeaning.Itisaeuphemismforjail,theplacewherewearewellcaredfor,atnoexpensetoourselves.Inthissensewouldthesturdypedlartakemydaughter’squestion.“Ah,”hewouldsay,shakinghisfistataninvisiblepoliceman,“Iwillthrashmyfather-in-law!”Hearingthis,andpicturingthepoordiscomfitedrelative,Miniwouldgooffintopealsoflaughter,inwhichherformidablefriendwouldjoin.

These were autumn mornings, the very time of year when kings of old went forth toconquest; and I, never stirring from my little corner in Calcutta, would let my mindwanderoverthewholeworld.Attheverynameofanothercountry,myheartwouldgooutto it, andat thesightofa foreigner in thestreets, Iwould fall toweavinganetworkofdreams,—themountains,theglens,andtheforestsofhisdistanthome,withhiscottageinits setting, and the free and independent life of far-away wilds. Perhaps the scenes oftravel conjure themselves up beforeme and pass and repass inmy imagination all themorevividly,becauseIleadsuchavegetableexistencethatacalltotravelwouldfalluponmelikeathunder-bolt.InthepresenceofthisCabuliwallahIwasimmediatelytransportedtothefootofaridmountainpeaks,withnarrowlittledefilestwistinginandoutamongsttheirtoweringheights.Icouldseethestringofcamelsbearingthemerchandise,andthecompanyofturbannedmerchantscarryingsometheirqueeroldfirearms,andsometheirspears, journeyingdownward towards theplains. I could see—.But at somesuchpointMini’smotherwouldintervene,imploringmeto“bewareofthatman.”

Mini’smotherisunfortunatelyaverytimidlady.Whenevershehearsanoiseinthestreet,orseespeoplecomingtowardsthehouse,shealwaysjumpstotheconclusionthattheyareeither thieves, or drunkards, or snakes, or tigers, or malaria, or cockroaches, orcaterpillars.Evenafteralltheseyearsofexperience,sheisnotabletoovercomeherterror.SoshewasfullofdoubtsabouttheCabuliwallah,andusedtobegmetokeepawatchfuleyeonhim.

Itriedtolaughherfeargentlyaway,butthenshewouldturnroundonmeseriously,andaskmesolemnquestions:—

Werechildrenneverkidnapped?

Wasit,then,nottruethattherewasslaveryinCabul?

Wasitsoveryabsurdthatthisbigmanshouldbeabletocarryoffatinychild?

Iurged that, thoughnot impossible, itwashighly improbable.But thiswasnotenough,andherdreadpersisted.Asitwasindefinite,however,itdidnotseemrighttoforbidthemanthehouse,andtheintimacywentonunchecked.

Once a year in the middle of January Rahmun, the Cabuliwallah, was in the habit ofreturningtohiscountry,andas the timeapproachedhewouldbeverybusy,goingfromhousetohousecollectinghisdebts.Thisyear,however,hecouldalwaysfindtimetocomeand see Mini. It would have seemed to an outsider that there was some conspiracybetween the two, forwhen he could not come in themorning, hewould appear in theevening.

Eventomeitwasalittlestartlingnowandthen,inthecornerofadarkroom,suddenlytosurprise this tall, loose-garmented, much bebagged man; but whenMini would run insmiling,withher“OCabuliwallah!Cabuliwallah!”andthetwofriends,sofarapartinage,wouldsubsideintotheiroldlaughterandtheiroldjokes,Ifeltreassured.

Onemorning,afewdaysbeforehehadmadeuphismindtogo,Iwascorrectingmyproofsheetsinmystudy.Itwaschillyweather.Throughthewindowtheraysofthesuntouchedmy feet, and the slightwarmthwasverywelcome. Itwasalmost eighto’clock, and theearly pedestrianswere returning homewith their heads covered.All at once I heard an

uproar in the street, and, lookingout, sawRahmunbeing led awayboundbetween twopolicemen, and behind them a crowd of curious boys. There were blood-stains on theclothes of the Cabuliwallah, and one of the policemen carried a knife. Hurrying out, Istopped them, and inquired what it all meant. Partly from one, partly from another, IgatheredthatacertainneighbourhadowedthepedlarsomethingforaRampurishawl,buthad falsely denied having bought it, and that in the course of the quarrel Rahmun hadstruckhim.Now, in theheatofhisexcitement, theprisonerbegancallinghisenemyallsortsofnames,whensuddenlyinaverandahofmyhouseappearedmylittleMini,withherusualexclamation:“OCabuliwallah!Cabuliwallah!”Rahmun’sfacelightedupasheturnedtoher.Hehadnobagunderhisarmto-day,soshecouldnotdiscusstheelephantwith him. She at once therefore proceeded to the next question: “Are you going to thefather-in-law’s house?”Rahmun laughed and said: “Justwhere I am going, little one!”Then,seeingthatthereplydidnotamusethechild,hehelduphisfetteredhands.“Ah!”hesaid,“Iwouldhavethrashedthatoldfather-in-law,butmyhandsarebound!”

Onachargeofmurderousassault,Rahmunwassentencedtosomeyears’imprisonment.

Timepassedawayandhewasnotremembered.Theaccustomedworkintheaccustomedplacewasours,andthethoughtoftheoncefreemountaineerspendinghisyearsinprisonseldomorneveroccurredtous.Evenmylight-heartedMini,Iamashamedtosay,forgotheroldfriend.Newcompanionsfilledherlife.Asshegrewolder,shespentmoreofhertimewithgirls.Somuchtimeindeeddidshespendwiththemthatshecamenomore,assheusedtodo,toherfather’sroom.Iwasscarcelyonspeakingtermswithher.

Yearshadpassedaway.ItwasoncemoreautumnandwehadmadearrangementsforourMini’smarriage. Itwas to takeplaceduring thePujaHolidays.WithDurgareturning toKailas, the light of our home alsowas to depart to her husband’s house, and leave herfather’sintheshadow.

Themorningwasbright.Aftertherains,therewasasenseofablutionintheair,andthesun-rays looked likepuregold.Sobrightwere they, that theygaveabeautiful radianceeven to the sordid brick walls of our Calcutta lanes. Since early dawn that day thewedding-pipeshadbeensounding,andateachbeatmyownheartthrobbed.Thewailofthe tune,Bhairavi, seemed to intensifymypainat theapproachingseparation.MyMiniwastobemarriedthatnight.

Fromearlymorningnoiseandbustlehadpervadedthehouse.Inthecourtyardthecanopyhad to be slung on its bamboopoles; the chandelierswith their tinkling soundmust behungineachroomandverandah.Therewasnoendofhurryandexcitement.Iwassittinginmystudy,lookingthroughtheaccounts,whensomeoneentered,salutingrespectfully,andstoodbeforeme.ItwasRahmuntheCabuliwallah.AtfirstIdidnotrecognisehim.Hehadnobag,northelonghair,northesamevigourthatheusedtohave.Buthesmiled,andIknewhimagain.

“Whendidyoucome,Rahmun?”Iaskedhim.

“Lastevening,”hesaid,“Iwasreleasedfromjail.”

The words struck harsh upon my ears. I had never before talked with one who hadwoundedhisfellow,andmyheartshrankwithinitselfwhenIrealisedthis;forIfeltthatthedaywouldhavebeenbetter-omenedhadhenotturnedup.

“Thereareceremoniesgoingon,”Isaid,“andIambusy.Couldyouperhapscomeanotherday?”

Atonceheturnedtogo;butashereachedthedoorhehesitated,andsaid:“MayInotseethe littleone,sir, foramoment?” Itwashisbelief thatMiniwasstill thesame.Hehadpicturedherrunningtohimassheused,calling“OCabuliwallah!Cabuliwallah!”Hehadimaginedtoothattheywouldlaughandtalktogether,justasofold.Infact,inmemoryofformerdayshehadbrought,carefullywrappedupinpaper,afewalmondsandraisinsandgrapes,obtainedsomehowfromacountryman;forhisownlittlefundwasdispersed.

Isaidagain:“Thereisaceremonyinthehouse,andyouwillnotbeabletoseeanyoneto-day.”

Theman’sfacefell.Helookedwistfullyatmeforamoment,thensaid“Goodmorning,”andwentout.

Ifelta littlesorry,andwouldhavecalledhimback,butIfoundhewasreturningofhisownaccord.Hecamecloseuptomeholdingouthisofferingswiththewords:“Ibroughtthesefewthings,sir,forthelittleone.Willyougivethemtoher?”

I took themandwasgoing topayhim,buthecaughtmyhandandsaid:“Youareverykind,sir!Keepmeinyourrecollection.Donotoffermemoney!—Youhavealittlegirl:Itoohaveonelikeherinmyownhome.Ithinkofher,andbringfruitstoyourchild—nottomakeaprofitformyself.”

Sayingthis,heputhishandinsidehisbiglooserobe,andbroughtoutasmallanddirtypieceofpaper.Withgreatcareheunfoldedthis,andsmootheditoutwithbothhandsonmy table. Itbore the impressionof a littlehand.Notaphotograph.Notadrawing.Theimpression of an ink-smeared hand laid flat on the paper. This touch of his own littledaughterhadbeenalwaysonhisheart,ashehadcomeyearafteryeartoCalcuttatosellhiswaresinthestreets.

Tearscametomyeyes.IforgotthathewasapoorCabulifruit-seller,whileIwas—.Butno,whatwasImorethanhe?Healsowasafather.

ThatimpressionofthehandofhislittlePārbati inherdistantmountainhomeremindedmeofmyownlittleMini.

IsentforMiniimmediatelyfromtheinnerapartment.Manydifficultieswereraised,butIwould not listen.Clad in the red silk of herwedding-day,with the sandal paste on herforehead,andadornedasayoungbride,Minicame,andstoodbashfullybeforeme.

TheCabuliwallahlookedalittlestaggeredattheapparition.Hecouldnotrevivetheiroldfriendship.At lasthesmiledandsaid:“Littleone,areyougoing toyour father-in-law’shouse?”

ButMini now understood the meaning of the word “father-in-law,” and she could notreplytohimasofold.Sheflushedupatthequestion,andstoodbeforehimwithherbride-likefaceturneddown.

IrememberedthedaywhentheCabuliwallahandmyMinihadfirstmet,andIfeltsad.Whenshehadgone,Rahmunheavedadeepsigh,andsatdownonthefloor.Theideahadsuddenlycometohimthathisdaughtertoomusthavegrowninthislongtime,andthathe

wouldhavetomakefriendswithheranew.Assuredlyhewouldnotfindherasheusedtoknowher.Andbesides,whatmightnothavehappenedtoherintheseeightyears?

Themarriage-pipessounded,andthemildautumnsunstreamedroundus.ButRahmunsatinthelittleCalcuttalane,andsawbeforehimthebarrenmountainsofAfghanistan.

I took out a bank-note and gave it to him, saying: “Go back to your own daughter,Rahmun,inyourowncountry,andmaythehappinessofyourmeetingbringgoodfortunetomychild!”

Havingmade this present, I had to curtail some of the festivities. I could not have theelectric lights I had intended, nor the military band, and the ladies of the house weredespondentatit.Buttomethewedding-feastwasallthebrighterforthethoughtthatinadistantlandalong-lostfathermetagainwithhisonlychild.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

precarious. From the root “prec,” meaning prayer. Compare deprecate, imprecation;“precarious”means,therefore,heldbyentreaty,andthusinsecure.

impending. From the Latin “pendere,” to hang. Compare depend, expend, expensive,pendant,suspend,interdependent,independent.

judicious. From the root “jus,” “jud,” meaning law, right. Compare judge, judicial,judgment,just,prejudge,adjustment,adjudicate.

euphemism.AGreekroot“phe,”meaningspeech.Compareblasphemy.

transported.FromtheLatin“portare,”tocarry.Compareporter,import,export,deport,support,deportation.

intervene.From theLatin “venire,” to come.Compareconvenient,convene, supervene,prevent.

conclusion. From the Latin “claudere,” to close, shut. Compare include, preclude,exclude,exclusive,exclusion.

exclamation. From the Latin “clamare,” to cry out. Compare clamour, proclaim,proclamation,clamorous,disclaim,declaim.

separation. From the Latin “parare,” to make ready. Compare prepare, preparation,compare,comparison,comparative.

recollect. From the Latin “legere,” to choose.Compare collect, elect, election, college,eligible.

impression. From theLatin “premere,” to press.Compare impressive,depress, express,suppress,oppress,pressure.

photograph.FromtwoGreekroots“phōt,”meaninglightand“graph,”meaningtowrite.Compareepigraph,epigram,photographic,phosphorus,graph,diagram.

intend. From the Latin “tendere,” meaning to stretch. Compare extend, superintend,attend,attendant,extensive,tense,pretend,distend,contend.

THEHOME-COMING

II

THEHOME-COMING

PHATIKCHAKRAVORTIwas ringleader among the boys of the village.A newmischief gotinto his head. There was a heavy log lying on the mud-flat of the river waiting to beshapedintoamastforaboat.Hedecidedthattheyshouldallworktogethertoshiftthelogbymainforcefromitsplaceandroll itaway.Theownerofthelogwouldbeangryandsurprised,andtheywouldallenjoythefun.Everyonesecondedtheproposal,anditwascarriedunanimously.

But just as the funwasabout tobegin,Mākhan,Phatik’syoungerbrother, saunteredupandsatdownontheloginfrontofthemallwithoutaword.Theboyswerepuzzledforamoment.Hewas pushed, rather timidly, by one of the boys and told to get up; but heremained quite unconcerned. He appeared like a young philosopher meditating on thefutility of games. Phatikwas furious. “Mākhan,” he cried, “if you don’t get down thisminuteI’llthrashyou!”

Mākhanonlymovedtoamorecomfortableposition.

Now, ifPhatikwas tokeephis regaldignitybefore thepublic, itwas clearheought tocarry out his threat.But his courage failed himat the crisis.His fertile brain, however,rapidly seizedupon anewmanœuvrewhichwoulddiscomfit his brother and affordhisfollowersanaddedamusement.HegavethewordofcommandtorollthelogandMākhanovertogether.Mākhanheardtheorderandmadeitapointofhonourtostickon.Butheoverlookedthefact, likethosewhoattemptearthlyfameinothermatters, thattherewasperilinit.

Theboysbegantoheaveatthelogwithalltheirmight,callingout,“One,two,three,go!”Attheword“go”thelogwent;andwithitwentMākhan’sphilosophy,gloryandall.

Theotherboysshoutedthemselveshoarsewithdelight.ButPhatikwasalittlefrightened.Heknewwhatwascoming.And,sureenough,MākhanrosefromMotherEarthblindasFateandscreaming like theFuries.HerushedatPhatikandscratchedhis faceandbeathimandkickedhim,andthenwentcryinghome.Thefirstactofthedramawasover.

Phatikwipedhisface,andsatdownontheedgeofasunkenbargebytheriverbank,andbegan tochewapieceofgrass.Aboatcameup to the landingandamiddle-agedman,withgreyhairanddarkmoustache,steppedonshore.Hesawtheboysittingtheredoingnothingandaskedhimwhere theChakravortis lived.Phatikwentonchewing thegrassandsaid:“Overthere,”butitwasquiteimpossibletotellwherehepointed.Thestrangeraskedhimagain.Heswunghislegstoandfroonthesideofthebargeandsaid:“Goandfindout,”andcontinuedtochewthegrassasbefore.

But now a servant came down from the house and toldPhatik hismotherwanted him.Phatikrefusedtomove.Buttheservantwasthemasteronthisoccasion.HetookPhatikuproughlyandcarriedhim,kickingandstrugglinginimpotentrage.

WhenPhatikcame into thehouse,hismothersawhim.Shecalledoutangrily:“SoyouhavebeenhittingMākhanagain?”

Phatikansweredindignantly:“No,Ihaven’t!Whotoldyouthat?”

Hismothershouted:“Don’ttelllies!Youhave.”

Phatiksaidsullenly:“Itellyou,Ihaven’t.YouaskMākhan!”ButMākhanthoughtitbesttosticktohispreviousstatement.Hesaid:“Yes,mother.Phatikdidhitme.”

Phatik’s patiencewas already exhausted.He could not bear this injustice.He rushed atMākhan and hammered himwith blows: “Take that,” he cried, “and that, and that, fortellinglies.”

Hismother tookMākhan’sside inamoment,andpulledPhatikaway,beatinghimwithher hands. When Phatik pushed her aside, she shouted out: “What! you little villain!Wouldyouhityourownmother?”

Itwasjustatthiscriticaljuncturethatthegrey-hairedstrangerarrived.Heaskedwhatwasthematter.Phatiklookedsheepishandashamed.

Butwhenhismothersteppedbackandlookedat thestranger,herangerwaschangedtosurprise.For she recognizedherbrotherandcried:“Why,Dada!Wherehaveyoucomefrom?”

Asshesaidthesewords,shebowedtothegroundandtouchedhisfeet.Herbrotherhadgoneawaysoonaftershehadmarried;andhehadstartedbusinessinBombay.Hissisterhadlostherhusbandwhilehewasthere.BishamberhadnowcomebacktoCalcuttaandhadatoncemadeenquiriesabouthissister.Hehadthenhastenedtoseeherassoonashefoundoutwhereshewas.

Thenextfewdayswerefullofrejoicing.Thebrotheraskedaftertheeducationofthetwoboys. He was told by his sister that Phatik was a perpetual nuisance. He was lazy,disobedient,andwild.ButMākhanwasasgoodasgold,asquietasalamb,andveryfondofreading.BishamberkindlyofferedtotakePhatikoffhissister’shandsandeducatehimwithhisownchildren inCalcutta.Thewidowedmother readilyagreed.WhenhisuncleaskedPhatikifhewouldliketogotoCalcuttawithhim,hisjoyknewnoboundsandhesaid:“Oh,yes,uncle!”inawaythatmadeitquiteclearthathemeantit.

ItwasanimmenserelieftothemothertogetridofPhatik.Shehadaprejudiceagainsttheboy,andnolovewaslostbetweenthetwobrothers.ShewasindailyfearthathewouldeitherdrownMākhansomedayintheriver,orbreakhisheadinafight,orrunhimintosomedanger.AtthesametimeshewasalittledistressedtoseePhatik’sextremeeagernesstogetaway.

Phatik,assoonasallwassettled,keptaskinghisuncleeveryminutewhentheyweretostart.Hewasonpinsandneedlesalldaylongwithexcitementandlayawakemostofthenight. He bequeathed to Mākhan, in perpetuity, his fishing-rod, his big kite, and hismarbles.Indeed,atthistimeofdeparture,hisgenerositytowardsMākhanwasunbounded.

WhentheyreachedCalcutta,Phatikmadetheacquaintanceofhisauntforthefirsttime.Shewasbynomeanspleasedwiththisunnecessaryadditiontoherfamily.Shefoundherown three boys quite enough to manage without taking any one else. And to bring a

village lad of fourteen into their midst was terribly upsetting. Bishamber should reallyhavethoughttwicebeforecommittingsuchanindiscretion.

Inthisworldofhumanaffairsthereisnoworsenuisancethanaboyattheageoffourteen.Heisneitherornamentalnoruseful. It is impossible toshoweraffectiononhimasonalittleboy;andheisalwaysgettingintheway.Ifhetalkswithachildishlispheiscalledababy,andifheanswersinagrown-upwayheiscalledimpertinent.Infactanytalkatallfromhim is resented.Then he is at the unattractive, growing age.He grows out of hisclothes with indecent haste; his voice grows hoarse and breaks and quavers; his facegrows suddenly angular and unsightly. It is easy to excuse the shortcomings of earlychildhood,butitishardtotolerateevenunavoidablelapsesinaboyoffourteen.Theladhimselfbecomespainfullyself-conscious.Whenhetalkswithelderlypeopleheiseitherundulyforward,orelsesoundulyshythatheappearsashamedofhisveryexistence.

Yet it is at this very age when, in his heart of hearts, a young lad most craves forrecognition and love; and he becomes the devoted slave of any one who shows himconsideration. But none dare openly love him, for that would be regarded as undueindulgenceandthereforebadfortheboy.So,whatwithscoldingandchiding,hebecomesverymuchlikeastraydogthathaslosthismaster.

ForaboyoffourteenhisownhomeistheonlyParadise.Toliveinastrangehousewithstrangepeopleislittleshortoftorture,whiletheheightofblissistoreceivethekindlooksofwomenandnevertobeslightedbythem.

ItwasanguishtoPhatiktobetheunwelcomeguestinhisaunt’shouse,despisedbythiselderlywomanandslightedoneveryoccasion.Ifeversheaskedhimtodoanythingforher,hewouldbesooverjoyedthathewouldoverdoit;andthenshewouldtellhimnottobesostupid,buttogetonwithhislessons.

ThecrampedatmosphereofneglectoppressedPhatiksomuch thathefelt thathecouldhardlybreathe.Hewantedtogooutintotheopencountryandfillhislungswithfreshair.Buttherewasnoopencountrytogoto.SurroundedonallsidesbyCalcuttahousesandwalls,hewoulddreamnightafternightofhisvillagehomeandlongtobebackthere.Heremembered the gloriousmeadowwhere he used to fly his kite all day long; the broadriver-bankswherehewouldwanderaboutthelive-longdaysingingandshoutingforjoy;thenarrowbrookwherehecouldgoanddiveandswimatanytimeheliked.Hethoughtofhisbandofboycompanionsoverwhomhewasdespot;and,aboveall,thememoryofthat tyrantmotherofhis,whohad suchaprejudice against him,occupiedhimdayandnight.Akindofphysicallovelikethatofanimals,alongingtobeinthepresenceoftheonewhoisloved,aninexpressiblewistfulnessduringabsence,asilentcryoftheinmostheartforthemother,likethelowingofacalfinthetwilight,—thislove,whichwasalmostananimal instinct, agitated the shy,nervous, lean,uncouthanduglyboy.Noonecouldunderstandit,butitpreyeduponhismindcontinually.

There was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik. He gaped andremainedsilentwhentheteacheraskedhimaquestion,andlikeanoverladenasspatientlysufferedalltheblowsthatcamedownonhisback.Whenotherboyswereoutatplay,hestoodwistfully by thewindow and gazed at the roofs of the distant houses.And if bychanceheespiedchildrenplayingon theopenterraceofanyroof,hisheartwouldache

withlonging.

One day he summoned up all his courage and asked his uncle: “Uncle,when can I gohome?”

Hisuncleanswered:“Waittilltheholidayscome.”

ButtheholidayswouldnotcometillOctoberandtherewasalongtimestilltowait.

OnedayPhatik losthis lessonbook.Evenwith thehelpofbookshehad found it verydifficult indeed topreparehis lesson.Now itwas impossible.Dayafterday the teacherwouldcanehimunmercifully.Hisconditionbecamesoabjectlymiserable that evenhiscousinswereashamedtoownhim.Theybegantojeerandinsulthimmorethantheotherboys.Hewenttohisauntatlastandtoldherthathehadlosthisbook.

Hisauntpursedherlipsincontemptandsaid:“Yougreatclumsy,countrylout!HowcanIafford,withallmyfamily,tobuyyounewbooksfivetimesamonth?”

That night, on his way back from school, Phatik had a bad headache with a fit ofshivering.Hefelthewasgoingtohaveanattackofmalarialfever.Hisonegreatfearwasthathewouldbeanuisancetohisaunt.

The next morning Phatik was nowhere to be seen. All searches in the neighbourhoodprovedfutile.Therainhadbeenpouringintorrentsallnight,andthosewhowentoutinsearchoftheboygotdrenchedthroughtotheskin.AtlastBishamberaskedhelpfromthepolice.

Attheendofthedayapolicevanstoppedatthedoorbeforethehouse.Itwasstillrainingand the streets were all flooded. Two constables brought out Phatik in their arms andplacedhimbeforeBishamber.Hewaswetthroughfromheadtofoot,muddyallover,hisfaceandeyesflushedredwithfeverandhislimbstrembling.Bishambercarriedhiminhisarms and took him into the inner apartments.When his wife saw him she exclaimed:“Whataheapoftroublethisboyhasgivenus!Hadn’tyoubettersendhimhome?”

Phatik heard herwords and sobbed out loud: “Uncle, I was just going home; but theydraggedmebackagain.”

Thefeverroseveryhigh,andallthatnighttheboywasdelirious.Bishamberbroughtinadoctor.Phatikopenedhiseyes,flushedwithfever,andlookeduptotheceilingandsaidvacantly:“Uncle,havetheholidayscomeyet?”

BishamberwipedthetearsfromhisowneyesandtookPhatik’sleanandburninghandsinhisownandsatbyhimthroughthenight.Theboybeganagaintomutter.Atlasthisvoicebecameexcited:“Mother!”hecried,“don’tbeatmelikethat….Mother!Iamtellingthetruth!”

The next day Phatik became conscious for a short time. He turned his eyes about theroom,asifexpectingsomeonetocome.Atlast,withanairofdisappointment,hisheadsankbackonthepillow.Heturnedhisfacetothewallwithadeepsigh.

Bishamberknewhisthoughtsandbendingdownhisheadwhispered:“Phatik,Ihavesentforyourmother.”

Thedaywentby.Thedoctor said ina troubledvoice that theboy’sconditionwasvery

critical.

Phatikbegan tocryout: “By themark—three fathoms.By themark—four fathoms.Bythemark——.”Hehadheardthesailorontheriver-steamercallingoutthemarkontheplumb-line.Nowhewashimselfplumbinganunfathomablesea.

LaterinthedayPhatik’smotherburstintotheroom,likeawhirlwind,andbegantotossfromsidetosideandmoanandcryinaloudvoice.

Bishambertriedtocalmheragitation,butsheflungherselfonthebed,andcried:“Phatik,mydarling,mydarling.”

Phatik stopped his restlessmovements for amoment.His hands ceased beating up anddown.Hesaid:“Eh?”

Themothercriedagain:“Phatik,mydarling,mydarling.”

Phatik very slowly turned his head and without seeing anybody said: “Mother, theholidayshavecome.”

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

proposal. From the Latin word “ponere,” to place. Compare position, post, depose,impose,component,composition,repose.

unanimously.FromtheLatin“unus,”one,and“animus,”mind.Comparemagnanimous,pusillanimous.

philosopher. From the Greek “philos,” a friend, and “sophia,” wisdom. Comparephilology,philanthropy,theosophy.

moustache.A Frenchwordwhich has found its home in English. French is frequentlygivingtoEnglishnewwords.Compare,inthisstory,manœuvre,discomfit,mischief.

juncture.FromtheLatin“jungere,”tojoin.Comparejunction,conjunction,subjunctive,adjunct.

unattractive.From thenegative“un,”meaning“not,”and the root“tract-,”meaning todraw.Comparetraction,tractor,attract,extract,subtract.

atmosphere.FromtheGreekword“atmos,” theair,and“sphaira,”a“globe.”Comparesphere,hemisphere,photosphere.

wistfulness. Probably from the English word “wish,” wishfulness. Several, however,regard it as coming from an old word “whist” or “wist,” meaning silent. Thevernacularword“udās”hasthesamemeaning.

abjectly. From the Latinword “jacere,” to throw.Comparead-jec-tive, subject, object,project,inject,reject.

neighbourhood.FromaSaxonwordmeaningnear,nigh;“hood”or“head”isacommonaddition to Saxon words denoting the quality or character. Compare knighthood,manhood,boyhood,womanhood.

holidays.Thiswordismadeupoftwowords,“holy”and“days.”Thereligiousdaysof

theChurchwere thoseonwhichnooneworked and thus theygot themeaningofholidaysasopposedtoworkingdays.

ONCETHEREWASAKING

III

ONCETHEREWASAKING

“ONCEuponatimetherewasaking.”

Whenwewerechildrentherewasnoneedtoknowwhothekinginthefairystorywas.Itdidn’tmatterwhetherhewascalledShiladityaorShaliban,whetherhelivedatKashiorKanauj.The thing thatmadeaseven-year-oldboy’sheartgo thump, thumpwithdelightwasthisonesovereigntruth,thisrealityofallrealities:“Oncetherewasaking.”

Butthereadersofthismodernagearefarmoreexactandexacting.Whentheyhearsuchanopeningtoastory,theyareatoncecriticalandsuspicious.Theyapplythesearchlightofsciencetoitslegendaryhazeandask:“Whichking?”

Thestory-tellershavebecomemorepreciseintheirturn.Theyarenolongercontentwiththeoldindefinite,“Therewasaking,”butassumeinsteadalookofprofoundlearningandbegin:“OncetherewasakingnamedAjatasatru.”

Themodernreader’scuriosity,however,isnotsoeasilysatisfied.Heblinksattheauthorthroughhisscientificspectaclesandasksagain:“WhichAjatasatru?”

Whenwewereyoung,weunderstoodallsweetthings;andwecoulddetectthesweetsofafairystorybyanunerringscienceofourown.Wenevercaredforsuchuselessthingsasknowledge.Weonlycaredfortruth.AndourunsophisticatedlittleheartsknewwellwheretheCrystalPalaceofTruthlayandhowtoreachit.Butto-dayweareexpectedtowritepagesoffacts,whilethetruthissimplythis:

“Therewasaking.”

IremembervividlythateveninginCalcuttawhenthefairystorybegan.Therainandthestormhadbeenincessant.Thewholeofthecitywasflooded.Thewaterwasknee-deepinour lane. I had a straining hope,whichwas almost a certainty, thatmy tutorwould bepreventedfromcomingthatevening. Isaton thestool in thefarcornerof theverandahlookingdownthelane,withaheartbeatingfasterandfaster.EveryminuteIkeptmyeyeontherain,andwhenitbegantodiminishIprayedwithallmymight:“Please,God,sendsomemoreraintillhalf-pastsevenisover.”ForIwasquitereadytobelievethattherewasno other need for rain except to protect one helpless boy one evening in one cornerofCalcuttafromthedeadlyclutchesofhistutor.

Ifnotinanswertomyprayer,atanyrateaccordingtosomegrosserlawofnature,theraindidnotgiveup.

But,alas,nordidmyteacher!

Exactlytotheminute,inthebendofthelane,Isawhisapproachingumbrella.Thegreatbubbleofhopeburstinmybreast,andmyheartcollapsed.Truly,ifthereisapunishmenttofitthecrimeafterdeath,thenmytutorwillbebornagainasme,andIshallbebornasmytutor.

AssoonasIsawhisumbrellaIranashardasIcouldtomymother’sroom.Mymotherandmy grandmother were sitting opposite one another playing cards by the light of alamp.Iranintotheroom,andflungmyselfonthebedbesidemymother,andsaid:

“Mother,thetutorhascome,andIhavesuchabadheadache;couldn’tIhavenolessonsto-day?”

Ihopenochildofimmatureagewillbeallowedtoreadthisstory,andIsincerelytrustitwillnotbeusedintext-booksorprimersforjuniorclasses.ForwhatIdidwasdreadfullybad, and I received no punishment whatever. On the contrary, my wickedness wascrownedwithsuccess.

Mymothersaidtome:“Allright,”andturningtotheservantadded:“Tellthetutorthathecangobackhome.”

Itwasperfectlyplainthatshedidn’tthinkmyillnessveryserious,asshewentonwithhergame as before and took no further notice.And I also, buryingmy head in the pillow,laughedtomyheart’scontent.Weperfectlyunderstoodoneanother,mymotherandI.

But every onemust know how hard it is for a boy of seven years old to keep up theillusionof illness for a long time.After about aminute I got holdofGrandmother andsaid:“Grannie,dotellmeastory.”

I had to ask thismany times. Grannie andMotherwent on playing cards and took nonotice.AtlastMothersaidtome:“Child,don’tbother.Waittillwe’vefinishedourgame.”ButIpersisted:“Grannie,dotellmeastory.”ItoldMothershecouldfinishhergameto-morrow,butshemustletGrannietellmeastorythereandthen.

AtlastMotherthrewdownthecardsandsaid:“Youhadbetterdowhathewants.Ican’tmanagehim.”Perhapsshehaditinhermindthatshewouldhavenotiresometutoronthemorrow,whileIshouldbeobligedtobebackatthosestupidlessons.

AssoonaseverMotherhadgivenway,IrushedatGrannie.Igotholdofherhand,and,dancingwith delight, draggedher insidemymosquito curtain on to the bed. I clutchedholdofthebolsterwithbothhandsinmyexcitement,andjumpedupanddownwithjoy,andwhenIhadgotalittlequietersaid:“Now,Grannie,let’shavethestory!”

Granniewenton:“Andthekinghadaqueen.”

Thatwasgoodtobeginwith.Hehadonlyone!

It isusual forkings in fairystories tobeextravagant inqueens.Andwheneverwehearthat there are two queens our hearts begin to sink. One is sure to be unhappy. But inGrannie’sstorythatdangerwaspast.Hehadonlyonequeen.

Wenexthear that thekinghadnotgotanyson.At theageofsevenIdidn’t thinktherewasanyneedtobotherifamanhadnoson.Hemightonlyhavebeenintheway.

Norarewegreatlyexcitedwhenwehear that thekinghasgoneaway into theforest topractiseausteritiesinordertogetason.Therewasonlyonethingthatwouldhavemademegointotheforest,andthatwastogetawayfrommytutor!

Butthekingleftbehindwithhisqueenasmallgirl,whogrewupintoabeautifulprincess.

Twelveyearspassaway,andthekinggoesonpractisingausterities,andneverthinksall

thiswhileofhisbeautifuldaughter.Theprincesshasreachedthefullbloomofheryouth.Theageofmarriagehaspassed,butthekingdoesnotreturn.Andthequeenpinesawaywithgrief andcries: “Ismygoldendaughterdestined todieunmarried?Ahme,whatafateismine!”

Then thequeensentmen to theking toentreathimearnestly tocomeback fora singlenightandtakeonemealinthepalace.Andthekingconsented.

Thequeencookedwithherownhand,andwith thegreatestcare,sixty-fourdishes.Shemadeaseatforhimofsandal-woodandarrangedthefoodinplatesofgoldandcupsofsilver. The princess stood behindwith the peacock-tail fan in her hand.The king, aftertwelveyears’absence,cameintothehouse,andtheprincesswavedthefan,lightingupallthe roomwithherbeauty.Theking looked inhisdaughter’s faceand forgot to takehisfood.

Atlastheaskedhisqueen:“Pray,whoisthisgirlwhosebeautyshinesasthegoldimageofthegoddess?Whosedaughterisshe?”

Thequeenbeatherforeheadandcried:“Ah,howevilismyfate!Doyounotknowyourowndaughter?”

Thekingwasstruckwithamazement.Hesaidatlast:“Mytinydaughterhasgrowntobeawoman.”

“Whatelse?”thequeensaidwithasigh.“Doyounotknowthattwelveyearshavepassedby?”

“Butwhydidyounotgiveherinmarriage?”askedtheking.

“Youwereaway,”thequeensaid.“AndhowcouldIfindherasuitablehusband?”

The king became vehementwith excitement. “The firstman I see to-morrow,” he said,“whenIcomeoutofthepalaceshallmarryher.”

Theprincesswentonwavingherfanofpeacockfeathers,andthekingfinishedhismeal.

The next morning, as the king came out of his palace, he saw the son of a Brahmangatheringsticksintheforestoutsidethepalacegates.Hisagewasaboutsevenoreight.

TheKingsaid:“Iwillmarrymydaughtertohim.”

Whocaninterferewithaking’scommand?Atoncetheboywascalled,andthemarriagegarlandswereexchangedbetweenhimandtheprincess.

AtthispointIcameupclosetomywiseGrannieandaskedhereagerly:“Whenthen?”

Inthebottomofmyhearttherewasadevoutwishtosubstitutemyselfforthatfortunatewood-gatherer of seven years old. The night was resonant with the patter of rain. Theearthenlampbymybedsidewasburninglow.Mygrandmother’svoicedronedonasshetoldthestory.AndallthesethingsservedtocreateinacornerofmycredulousheartthebeliefthatIhadbeengatheringsticksinthedawnofsomeindefinitetimeinthekingdomofsomeunknownking,andinamomentgarlandshadbeenexchangedbetweenmeandtheprincess,beautifulastheGoddessofGrace.Shehadagoldbandonherhairandgoldearrings inherears.Shehadanecklaceandbraceletsofgold,andagoldenwaist-chainroundherwaist,andapairofgoldenankletstinkledaboveherfeet.

Ifmygrandmotherwereanauthor,howmanyexplanations shewouldhave tooffer forthislittlestory!Firstofall,everyonewouldaskwhythekingremainedtwelveyearsinthe forest? Secondly, why should the king’s daughter remain unmarried all that while?Thiswouldberegardedasabsurd.

Evenifshecouldhavegotsofarwithoutaquarrel,stilltherewouldhavebeenagreathueandcryaboutthemarriageitself.First,itneverhappened.Secondly,howcouldtherebeamarriage between a princess of the Warrior Caste and a boy of the priestly BrahmanCaste?Herreaderswouldhaveimaginedatoncethatthewriterwaspreachingagainstoursocialcustomsinanunderhandway.Andtheywouldwriteletterstothepapers.

SoIpraywithallmyheartthatmygrandmothermaybebornagrandmotheragain,andnotthroughsomecursedfatetakebirthasherlucklessgrandson.

Withathrobofjoyanddelight,IaskedGrannie:“Whatthen?”

Granniewent on: Then the princess took her little husband away in great distress, andbuiltalargepalacewithsevenwings,andbegantocherishherhusbandwithgreatcare.

I jumpedupanddowninmybedandclutchedat thebolstermoretightly thaneverandsaid:“Whatthen?”

Grannie continued: The little boy went to school and learnt many lessons from histeachers,andashegrewuphisclass-fellowsbegantoaskhim:“Whoisthatbeautifulladylivingwithyouinthepalacewiththesevenwings?”

TheBrahman’ssonwaseager toknowwhoshewas.Hecouldonlyrememberhowonedayhehadbeengatheringsticksandagreatdisturbancearose.Butall thatwasso longagothathehadnoclearrecollection.

Fouror fiveyearspassed in thisway.His companions always askedhim: “Who is thatbeautifulladyinthepalacewiththesevenwings?”AndtheBrahman’ssonwouldcomebackfromschoolandsadlytelltheprincess:“Myschoolcompanionsalwaysaskmewhoisthatbeautifulladyinthepalacewiththesevenwings,andIcangivethemnoreply.Tellme,oh,tellme,whoyouare!”

Theprincesssaid:“Letitpassto-day.Iwilltellyousomeotherday.”AndeverydaytheBrahman’ssonwouldask:“Whoareyou?”andtheprincesswouldreply:“Letitpassto-day.Iwilltellyousomeotherday.”Inthismannerfourorfivemoreyearspassedaway.

AtlasttheBrahman’ssonbecameveryimpatientandsaid:“Ifyoudonottellmeto-daywhoyouare,Obeautiful lady, Iwill leave thispalacewith the sevenwings.”Then theprincesssaid:“Iwillcertainlytellyouto-morrow.”

NextdaytheBrahman’sson,assoonashecamehomefromschool,said:“Now,tellmewhoyouare.”Theprincesssaid:“To-night Iwill tellyouaftersupper,whenyouare inbed.”

TheBrahman’ssonsaid:“Verywell”;andhebegantocountthehoursinexpectationofthenight.And theprincess,onher side, spreadwhite flowersover thegoldenbed, andlighted a gold lamp with fragrant oil, and adorned her hair, and dressed herself in abeautifulrobeofblue,andbegantocountthehoursinexpectationofthenight.

That eveningwhen her husband, theBrahman’s son, had finished hismeal, too excitedalmosttoeat,andhadgonetothegoldenbedinthebedchamberstrewnwithflowers,hesaidtohimself:“To-nightIshallsurelyknowwhothisbeautifulladyisinthepalacewiththesevenwings.”

The princess took for her food that which was left over by her husband, and slowlyenteredthebedchamber.Shehadtoanswerthatnightthequestion,whowasthebeautifulladythatlivedinthepalacewiththesevenwings.Andasshewentuptothebedtotellhimshe foundaserpenthadcreptoutof the flowersandhadbitten theBrahman’sson.Herboy-husbandwaslyingonthebedofflowers,withfacepaleindeath.

Myheartsuddenlyceasedtothrob,andIaskedwithchokingvoice:“Whatthen?”

Granniesaid:“Then…”

Butwhatistheuseofgoingonanyfurtherwiththestory?Itwouldonlyleadontowhatwasmoreandmoreimpossible.Theboyofsevendidnotknowthat,ifthereweresome“Whatthen?”afterdeath,nograndmotherofagrandmothercouldtellusallaboutit.

Butthechild’sfaithneveradmitsdefeat,anditwouldsnatchatthemantleofdeathitselfto turn him back. It would be outrageous for him to think that such a story of oneteacherlesseveningcouldsosuddenlycometoastop.Thereforethegrandmotherhadtocallbackherstoryfromtheever-shutchamberofthegreatEnd,butshedoesitsosimply:it ismerelyby floating thedeadbodyon abanana stemon the river, andhaving someincantations readby amagician.But in that rainy night and in the dim light of a lampdeath loses all its horror in themind of the boy, and seems nothingmore than a deepslumberofasinglenight.Whenthestoryends the tiredeyelidsareweigheddownwithsleep.Thusitisthatwesendthelittlebodyofthechildfloatingonthebackofsleepoverthestillwateroftime,andtheninthemorningreadafewversesofincantationtorestorehimtotheworldoflifeandlight.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

sovereign.ThiswordistakendirectlyfromtheFrenchlanguage.ItisconnectedwiththeLatin“supremus.”

blinks. Many English words are made up from the supposed sound or motion to berepresented.Comparetosplash,toplump,toquack,tothrob,toswish.

suspicious.FromtheLatinword“spicere,”tolook.Compareauspicious,respect,inspect,aspect.

unsophisticated.ThiswordcomesfromtheGreek“sophistes,”meaningasophist,thatisto say, onewhomakes a pretence of beingwise.Unsophisticatedmeans onewhomakesnopretencetobelearned.

umbrella.ThiswordhascomeintoEnglishfromtheItalianlanguage.“Umbra”inLatinmeans“shade”andOmbrellainItalianmeans“littleshade.”

extravagant.FromtheLatinroot“vag,”meaningtowander.Thewordmeans“wanderingoutside”andso“goingbeyondbounds.”Comparevagrant,vagabond,vague.

explanation. From the Latin “planus,” meaning plain. Compare explanatory, explain,plain,plane.

incantation.FromtheLatin“cantare,”tochant,somethingchantedoveraperson.

magician.FromtheGreek“magus,”anastrologer.Comparemagic,theMagi,magical.

THECHILD’SRETURN

IV

THECHILD’SRETURN

I

RAICHARANwas twelve years oldwhen he came as a servant to hismaster’s house.Hebelongedtothesamecasteashismasterandwasgivenhismaster’slittlesontonurse.Astimewenton theboy leftRaicharan’sarms togo toschool.Fromschoolhewenton tocollege, and after college he entered the judicial service. Always, until he married,Raicharanwashissoleattendant.

Butwhenamistresscameintothehouse,Raicharanfoundtwomastersinsteadofone.Allhisformerinfluencepassedtothenewmistress.Thiswascompensatedbyafresharrival.Anukul had a son born to him and Raicharan by his unsparing attentions soon got acompleteholdover thechild.Heused to tosshimup inhisarms,call tohim inabsurdbabylanguage,puthisfaceclosetothebaby’sanddrawitawayagainwithalaugh.

Presently the childwas able to crawl and cross the doorway.WhenRaicharanwent tocatch him, hewould screamwithmischievous laughter andmake for safety. Raicharanwasamazedattheprofoundskillandexactjudgmentthebabyshowedwhenpursued.Hewouldsaytohismistresswithalookofaweandmystery:“Yoursonwillbeajudgesomeday.”

Newwonderscameintheirturn.Whenthebabybegantotoddle,thatwastoRaicharananepoch in human history.When he called his father Ba-ba and his mother Ma-ma andRaicharan Chan-na, then Raicharan’s ecstasy knew no bounds. Hewent out to tell thenewstoalltheworld.

After a while Raicharan was asked to show his ingenuity in other ways. He had, forinstance,toplaythepartofahorse,holdingthereinsbetweenhisteethandprancingwithhisfeet.Hehadalsotowrestlewithhislittlecharge;andifhecouldnot,byawrestler’strick,fallonhisbackdefeatedattheendagreatoutcrywascertain.

About this timeAnukulwas transferred toadistricton thebanksof thePadma.OnhiswaythroughCalcuttaheboughthissonalittlego-cart.Heboughthimalsoayellowsatinwaistcoat,agold-lacedcap,andsomegoldbraceletsandanklets.Raicharanwaswonttotake these out and put them on his little charge,with ceremonial pride,whenever theywentforawalk.

Then came the rainy season and day after day the rain poured down in torrents. Thehungryriver,likeanenormousserpent,swalloweddownterraces,villages,cornfields,andcoveredwithitsfloodthetallgrassesandwildcasuarinasonthesandbanks.Fromtimetotimetherewasadeepthudastheriver-bankscrumbled.Theunceasingroarofthemaincurrentcouldbeheardfromfaraway.Massesoffoam,carriedswiftlypast,provedtotheeyetheswiftnessofthestream.

Oneafternoontheraincleared.Itwascloudy,butcoolandbright.Raicharan’slittledespotdidnotwant to stay in on such a fine afternoon.His lordship climbed into thego-cart.Raicharan,betweentheshafts,draggedhimslowlyalongtillhereachedtherice-fieldsonthebanksoftheriver.Therewasnooneinthefieldsandnoboatonthestream.Acrossthewater,onthefartherside,thecloudswereriftedinthewest.Thesilentceremonialofthesetting sunwas revealed in all its glowing splendour. In themidst of that stillness thechild,allofasudden,pointedwithhisfinger infrontofhimandcried:“Chan-na!Pittyfow.”

Close by on amud-flat stood a largeKadamba tree in full flower.My lord, the baby,lookedatitwithgreedyeyesandRaicharanknewhismeaning.Onlyashorttimebeforehehadmade,outof thesevery flowerballs, a smallgo-cart; and the childhadbeen soentirelyhappydraggingitaboutwithastring, thatfor thewholedayRaicharanwasnotaskedtoputonthereinsatall.Hewaspromotedfromahorseintoagroom.

ButRaicharan hadnowish that evening to go splashingknee-deep through themud toreachtheflowers.Sohequicklypointedhisfingerintheoppositedirection,callingout:“Look,baby,look!Lookatthebird.”Andwithallsortsofcuriousnoiseshepushedthego-cartrapidlyawayfromthetree.

Butachild,destinedtobeajudge,cannotbeputoffsoeasily.Andbesides,therewasatthetimenothingtoattracthiseyes.Andyoucannotkeepupforeverthepretenceofanimaginarybird.

The littleMaster’smindwasmadeup, andRaicharanwas at hiswits’ end. “Verywell,baby,”hesaidat last,“yousitstill in thecart,andI’llgoandgetyoutheprettyflower.Onlymindyoudon’tgonearthewater.”

Ashe said this, hemadehis legsbare to theknee, andwaded through theoozingmudtowardsthetree.

ThemomentRaicharanhadgone,hislittleMaster’sthoughtswentoffatracingspeedtotheforbiddenwater.Thebabysawtheriverrushingby,splashingandgurglingasitwent.Itseemedas thoughthedisobedientwavelets themselveswererunningawayfromsomegreaterRaicharanwiththelaughterofathousandchildren.Atthesightoftheirmischief,theheartofthehumanchildgrewexcitedandrestless.Hegotdownstealthilyfromthego-cart and toddledoff towards the river.Onhiswayhepickedupa small stick and leantoverthebankof thestreampretendingtofish.Themischievousfairiesof theriverwiththeirmysteriousvoicesseemedinvitinghimintotheirplay-house.

Raicharanhadpluckedahandfulofflowersfromthetreeandwascarryingthembackintheendofhis cloth,withhis facewreathed in smiles.Butwhenhe reached thego-carttherewasnoonethere.Helookedonallsidesandtherewasnoonethere.Helookedbackatthecartandtherewasnoonethere.

In that first terrible moment his blood froze within him. Before his eyes the wholeuniverse swam round like adarkmist.From thedepthofhis brokenheart hegaveonepiercingcry:“Master,Master,littleMaster.”

Butnovoice answered “Chan-na.”Nochild laughedmischievouslyback:no screamofbabydelightwelcomedhisreturn.Onlytheriverranonwithitssplashing,gurglingnoise

as before,—as though it knew nothing at all and had no time to attend to such a tinyhumaneventasthedeathofachild.

AstheeveningpassedbyRaicharan’smistressbecameveryanxious.Shesentmenoutonallsidestosearch.Theywentwithlanternsintheirhandsandreachedatlastthebanksofthe Padma. There they foundRaicharan rushing up and down the fields, like a stormywind,shoutingthecryofdespair:“Master,Master,littleMaster!”

WhentheygotRaicharanhomeat last,hefellprostrateat thefeetofhismistress.Theyshookhim,andquestionedhim,andaskedhimrepeatedlywherehehadleftthechild;butallhecouldsaywasthatheknewnothing.

ThougheveryoneheldtheopinionthatthePadmahadswallowedthechild,therewasalurkingdoubtleftinthemind.Forabandofgipsieshadbeennoticedoutsidethevillagethat afternoon, and some suspicion restedon them.Themotherwent so far inherwildgrief as to think it possible thatRaicharanhimself had stolen the child.She calledhimasidewithpiteousentreatyandsaid:“Raicharan,givemebackmybaby.Givemebackmychild.Takefrommeanymoneyyouask,butgivemebackmychild!”

Raicharanonlybeathisforeheadinreply.Hismistressorderedhimoutofthehouse.

Anukul tried to reasonhiswifeoutof thiswhollyunjust suspicion:“Whyonearth,”hesaid,“shouldhecommitsuchacrimeasthat?”

Themotheronlyreplied:“Thebabyhadgoldornamentsonhisbody.Whoknows?”

Itwasimpossibletoreasonwithherafterthat.

II

Raicharanwentbacktohisownvillage.Uptothistimehehadhadnoson,andtherewasnohopethatanychildwouldnowbeborntohim.Butitcameaboutbeforetheendofayearthathiswifegavebirthtoasonanddied.

AnoverwhelmingresentmentatfirstgrewupinRaicharan’sheartatthesightofthisnewbaby.At the back of hismindwas resentful suspicion that it had come as a usurper inplaceofthelittleMaster.Healsothoughtitwouldbeagraveoffencetobehappywithasonofhisownafterwhathadhappened tohismaster’s littlechild. Indeed, if ithadnotbeenforawidowedsister,whomotheredthenewbaby,itwouldnothavelivedlong.

ButachangegraduallycameoverRaicharan’smind.Awonderful thinghappened.Thisnewbabyinturnbegantocrawlabout,andcrossthedoorwaywithmischiefinitsface.Italsoshowedanamusingclevernessinmakingitsescapetosafety.Itsvoice,itssoundsoflaughter and tears, its gestures, were those of the little Master. On some days, whenRaicharanlistenedtoitscrying,hisheartsuddenlybeganthumpingwildlyagainsthisribs,anditseemedtohimthathisformerlittleMasterwascryingsomewhereintheunknownlandofdeathbecausehehadlosthisChan-na.

Phailna (for thatwas the nameRaicharan’s sister gave to the newbaby) soonbegan totalk.It learnt tosayBa-baandMa-mawithababyaccent.WhenRaicharanheardthosefamiliarsoundsthemysterysuddenlybecameclear.ThelittleMastercouldnotcastoffthespellofhisChan-naandthereforehehadbeenreborninhisownhouse.

Thethreeargumentsinfavourofthiswere,toRaicharan,altogetherbeyonddispute:

Thenewbabywasbornsoonafterhislittlemaster’sdeath.

Hiswifecouldneverhaveaccumulatedsuchmeritastogivebirthtoasoninmiddleage.

ThenewbabywalkedwithatoddleandcalledoutBa-baandMa-ma.—Therewasnosignlackingwhichmarkedoutthefuturejudge.

ThensuddenlyRaicharanrememberedthatterribleaccusationofthemother.“Ah,”hesaidto himself with amazement, “the mother’s heart was right. She knew I had stolen herchild.”

Whenoncehehadcometothisconclusion,hewasfilledwithremorseforhispastneglect.He now gave himself over, body and soul, to the new baby and became its devotedattendant.Hebegantobringitupasifitwerethesonofarichman.Heboughtago-cart,ayellowsatinwaistcoat,andagold-embroideredcap.Hemelteddowntheornamentsofhisdeadwife andmadegoldbangles andanklets.He refused to let the little childplaywithanyoneoftheneighbourhoodandbecamehimselfitssolecompaniondayandnight.Asthebabygrewuptoboyhood,hewassopettedandspoiltandcladinsuchfinerythatthevillage childrenwould call him“YourLordship,” and jeer at him; andolder peopleregardedRaicharanasunaccountablycrazyaboutthechild.

Atlastthetimecamefortheboytogotoschool.RaicharansoldhissmallpieceoflandandwenttoCalcutta.TherehegotemploymentwithgreatdifficultyasaservantandsentPhailnatoschool.Hesparednopainstogivehimthebesteducation,thebestclothes,thebestfood.Meanwhile,hehimselflivedonamerehandfulofriceandwouldsayinsecret:“Ah,mylittleMaster,mydearlittleMaster,youlovedmesomuchthatyoucamebacktomyhouse!Youshallneversufferfromanyneglectofmine.”

Twelveyearspassedaway in thismanner.Theboywasable to readandwritewell.Hewasbrightandhealthyandgood-looking.Hepaidagreatdealofattentiontohispersonalappearanceandwasspeciallycarefulinpartinghishair.Hewasinclinedtoextravaganceand fineryand spentmoney freely.Hecouldneverquite lookonRaicharanasa father,because,thoughfatherlyinaffection,hehadthemannerofaservant.Afurtherfaultwasthis,thatRaicharankeptsecretfromeveryonethathehimselfwasthefatherofthechild.

The students of the hostel, where Phailna was a boarder, were greatly amused byRaicharan’scountrymanners,andIhavetoconfessthatbehindhisfather’sbackPhailnajoinedintheirfun.But, in thebottomof theirhearts,all thestudents lovedtheinnocentand tender-heartedoldman,andPhailnawasvery fondofhimalso.But,as Ihavesaidbefore,helovedhimwithakindofcondescension.

Raicharangrewolderandolder,andhisemployerwascontinuallyfindingfaultwithhimfor his incompetent work. He had been starving himself for the boy’s sake, so he hadgrownphysicallyweakandnolongeruptohisdailytask.Hewouldforgetthingsandhismindbecamedullandstupid.Buthisemployerexpectedafullservant’sworkoutofhimandwouldnotbrookexcuses.ThemoneythatRaicharanhadbroughtwithhimfromthesaleofhislandwasexhausted.Theboywascontinuallygrumblingabouthisclothesandaskingformoremoney.

III

Raicharanmadeuphismind.Hegaveupthesituationwherehewasworkingasaservant,andleftsomemoneywithPhailnaandsaid:“Ihavesomebusinesstodoathomeinmyvillage,andshallbebacksoon.”

Hewent off at once to Baraset where Anukul wasmagistrate. Anukul’s wife was stillbrokendownwithgrief.Shehadhadnootherchild.

OnedayAnukulwasrestingafteralongandwearydayincourt.Hiswifewasbuying,atanexorbitantprice,aherbfromamendicantquack,whichwassaidtoensurethebirthofachild.Avoiceofgreetingwasheard in thecourtyard.Anukulwentout to seewhowasthere. It wasRaicharan.Anukul’s heartwas softenedwhen he saw his old servant.Heaskedhimmanyquestionsandofferedtotakehimbackintoservice.

Raicharansmiledfaintlyandsaidinreply:“Iwanttomakeobeisancetomymistress.”

AnukulwentwithRaicharan into the house,where themistress did not receive him aswarmlyashisoldmaster.Raicharantooknonoticeofthis,butfoldedhishandsandsaid:“ItwasnotthePadmathatstoleyourbaby.ItwasI.”

Anukulexclaimed:“GreatGod!Eh!What!Whereishe?”

Raicharanreplied:“Heiswithme.Iwillbringhimthedayafterto-morrow.”

It was Sunday. There was no magistrate’s court sitting. Both husband and wife werelooking expectantly along the road, waiting from early morning for Raicharan’sappearance.Atteno’clockhecameleadingPhailnabythehand.

Anukul’swife,withoutaquestion,tooktheboyintoherlapandwaswildwithexcitement,sometimeslaughing,sometimesweeping,touchinghim,kissinghishairandhisforehead,and gazing into his facewith hungry, eager eyes. The boywas very good-looking anddressedlikeagentleman’sson.TheheartofAnukulbrimmedoverwithasuddenrushofaffection.

Neverthelessthemagistrateinhimasked:“Haveyouanyproofs?”

Raicharansaid:“Howcouldtherebeanyproofofsuchadeed?GodaloneknowsthatIstoleyourboy,andnooneelseintheworld.”

WhenAnukulsawhoweagerlyhiswifewasclingingtotheboy,herealisedthefutilityofaskingforproofs.Itwouldbewisertobelieve.Andthen,—wherecouldanoldmanlikeRaicharan get such a boy from? And why should his faithful servant deceive him fornothing?

“But,”headdedseverely,“Raicharan,youmustnotstayhere.”

“WhereshallIgo,Master?”saidRaicharan,inachokingvoice,foldinghishands.“Iamold.Whowilltakeinanoldmanasaservant?”

Themistresssaid:“Lethimstay.Mychildwillbepleased.Iforgivehim.”

ButAnukul’smagisterialconsciencewouldnotallowhim.“No,”hesaid,“hecannotbeforgivenforwhathehasdone.”

Raicharan bowed to the ground and claspedAnukul’s feet. “Master,” he cried, “letmestay.ItwasnotIwhodidit.ItwasGod.”

Anukul’sconsciencewasmoreshockedthaneverwhenRaicharantriedtoputtheblameonGod’sshoulders.

“No,”hesaid,“Icouldnotallowit.Icannottrustyouanymore.Youhavedoneanactoftreachery.”

Raicharanrosetohisfeetandsaid:“ItwasnotIwhodidit.”

“Whowasitthen?”askedAnukul.

Raicharanreplied:“Itwasmyfate.”

Butnoeducatedmancouldtakethisforanexcuse.Anukulremainedobdurate.

WhenPhailnasawthathewasthewealthymagistrate’sson,andnotRaicharan’s,hewasangryatfirst,thinkingthathehadbeencheatedallthistimeofhisbirthright.ButseeingRaicharanindistress,hegenerouslysaidtohisfather:“Father,forgivehim.Evenifyoudon’tlethimlivewithus,lethimhaveasmallmonthlypension.”

Afterhearingthis,Raicharandidnotutteranotherword.Helookedforthelasttimeonthefaceofhisson.Hemadeobeisancetohisoldmasterandmistress.Thenhewentoutandwasmingledwiththenumberlesspeopleoftheworld.

AttheendofthemonthAnukulsenthimsomemoneytohisvillage.Butthemoneycameback.TherewasnoonethereofthenameofRaicharan.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

judicial.FromtheLatinword“judex,”ajudge.Comparejudicious,judge,judgment,just.

compensate. From the Latinword “pensare,” toweigh.Comparedispense,dispensary,compensation. (Thismustnotbeconfusedwith theLatinword“pendere,” tohang.Comparesuspend,expend,depend.)

ecstasy.FromtwoGreekwords“ex”and“stasis,”meaningstandingoutsideoneself.

transferred.FromtheLatinword“ferre,”tocarry.Compareoffer,defer,confer,prefer,proffer,infer,conference,fertile.

crumble.Tobreakintocrumbsorlittlepieces.

promoted. From the Latin word “movēre,” to move. Comparemotive,motion,motor,promotion,commotion.

excited. From the Latin word “ciere,” to set in motion. Compare incite, excitement,exciting,cite.

lantern.A Frenchword derived from theGreek “lampein,” to shine.Compare,magic-lantern,lamp.

gipsy. Also spelt gypsy, from “Egyptian”; because the gipsies were supposed to comefromEgypt.

usurper. From the Latin word “usurpare.” This word is made up of “usus,” use and“rapere,”tosnatch.Compareuse,usual,usufruct,rapid,rapt,rapture.

magisterial.FromtheLatinword“magister,”ajudge.Comparemagistrate,magistracy.

obdurate.FromtheLatinword“dūrus,”hard.Compareendure,endurance,obduracy.

MASTERMASHAI

V

MASTERMASHAI

I

ADHARBABUlivesupontheinterestofthecapitallefthimbyhisfather.Onlythebrokers,negotiatingloans,cometohisdrawingroomandsmokethesilver-chasedhookah,andtheclerksfromtheattorney‘sofficediscussthetermsofsomemortgageortheamountofthestampfees.Heissocarefulwithhismoneythateventhemostdoggedeffortsoftheboysfromthelocalfootballclubfailtomakeanyimpressiononhispocket.

Atthetimethisstoryopensanewguestcameintohishousehold.Afteralongperiodofdespair,hiswife,Nanibala,borehimason.

The child resembled his mother,—large eyes, well-formed nose, and fair complexion.Ratikanta,Adharlal’s protégé, gave verdict,—“He isworthy of this noble house.”TheynamedhimVenugopal.

NeverbeforehadAdharlal’swifeexpressedanyopiniondifferingfromherhusband’sonhouseholdexpenses.Therehadbeenahotdiscussionnowandthenabouttheproprietyofsomenecessaryitemanduptothistimeshehadmerelyacknowledgeddefeatwithsilentcontempt.ButnowAdharlalcouldnolongermaintainhissupremacy.Hehadtogivewaylittlebylittlewhenthingsforhissonwereinquestion.

II

AsVenugopal grewup, his father gradually became accustomed to spendingmoneyonhim.Heobtainedanoldteacher,whohadaconsiderablereputeforhislearningandalsofor his success in dragging impassable boys through their examinations. But such atrainingdoesnotleadtothecultivationofamiability.Thismantriedhisbest towintheboy’sheart,butthelittlethatwasleft inhimofthenaturalmilkofhumankindnesshadturnedsour,andthechildrepulsedhisadvancesfromtheverybeginning.Themother,inconsequence,objected tohimstrongly,andcomplained that thevery sightofhimmadeherboyill.Sotheteacherleft.

Just then,Haralalmadehis appearancewith a dirty dress and a tornpair of old canvasshoes.Haralal’smother,whowasawidow,hadkepthimwithgreatdifficultyataDistrictschool out of the scanty earnings which she made by cooking in strange houses andhuskingrice.HemanagedtopasstheMatriculationanddeterminedtogotoCollege.Asaresult of his half-starved condition, his pinched face tapered to a point in an unnaturalmanner,—likeCapeComorininthemapofIndia;andtheonlybroadportionofitwashisforehead,whichresembledtherangesoftheHimalayas.

TheservantaskedHaralalwhathewanted,andheansweredtimidlythathewishedtoseethemaster.

Theservantansweredsharply:“Youcan’tseehim.”Haralalwashesitating,atalosswhattodonext,whenVenugopal,whohadfinishedhisgameinthegarden,suddenlycametothe door. The servant shouted at Haralal: “Get away.” Quite unaccountably Venugopalgrew excited and cried: “No, he shan’t get away.” And he dragged the stranger to hisfather.

Adharlal had just risen from his mid-day sleep and was sitting quietly on the upperverandahinhiscanechair,rockinghislegs.Ratikantawasenjoyinghishookah,seatedinachairnexttohim.HeaskedHaralalhowfarhehadgotinhisreading.TheyoungmanbenthisheadandansweredthathehadpassedtheMatriculation.Ratikantalookedsternandexpressedsurprisethatheshouldbesobackwardforhisage.Haralalkeptsilence.Itwas Ratikanta’s special pleasure to torture his patron’s dependants, whether actual orpotential.

SuddenlyitstruckAdharlalthathewouldbeabletoemploythisyouthasatutorforhissononnexttonothing.Heagreed,thereandthen,totakehimatasalaryoffiverupeesamonthwithboardandlodgingfree.

III

Thistimethepostoftutorremainedoccupiedlongerthanbefore.FromtheverybeginningoftheiracquaintanceHaralalandhispupilbecamegreatfriends.NeverbeforedidHaralalhavesuchanopportunityof lovinganyyounghumancreature.Hismotherhadbeensopooranddependent,thathehadneverhadtheprivilegeofplayingwiththechildrenwhereshewasemployedatwork.Hehadnothithertosuspectedthehiddenstoresoflovewhichlayallthewhileaccumulatinginhisownheart.

Venu,also,wasgladtofindacompanioninHaralal.Hewas theonlyboyin thehouse.Histwoyoungersisterswerelookeddownupon,asunworthyofbeinghisplaymates.Sohisnewtutorbecamehisonlycompanion,patientlybearingtheundividedweightof thetyrannyofhischildfriend.

IV

Venuwasnoweleven.HaralalhadpassedhisIntermediate,winningascholarship.HewasworkinghardforhisB.A.degree.AfterCollegelectureswereover,hewouldtakeVenuout into the public park and tell him stories about the heroes fromGreek History andVictorHugo’s romances. The child used to get quite impatient to run to Haralal, afterschoolhours,inspiteofhismother’sattemptstokeephimbyherside.

ThisdispleasedNanibala.Shethoughtthatitwasadeep-laidplotofHaralal’stocaptivateherboy,inordertoprolonghisownappointment.Onedayshetalkedtohimfrombehindthepurdah:“Itisyourdutytoteachmysononlyforanhourortwointhemorningandevening. But why are you always with him? The child has nearly forgotten his ownparents.Youmustunderstand thatamanofyourposition isnofitcompanionforaboybelongingtothishouse.”

Haralal’s voice choked a little as he answered that for the future he would merely beVenu’steacherandwouldkeepawayfromhimatothertimes.

ItwasHaralal’s usual practice to begin hisCollege study early before dawn.The childwouldcometohimdirectlyafterhehadwashedhimself.Therewasasmallpool in thegarden and they used to feed the fish in itwith puffed rice.Venuwas also engaged inbuildingaminiaturegarden-house,atthecornerofthegarden,withitsliliputiangatesandhedgesandgravelpaths.Whenthesunbecametoohottheywouldgobackintothehouse,andVenuwouldhavehismorninglessonfromHaralal.

Ontheday inquestionVenuhadrisenearlier thanusual,becausehewished tohear theendof the storywhichHaralal hadbegun the eveningbefore.But he foundhis teacherabsent.Whenaskedabouthim,thedoor-servantsaidthathehadgoneout.AtlessontimeVenuremainedunnaturallyquiet.HeneverevenaskedHaralalwhyhehadgoneout,butwent onmechanicallywith his lessons.When the childwaswith hismother taking hisbreakfast,sheaskedhimwhathadhappenedtomakehimsogloomy,andwhyhewasnoteating his food. Venu gave no answer. After his meal his mother caressed him andquestionedhimrepeatedly.Venuburstoutcryingandsaid,—“MasterMashai.”Hismotherasked Venu,—“What about Master Mashai?” But Venu found it difficult to name theoffencewhichhisteacherhadcommitted.

HismothersaidtoVenu:“HasyourMasterMashaibeensayinganythingtoyouagainstme?”

Venucouldnotunderstandthequestionandwentaway.

V

TherewasatheftinAdharBabu’shouse.Thepolicewerecalledintoinvestigate.EvenHaralal’s trunks were searched. Ratikanta said with meaning: “The man who stealsanything,doesnotkeephistheftsinhisownbox.”

Adharlalcalledhisson’stutorandsaidtohim:“Itwillnotbeconvenientformetokeepanyofyouinmyownhouse.Fromto-dayyouwillhavetotakeupyourquartersoutside,onlycomingintoteachmysonatthepropertime.”

Ratikanta said sagely,drawingathishookah: “That is agoodproposal,—good forbothparties.”

Haralaldidnotutteraword,buthesentalettersayingthatitwouldbenolongerpossibleforhimtoremainastutortoVenu.

WhenVenucamebackfromschool,he foundhis tutor’s roomempty.Even thatbrokensteeltrunkofhiswasabsent.Theropewasstretchedacrossthecorner,buttherewerenoclothesortowelhangingonit.Onlyonthetable,whichformerlywasstrewnwithbooksandpapers,stoodabowlcontainingsomegold-fishwithalabelonwhichwaswrittentheword“Venu”inHaralal’shand-writing.Theboyranupatoncetohisfatherandaskedhimwhathadhappened.HisfathertoldhimthatHaralalhadresignedhispost.Venuwenttohisroomandflunghimselfdownandbegantocry.Adharlaldidnotknowwhattodowithhim.

Thenextday,whenHaralalwas sittingonhiswoodenbedstead in theHostel, debatingwithhimselfwhetherheshouldattendhiscollegelectures,suddenlyhesawAdharBabu’s

servantcomingintohisroomfollowedbyVenu.Venuatonceranuptohimandthrewhisarmsroundhisneckaskinghimtocomebacktothehouse.

Haralal couldnot explainwhy itwas absolutely impossible forhim togoback,but thememory of those clinging arms and that pathetic request used to choke his breathwithemotionlongafter.

VI

Haralalfoundout,afterthis,thathismindwasinanunsettledstate,andthathehadbutasmall chanceofwinning the scholarship, even if he couldpass the examination.At thesametime,heknewthat,withoutthescholarship,hecouldnotcontinuehisstudies.Sohetriedtogetemploymentinsomeoffice.

Fortunately forhim,anEnglishManagerofabigmerchant firm tooka fancy tohimatfirst sight.After only a brief exchange ofwords theManager asked him if he had anyexperience, and could he bring any testimonial. Haralal could only answer “No”;nevertheless a postwas offered him of twenty rupees amonth and fifteen rupeeswereallowedhiminadvancetohelphimtocomeproperlydressedtotheoffice.

TheManagermadeHaralalworkextremelyhard.Hehadtostayonafterofficehoursandsometimesgotohismaster’shouselateintheevening.But,inthisway,helearnthisworkquickerthanothers,andhisfellowclerksbecamejealousofhimandtriedtoinjurehim,butwithouteffect.Herentedasmallhouseinanarrowlaneandbroughthismothertolivewithhimassoonashissalarywasraisedtofortyrupeesamonth.Thushappinesscamebacktohismotherafterwearyyearsofwaiting.

Haralal’smother used to express a desire to seeVenugopal, ofwhom shehadheard somuch.Shewishedtopreparesomedisheswithherownhandandtoaskhimtocomejustoncetodinewithherson.Haralalavoidedthesubjectbysayingthathishousewasnotbigenoughtoinvitehimforthatpurpose.

VII

ThenewsreachedHaralalthatVenu’smotherhaddied.Hecouldnotwaitamoment,butwent at once toAdharlal’s house to seeVenu. After that they began to see each otherfrequently.

Buttimeshadchanged.Venu,strokinghisbuddingmoustache,hadgrownquiteayoungman of fashion. Friends, befitting his present condition, were numerous. That olddilapidatedstudychairandink-staineddeskhadvanished,andtheroomnowseemedtobebursting with pride at its new acquisitions,—its looking-glasses, oleographs, and otherfurniture.Venuhadenteredcollege,butshowednohasteincrossingtheboundaryoftheIntermediateexamination.

Haralalrememberedhismother’srequesttoinviteVenutodinner.Aftergreathesitation,hedidso.Venugopal,withhishandsomeface,atoncewonthemother’sheart.Butassoonasever themealwasoverhebecame impatient togo,and lookingathisgoldwatchheexplainedthathehadpressingengagementselsewhere.Thenhejumpedintohiscarriage,

whichwaswaitingatthedoor,anddroveaway.Haralalwithasighsaidtohimselfthathewouldneverinvitehimagain.

VIII

Oneday,onreturningfromoffice,Haralalnoticedthepresenceofamaninthedarkroomonthegroundfloorofhishouse.Possiblyhewouldhavepassedhimby,hadnottheheavyscentofsomeforeignperfumeattractedhisattention.Haralalaskedwhowas there,andtheanswercame:

“ItisI,MasterMashai.”

“Whatisthematter,Venu?”saidHaralal.“Whendidyouarrive?”

“Icamehoursago,”saidVenu.“Ididnotknowthatyoureturnedsolate.”

TheywentupstairstogetherandHaralallightedthelampandaskedVenuwhetherallwaswell.Venurepliedthathiscollegeclasseswerebecomingafearfulbore,andhisfatherdidnotrealizehowdreadfullyharditwasforhimtogooninthesameclass,yearafteryear,withstudentsmuchyoungerthanhimself.Haralalaskedhimwhathewishedtodo.VenuthentoldhimthathewantedtogotoEnglandandbecomeabarrister.Hegaveaninstanceofastudent,muchlessadvancedthanhimself,whowasgettingreadytogo.Haralalaskedhimifhehadreceivedhisfather’spermission.Venurepliedthathisfatherwouldnothearaword of it until he had passed the Intermediate, and thatwas an impossibility in hispresentframeofmind.Haralalsuggestedthathehimselfshouldgoandtrytotalkoverhisfather.

“No,”saidVenu,“Icanneverallowthat!”

Haralal askedVenu to stay fordinnerandwhile theywerewaitinghegentlyplacedhishandonVenu’sshoulderandsaid:

“Venu,youshouldnotquarrelwithyourfather,orleavehome.”

Venu jumped up angrily and said that if he was not welcome, he could go elsewhere.Haralalcaughthimbythehandandimploredhimnottogoawaywithouttakinghisfood.ButVenusnatchedawayhishandandwasjust leavingtheroomwhenHaralal’smotherbrought thefoodinona tray.OnseeingVenuabout to leaveshepressedhimtoremainandhedidsowithbadgrace.

Whilehewaseatingthesoundofacarriagestoppingatthedoorwasheard.FirstaservantenteredtheroomwithcreakingshoesandthenAdharBabuhimself.Venu’sfacebecamepale.Themotherlefttheroomassoonasshesawstrangersenter.AdharBabucalledouttoHaralalinavoicethickwithanger:

“Ratikanta gave me full warning, but I could not believe that you had such devilishcunning hidden in you. So, you think you’re going to live upon Venu? This is sheerkidnapping,andIshallprosecuteyouinthePoliceCourt.”

Venusilentlyfollowedhisfatherandwentoutofthehouse.

IX

ThefirmtowhichHaralalbelongedbegantobuyuplargequantitiesofriceanddhalfromthecountrydistricts.Topayforthis,HaralalhadtotakethecasheverySaturdaymorningby the early train and disburse it. There were special centres where the brokers andmiddlemenwouldcomewiththeirreceiptsandaccountsforsettlement.Somediscussionhad takenplace in theoffice aboutHaralal being entrustedwith thiswork,without anysecurity,buttheManagerundertookalltheresponsibilityandsaidthatasecuritywasnotneeded.Thisspecialworkused togoonfromthemiddleofDecember to themiddleofApril.Haralalwouldgetbackfromitverylateatnight.

Oneday,afterhisreturn,hewastoldbyhismotherthatVenuhadcalledandthatshehadpersuaded him to take his dinner at their house. This happened more than once. ThemothersaidthatitwasbecauseVenumissedhisownmother,andthetearscameintohereyesasshespokeaboutit.

OnedayVenuwaitedforHaralaltoreturnandhadalongtalkwithhim.

“MasterMashai!”hesaid.“FatherhasbecomesocantankerousoflatethatIcannotlivewith him any longer. And, besides, I know that he is getting ready to marry again.Ratikantaisseekingasuitablematch,andtheyarealwaysconspiringaboutit.Thereusedtobeatimewhenmyfatherwouldgetanxious,ifIwereabsentfromhomeevenforafewhours.Now,ifIamawayformorethanaweek,hetakesnonotice,—indeedheisgreatlyrelieved.Ifthismarriagetakesplace,IfeelthatIcannotliveinthehouseanylonger.Youmustshowmeawayoutofthis.Iwanttobecomeindependent.”

Haralalfeltdeeplypained,buthedidnotknowhowtohelphisformerpupil.Venusaidthat hewasdetermined togo toEngland andbecomeabarrister.Somehoworother hemustgetthepassagemoneyoutofhisfather:hecouldborrowitonanoteofhandandhisfatherwouldhave to paywhen the creditors filed a suit.With this borrowedmoneyhewouldgetaway,andwhenhewasinEnglandhisfatherwascertaintoremithisexpenses.

“Butwhoisthere,”Haralalasked,“whowouldadvanceyouthemoney?”

“You!”saidVenu.

“I!”exclaimedHaralalinamazement.

“Yes,”saidVenu,“I’veseentheservantbringingheapsofmoneyhereinbags.”

“Theservantandthemoneybelongtosomeoneelse.”

Haralalexplainedwhythemoneycametohishouseatnight,likebirdstotheirnest,tobescatterednextmorning.

“Butcan’ttheManageradvancethesum?”Venuasked.

“Hemaydoso,”saidHaralal,“ifyourfatherstandssecurity.”

Thediscussionendedatthispoint.

X

OneFridaynightacarriageandpairstoppedbeforeHaralal’slodginghouse.WhenVenuwas announcedHaralalwas countingmoney in his bedroom, seated on the floor.Venu

enteredtheroomdressedinastrangemanner.HehaddiscardedhisBengalidressandwaswearingaParseecoatandtrousersandhadacaponhishead.Ringswereprominentonalmostallthefingersofbothhands,andathickgoldchainwashangingroundhisneck:therewasagold-watchinhispocket,anddiamondstudscouldbeseenpeepingfromhisshirtsleeves.Haralalatonceaskedhimwhatwasthematterandwhyhewaswearingthatdress.

“Myfather’smarriage,”saidVenu,“comesoff to-morrow.Hetriedhardtokeepitfromme,butIfounditout.Iaskedhimtoallowmetogotoourgarden-houseatBarrackpurforafewdays,andhewasonlytoogladtogetridofmesoeasily.Iamgoingthere,andIwishtoGodIhadnevertocomeback.”

Haralallookedpointedlyattheringsonhisfingers.Venuexplainedthattheyhadbelongedtohismother.Haralalthenaskedhimifhehadalreadyhadhisdinner.Heanswered,“Yes,haven’tyouhadyours?”

“No,”saidHaralal,“IcannotleavethisroomuntilIhaveallthemoneysafelylockedupinthisironchest.”

“Go and take your dinner,” said Venu, “while I keep guard here: your mother will bewaitingforyou.”

ForamomentHaralalhesitated,andthenhewentoutandhadhisdinner.Inashorttimehecamebackwithhismotherandthethreeofthemsatamongthebagsofmoneytalkingtogether. When it was about midnight, Venu took out his watch and looked at it andjumpedupsayingthathewouldmisshistrain.ThenheaskedHaralaltokeepallhisringsandhiswatchandchainuntilheaskedforthemagain.Haralalputthemalltogetherinaleatherbagandlaiditintheironsafe.Venuwentout.

Thecanvasbagscontainingthecurrencynoteshadalreadybeenplacedinthesafe:onlytheloosecoinsremainedtobecountedoverandputawaywiththerest.

XI

Haralallaydownonthefloorofthesameroom,withthekeyunderhispillow,andwenttosleep.HedreamtthatVenu’smotherwasloudlyreproachinghimfrombehindthecurtain.Herwordswereindistinct,butraysofdifferentcoloursfromthejewelsonherbodykeptpiercingthecurtainlikeneedlesandviolentlyvibrating.HaralalstruggledtocallVenu,buthis voice seemed to forsake him. At last, with a noise, the curtain fell down. Haralalstartedupfromhissleepandfounddarknesspileduproundabouthim.Asuddengustofwindhadflungopenthewindowandputoutthelight.Haralal’swholebodywaswetwithperspiration.Herelightedthelampandsaw,bytheclock,thatitwasfourinthemorning.Therewasnotimetosleepagain;forhehadtogetreadytostart.

After Haralal had washed his face and hands his mother called from her own room,—“Baba,whyareyouupsosoon?”

ItwasthehabitofHaralaltoseehismother’sfacethefirstthinginthemorninginordertobring a blessing upon the day.Hismother said to him: “Iwas dreaming that youweregoingouttobringbackabrideforyourself.”Haralalwenttohisownbedroomandbegan

totakeoutthebagscontainingthesilverandthecurrencynotes.

Suddenlyhisheartstoppedbeating.Threeofthebagsappearedtobeempty.Heknockedthemagainst theironsafe,but thisonlyprovedhisfear tobetrue.Heopenedthemandshookthemwithallhismight.TwolettersfromVenudroppedoutfromoneofthebags.OnewasaddressedtohisfatherandonetoHaralal.

Haralal tore open his own letter and began reading.Thewords seemed to run into oneanother.Hetrimmedthelamp,butfeltasifhecouldnotunderstandwhatheread.Yetthepurportof the letterwasclear.Venuhadtakenthree thousandrupees, incurrencynotes,andhadstartedforEngland.Thesteamerwastosailbeforeday-breakthatverymorning.Theletterendedwiththewords:“Iamexplainingeverythinginalettertomyfather.Hewillpayoffthedebt;andthen,again,mymother’sornaments,whichIhaveleftinyourcare,willmorethancovertheamountIhavetaken.”

Haralallockeduphisroomandhiredacarriageandwentwithallhastetothejetty.Buthedid not know even the name of the steamer which Venu had taken. He ran the wholelengthofthewharvesfromPrinsep’sGhattoMetiaburuj.HefoundthattwosteamershadstartedontheirvoyagetoEnglandearlythatmorning.ItwasimpossibleforhimtoknowwhichofthemcarriedVenu,orhowtoreachhim.

When Haralal got home, the sun was strong and the whole of Calcutta was awake.Everythingbeforehiseyesseemedblurred.Hefeltasifhewerepushingagainstafearfulobstaclewhichwasbodiless andwithoutpity.Hismother cameon theverandah to askhimanxiouslywherehehadgone.Withadry laughhe said toher,—“Tobringhomeabrideformyself,”andthenhefaintedaway.

Onopening his eyes after awhile,Haralal asked hismother to leave him.Entering hisroomheshutthedoorfromtheinsidewhilehismotherremainedseatedontheflooroftheverandah in the fierce glare of the sun. She kept calling to him fitfully, almostmechanically,—“Baba,Baba!”

The servant came from theManager’s office and knocked at the door, saying that theywouldmissthetrainif theydidnotstartoutatonce.Haralalcalledfrominside,“Itwillnotbepossibleformetostartthismorning.”

“Thenwherearewetogo,Sir?”

“Iwilltellyoulateron.”

Theservantwentdownstairswithagestureofimpatience.

SuddenlyHaralal thoughtof theornamentswhichVenuhad leftbehind.Up tillnowhehadcompletelyforgottenaboutthem,butwiththethoughtcameinstantrelief.Hetooktheleatherbagcontainingthem,andalsoVenu’slettertohisfather,andleftthehouse.

BeforehereachedAdharlal’shousehecouldhearthebandsplayingforthewedding,yetonenteringhecouldfeelthattherehadbeensomedisturbance.Haralalwastoldthattherehadbeenatheftthenightbeforeandoneortwoservantsweresuspected.AdharBabuwassittingintheupperverandahflushedwithangerandRatikantawassmokinghishookah.HaralalsaidtoAdharBabu,“Ihavesomethingprivatetotellyou.”Adharlalflaredup,“Ihavenotimenow!”HewasafraidthatHaralalhadcometoborrowmoneyortoaskhis

help. Ratikanta suggested that if there was any delicacy in making the request in hispresencehewould leave theplace.Adharlal toldhimangrily tositwherehewas.ThenHaralalhandedoverthebagwhichVenuhadleftbehind.AdharlalaskedwhatwasinsideitandHaralalopeneditandgavethecontentsintohishands.

ThenAdharBabusaidwithasneer:“It’sapayingbusiness thatyoutwohavestarted—youandyourformerpupil!Youwerecertainthatthestolenpropertywouldbetraced,andsoyoucomealongwithittometoclaimareward!”

HaralalpresentedtheletterwhichVenuhadwrittentohisfather.ThisonlymadeAdharlalallthemorefurious.

“What’sallthis?”heshouted,“I’llcallforthepolice!Mysonhasnotyetcomeofage,—andyou have smuggledhimoutof the country! I’ll betmy soulyou’ve lenthima fewhundredrupees,andthentakenanoteofhandforthreethousand!ButIamnotgoingtobeboundbythis!”

“Ineveradvancedhimanymoneyatall,”saidHaralal.

“Thenhowdidhefind it?”saidAdharlal,“Doyoumeanto tellmehebrokeopenyoursafeandstoleit?”

Haralalstoodsilent.

Ratikantasarcasticallyremarked:“Idon’tbelievethisfelloweversethandsonasmuchasthreethousandrupeesinhislife.”

WhenHaralal left thehousehe seemed tohave lost thepowerofdreadinganything,orevenofbeinganxious.Hismindseemedtorefusetowork.Directlyheenteredthelanehesawacarriagewaitingbeforehisown lodging.Foramomenthe feltcertain that itwasVenu’s.Itwasimpossibletobelievethathiscalamitycouldbesohopelesslyfinal.

Haralalwent upquickly, but found anEnglish assistant from the firm sitting inside thecarriage.Themancameoutwhenhe sawHaralal and tookhimby thehand and askedhim:“Whydidn’tyougooutbytrainthismorning?”TheservanthadtoldtheManagerhissuspicionsandhehadsentthismantofindout.

Haralalanswered:“Notestotheamountofthreethousandrupeesaremissing.”

Themanaskedhowthatcouldhavehappened.

Haralalremainedsilent.

The man said to Haralal: “Let us go upstairs together and see where you keep yourmoney.”Theywentuptotheroomandcountedthemoneyandmadeathoroughsearchofthehouse.

Whenthemothersawthisshecouldnotcontainherselfanylonger.Shecameoutbeforethestrangerandsaid:“Baba,whathashappened?”HeansweredinbrokenHindustanithatsomemoneyhadbeenstolen.

“Stolen!”themothercried,“Why!Howcoulditbestolen?Whocoulddosuchadastardlything?”Haralalsaidtoher:“Mother,don’tsayaword.”

ThemancollectedtheremainderofthemoneyandtoldHaralaltocomewithhimtothe

Manager.Themotherbarredthewayandsaid:

“Sir,whereareyou takingmyson? Ihavebroughthimup,starvingandstraining todohonestwork.Mysonwouldnevertouchmoneybelongingtoothers.”

TheEnglishman,notknowingBengali,said,“Achcha!Achcha!”Haralaltoldhismothernot tobe anxious; hewould explain it all to theManager and soonbebackagain.Themotherentreatedhim,withadistressedvoice,

“Baba,youhaven’ttakenamorseloffoodallmorning.”Haralalsteppedintothecarriageanddroveaway,andthemothersanktothegroundintheanguishofherheart.

TheManagersaidtoHaralal:“Tellmethetruth.Whatdidhappen?”

Haralalsaidtohim,“Ihaven’ttakenanymoney.”

“Ifullybelieveit,”saidtheManager,“butsurelyyouknowwhohastakenit.”

Haralallookedonthegroundandremainedsilent.

“Somebody,”saidtheManager,“musthavetakenitawaywithyourconnivance.”

“Nobody,” repliedHaralal, “could take it awaywithmyknowledgewithout taking firstmylife.”

“Lookhere,Haralal,” said theManager, “I trustedyoucompletely. I tookno security. Iemployedyouinapostofgreatresponsibility.Everyoneintheofficewasagainstmefordoingso.Thethreethousandrupeesisasmallmatter,buttheshameofallthistomeisagreatmatter.Iwilldoonething.Iwillgiveyouthewholedaytobringbackthismoney.Ifyoudoso,IshallsaynothingaboutitandIwillkeepyouoninyourpost.”

Itwasnoweleveno’clock.Haralalwithbentheadwentoutoftheoffice.Theclerksbegantodiscusstheaffairwithexultation.

“WhatcanIdo?WhatcanIdo?”Haralalrepeatedtohimself,ashewalkedalonglikeonedazed,thesun’sheatpouringdownuponhim.Atlasthismindceasedtothinkatallaboutwhatcouldbedone,butthemechanicalwalkwentonwithoutceasing.

This city ofCalcutta,which offered its shelter to thousands and thousands ofmen hadbecome like a steel trap. He could see no way out. The whole body of people wereconspiring to surroundandholdhimcaptive—thismost insignificantofmen,whomnooneknew.Nobodyhadanyspecialgrudgeagainsthim,yeteverybodywashisenemy.Thecrowdpassedby,brushingagainsthim:theclerksoftheofficeswereeatingtheirlunchontheroadsidefromtheirplatesmadeofleaves:atiredwayfarerontheMaidan,undertheshadeofatree,waslyingwithonehandbeneathhisheadandonelegupraisedovertheother:Theup-countrywomen,crowdedintohackneycarriages,werewendingtheirwaytothetemple:achuprassiecameupwithaletterandaskedhimtheaddressontheenvelope,—sotheafternoonwentby.

Thencamethetimewhentheofficeswereallabouttoclose.Carriagesstartedoff inalldirections,carryingpeoplebacktotheirhomes.Theclerks,packedtightlyontheseatsofthetrams,lookedatthetheatreadvertisementsastheyreturnedtotheirlodgings.Fromto-day,Haralalhadneitherhisworkintheoffice,norreleasefromworkintheevening.Hehadnoneedtohurrytocatchthetramtotakehimtohishome.Allthebusyoccupations

ofthecity—thebuildings—thehorsesandcarriages—theincessanttraffic—seemed,nowatonetime,toswellintodreadfulreality,andatanothertime,tosubsideintotheshadowyunreal.

Haralalhadtakenneitherfood,norrest,norshelterallthatday.

The street lamps were lighted from one road to another and it seemed to him that awatchful darkness, like some demon, was keeping its eyes wide open to guard everymovementofitsvictim.Haralaldidnotevenhavetheenergytoenquirehowlateitwas.Theveinsonhis forehead throbbed,andhefeltas ifhisheadwouldburst.Throughtheparoxysmsofpain,whichalternatedwiththeapathyofdejection,onlyonethoughtcameagainandagaintohismind;amongtheinnumerablemultitudesinthatvastcity,onlyonenamefounditswaythroughhisdrythroat,—“Mother!”

Hesaidtohimself,“Atthedeepofnight,whennooneisawaketocaptureme—me,whoam the leastofallmen,—Iwill silentlycreep tomymother’sarmsand fall asleep,andmayIneverwakeagain!”

Haralal’sonetroublewaslestsomepoliceofficershouldmolesthiminthepresenceofhismother,andthiskepthimbackfromgoinghome.Whenitbecameimpossibleforhimatlasttobeartheweightofhisownbody,hehailedacarriage.Thedriveraskedhimwherehewanted togo.Hesaid:“Nowhere, Iwant todriveacross theMaidan toget thefreshair.”Themanatfirstdidnotbelievehimandwasabouttodriveon,whenHaralalputarupee intohis hand as an advancepayment.Thereupon thedriver crossed, and then re-crossed,theMaidanfromonesidetotheother,traversingthedifferentroads.

Haralallaidhisthrobbingheadonthesideoftheopenwindowofthecarriageandclosedhis eyes. Slowly all the pain abated.His body became cool.A deep and intense peacefilledhisheartandasupremedeliveranceseemedtoembracehimoneveryside. Itwasnottrue,—theday’sdespairwhichthreatenedhimwithitsgripofutterhelplessness.Itwasnot true, it was false. He knew now that it was only an empty fear of the mind.Deliverancewasintheinfiniteskyandtherewasnoendtopeace.Nokingoremperorinthe world had the power to keep captive this nonentity, this Haralal. In the sky,surroundinghisemancipatedheartoneveryside,hefeltthepresenceofhismother,thatonepoorwoman.Sheseemedtogrowandgrowtillshefilledtheinfinityofdarkness.AlltheroadsandbuildingsandshopsofCalcuttagraduallybecameenvelopedbyher.InherpresencevanishedalltheachingpainsandthoughtsandconsciousnessofHaralal.Itburst,—thatbubblefilledwiththehotvapourofpain.Andnowtherewasneitherdarknessnorlight,butonlyonetensefulness.

TheCathedralclockstruckone.Thedrivercalledoutimpatiently:“Babu,myhorsecan’tgoonanylonger.Wheredoyouwanttogo?”

Therecamenoanswer.

ThedrivercamedownandshookHaralalandaskedhimagainwherehewantedtogo.

Therecamenoanswer.

AndtheanswerwasneverreceivedfromHaralal,wherehewantedtogo.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

broker.Thiswordmeantoriginally a “broacher,”onewhobroachedormade ahole incasksofwinetotesttheirvalueforsale.Thenitcametomeanamiddlemaninasale.

attorney.ThiswordcomesfromtheOldFrench“tourner”meaningtoturn.Theoriginalsense of theword is “onewho turns or transfers (property),” and thus it comes tomeanonewhoisappointedtodolegalbusinessinthenameofanother.Comparethephrase“powerofattorney.”

mortgage.Thiscomesfromthetwowords“mort-”meaning“death”and“gage”meaning“pledge,”—a death pledge. It is used for the transfer of property as a pledge orguaranteethatthedebtwillbepaid.Comparemortuary,mortal,mortify,mortmain;alsocompareengage,disengage,wage,wager.

repulsed. From theLatin “puls-”meaning “todrive.”ThisLatin root has another form“pel,”alsomeaning“todrive.”Wehavethustwoseriesofwords:—

repel,impel,compel,expel,dispel,andrepulse,impulse(noun),compulsion,expulsion.

amiability.ThiswordcomesfromtheLatin“amicus”friendandisthesameinoriginas“amicability.”Compareamicableandamiable.

salary.Thisoriginallymeant“salt-money”fromtheLatin“sal”meaning“salt.”First, itmeantthe“salt-money”giventosoldiers,thenitmeantafixedpay.ComparetheuseofnamakinIndia,—namakkhānā,—whichissomewhatsimilar.

liliputian.ThiswordhascomeintotheEnglishlanguagefromafamousstorybookcalled“Gulliver’s Travels.” “Liliput” was a place where tiny people lived and“Brobdingnag” was a place where giants lived. These two words are thereforesometimesused,inanamusingmanner,torepresentrespectivelythelandofdwarfsandthelandofgiants.

B.A.degree.ThesetitleswereoriginallyusedintheoldmedievaluniversitiesofEurope.The word “bachelor” was taken from its use in chivalry, where it meant a youngknightnotyetfullyqualifiedorequipped.Thencamethe“Master,”orfullyqualifiedperson.A secondarymeaning of bachelor,which is now themost common, is “anunmarriedperson,”—amannotbeingconsideredfullyqualifiedorequippedtillheismarried.

romance.Thiswordhas a very interestinghistory.TheLatin languagewas the literarylanguage of the South of Europe formany centuries and the vernacular languageswere despised. The word for “vernacular” was “romanicus” as contrasted with“Latinus,” i.e. Latin. The old folk stories of theMiddle Ages were written in thevernacularor“romance”languages,andasthesestorieswerestrangeandmysterious,thewordromancebecameusedforthiskindofliterature.

pathetic.FromtheGreekword“pathos”meaning“suffering.”Comparepathos,sympathy,pathology,electropathy,allopathy,homœopathy.

dilapidated. From the Latin “lapis” meaning a “stone.” It probably means to separatestonefromstone.Comparelapidary,dilapidation.

intermediate.FromtheLatin“medius”meaning“middle.”Comparemediate,immediate,medium,mediocrity,mediator.

police. From theGreek “polis”meaning a “city.” Comparepolitics, policy,metropolis,politician.

barrister.Fromtheword“bar.”Therewasabarinthelawcourt,fromwhichthelawyerpleadedhiscase.Sothepleaderwascalledabar-ister.Comparethephrase“calledtotheBar.”

obstacle.FromtheLatinroot“sta-”meaningtostand.Compareobstinate,station,status,statute,instant,distance,constant.

dastardly.Awordofdoubtfulorigin,—probablyakintotheword“dazed.”

reality. From the Latin word “res” meaning a “thing.” Compare real, unreal, realize,republic,really,realization.

alternated. From the Latin “alter” meaning “other.” Compare alteration, alternative,alter,altercate.

infinity.FromtheLatin“finis”meaning“end.”Comparefinish,finite,definite,confine.

SUBHA

VI

SUBHA

WHENthegirlwasgiventhenameofSubhashini,whocouldhaveguessedthatshewouldprove dumb? Her two elder sisters were Sukeshini and Suhasini, and for the sake ofuniformityherfathernamedhisyoungestgirlSubhashini.ShewascalledSubhaforshort.

Her two elder sisters had beenmarriedwith the usual cost and difficulty, and now theyoungest daughter lay like a silentweight upon the heart of her parents.All theworldseemedtothinkthat,becauseshedidnotspeak,thereforeshedidnotfeel;itdiscussedherfuture and its ownanxiety freely in her presence.Shehadunderstood fromher earliestchildhoodthatGodhadsentherlikeacursetoherfather’shouse,soshewithdrewherselffromordinarypeopleandtriedtoliveapart.Ifonlytheywouldallforgethershefeltshecouldendureit.Butwhocanforgetpain?Nightanddayherparents’mindswereachingon her account. Especially hermother looked upon her as a deformity in herself. To amotheradaughterisamorecloselyintimatepartofherselfthanasoncanbe;andafaultinher isasourceofpersonalshame.Banikantha,Subha’s father, lovedher ratherbetterthanhisotherdaughters;hermotherregardedherwithaversionasastainuponherownbody.

IfSubhalackedspeech,shedidnotlackapairoflargedarkeyes,shadedwithlonglashes;andherlipstrembledlikealeafinresponsetoanythoughtthatroseinhermind.

Whenweexpressourthoughtinwords,themediumisnotfoundeasily.Theremustbeaprocessoftranslation,whichisofteninexact,andthenwefall intoerror.Butblackeyesneednotranslating;theminditselfthrowsashadowuponthem.Inthemthoughtopensorshuts,shinesforthorgoesoutindarkness,hangssteadfastlikethesettingmoonorliketheswiftandrestlesslightningilluminesallquartersofthesky.Theywhofrombirthhavehadnoother speech than the tremblingof their lips learna languageof theeyes,endless inexpression,deepasthesea,clearastheheavens,whereinplaydawnandsunset,lightandshadow. The dumb have a lonely grandeur like Nature’s own. Wherefore the otherchildren almost dreaded Subha and never played with her. She was silent andcompanionlessasnoontide.

ThehamletwhereshelivedwasChandipur.Itsriver,smallforariverofBengal,kepttoits narrow bounds like a daughter of themiddle class. This busy streak ofwater neveroverfloweditsbanks,butwentaboutitsdutiesasthoughitwereamemberofeveryfamilyin the villages beside it. On either side were houses and banks shaded with trees. Sosteppingfromherqueenlythrone,theriver-goddessbecameagardendeityofeachhome,andforgetfulofherselfperformedhertaskofendlessbenedictionwithswiftandcheerfulfoot.

Banikantha’shouselookedoutuponthestream.Everyhutandstackintheplacecouldbeseenby thepassingboatmen. Iknownot ifamid thesesignsofworldlywealthanyonenoticedthelittlegirlwho,whenherworkwasdone,stoleawaytothewatersideandsat

there.ButhereNaturefulfilledherwantofspeechandspokeforher.Themurmurofthebrook,thevoiceofthevillagefolk,thesongsoftheboatmen,thecryingofthebirdsandrustleof treesmingledandwereonewith the tremblingofherheart.Theybecameonevastwave of soundwhich beat upon her restless soul. Thismurmur andmovement ofNaturewerethedumbgirl’slanguage;thatspeechofthedarkeyes,whichthelonglashesshaded, was the language of the world about her. From the trees, where the cicalaschirped,tothequietstarstherewasnothingbutsignsandgestures,weepingandsighing.And in the deepmid-noon,when the boatmen and fisher-folk had gone to their dinner,when the villagers slept and birdswere still, when the ferry-boatswere idle, when thegreat busy world paused in its toil and became suddenly a lonely, awful giant, thenbeneaththevastimpressiveheavenstherewereonlydumbNatureandadumbgirl,sittingvery silent,—one under the spreading sunlight, the other where a small tree cast itsshadow.

ButSubhawasnotaltogetherwithoutfriends.Inthestallweretwocows,SarbbashiandPanguli. They had never heard their names from her lips, but they knew her footfall.Though she had no words, she murmured lovingly and they understood her gentlemurmuringbetterthanallspeech.Whenshefondledthemorscoldedorcoaxedthem,theyunderstoodherbetter thanmencoulddo.Subhawouldcome to theshedand throwherarmsroundSarbbashi’sneck;shewould rubhercheekagainsther friend’s,andPanguliwould turnhergreatkindeyesand lickher face.Thegirlpaid themthree regularvisitseverydayandothersthatwereirregular.Wheneversheheardanywordsthathurther,shewould come to these dumb friends out of due time. Itwas as though they guessed heranguishofspiritfromherquietlookofsadness.Comingclosetoher,theywouldrubtheirhorns softlyagainstherarms,and indumb,puzzled fashion try to comforther.Besidesthesetwo,thereweregoatsandakitten;butSubhahadnotthesameequalityoffriendshipwiththem,thoughtheyshowedthesameattachment.Everytimeitgotachance,nightorday, the kitten would jump into her lap, and settle down to slumber, and show itsappreciationofanaidtosleepasSubhadrewhersoftfingersoveritsneckandback.

Subhahadacomradealsoamongthehigheranimals,anditishardtosaywhatwerethegirl’srelationswithhim;forhecouldspeak,andhisgiftofspeechleftthemwithoutanycommon language. He was the youngest boy of the Gosains, Pratap by name, an idlefellow.Afterlongeffort,hisparentshadabandonedthehopethathewouldevermakehisliving.Nowloselshave this advantage, that, though theirown folkdisapproveof them,they are generally popular with every one else. Having no work to chain them, theybecomepublicproperty.Justaseverytownneedsanopenspacewhereallmaybreathe,soavillageneedstwoorthreegentlemenofleisure,whocangivetimetoall;then,ifwearelazyandwantacompanion,oneistohand.

Pratap’schiefambitionwastocatchfish.Hemanagedtowastealotoftimethisway,andmight be seen almost any afternoon so employed. It was thus most often that he metSubha.Whateverhewasabout,helikedacompanion;and,whenoneiscatchingfish,asilentcompanion isbestofall.Pratap respectedSubha forher taciturnity, and, as everyonecalledherSubha,heshowedhisaffectionbycallingherSu.Subhausedtositbeneatha tamarind, andPratap, a littledistanceoff,wouldcasthis line.Pratap tookwithhimasmall allowance of betel, and Subha prepared it for him. And I think that, sitting andgazingalongwhile,shedesiredardentlytobringsomegreathelptoPratap,tobeofreal

aid,toprovebyanymeansthatshewasnotauselessburdentotheworld.Buttherewasnothing todo.Thenshe turned to theCreator inprayer forsomerarepower, thatbyanastonishingmiracleshemightstartlePratapintoexclaiming:“My!IneverdreamtourSucouldhavedonethis!”

Onlythink,ifSubhahadbeenawaternymph,shemighthaverisenslowlyfromtheriver,bringingthegemofasnake’scrowntothelanding-place.ThenPratap,leavinghispaltryfishing,might dive into the lowerworld, and see there, on a golden bed in a palace ofsilver,whomelsebutdumblittleSu,Banikantha’schild?Yes,ourSu,theonlydaughterofthekingofthatshiningcityofjewels!Butthatmightnotbe,itwasimpossible.Notthatanythingisreallyimpossible,butSuhadbeenborn,notintotheroyalhouseofPatalpur,butintoBanikantha’sfamily,andsheknewnomeansofastonishingtheGosains’boy.

Gradually she grew up. Gradually she began to find herself. A new inexpressibleconsciousnesslikeatidefromthecentralplacesofthesea,whenthemoonisfull,sweptthrough her. She saw herself, questioned herself, but no answer came that she couldunderstand.

Onceuponatime,lateonanightoffullmoon,sheslowlyopenedherdoorandpeepedouttimidly.Nature,herselfatfullmoon,likelonelySubha,waslookingdownonthesleepingearth.Herstrongyounglifebeatwithinher;joyandsadnessfilledherbeingtoitsbrim;she reached the limits evenof her own illimitable loneliness, nay, passedbeyond them.Herheartwasheavy,andshecouldnotspeak.AttheskirtsofthissilenttroubledMothertherestoodasilenttroubledgirl.

Thethoughtofhermarriagefilledherparentswithananxiouscare.Peopleblamedthem,and even talkedofmaking themoutcasts.Banikanthawaswell off; theyhad fish-currytwicedaily;andconsequentlyhedidnot lackenemies.Then thewomen interfered, andBaniwentawayforafewdays.Presentlyhereturnedandsaid:“WemustgotoCalcutta.”

Theygot ready togo to this strangecountry.Subha’sheartwasheavywith tears, likeamist-wrapt dawn.With a vague fear that had been gathering for days, she dogged herfatherandmotherlikeadumbanimal.Withherlargeeyeswideopen,shescannedtheirfacesas thoughshewishedtolearnsomething.Butnotaworddidtheyvouchsafe.Oneafternoon in themidstof all this, asPratapwas fishing,he laughed: “So then,Su, theyhavecaughtyourbridegroom,andyouaregoingtobemarried!Mindyoudon’tforgetmealtogether!” Then he turned hismind again to his fish. As a stricken doe looks in thehunter’s face, asking in silent agony: “What have I done to you?” so Subha looked atPratap.Thatdayshesatnolongerbeneathhertree.Banikantha,havingfinishedhisnap,wassmokinginhisbedroomwhenSubhadroppeddownathisfeetandburstoutweepingasshegazedtowardshim.Banikanthatriedtocomforther,andhischeekgrewwetwithtears.

ItwassettledthatonthemorrowtheyshouldgotoCalcutta.Subhawenttothecow-shedtobidfarewelltoherchildhood’scomrades.Shefedthemwithherhand;sheclaspedtheirnecks;shelookedinto their faces,and tears fell fast fromtheeyeswhichspokeforher.Thatnightwasthetenthofthemoon.Subhaleftherroom,andflungherselfdownonhergrassycouchbesideherdearriver.ItwasasifshethrewherarmsaboutEarth,herstrongsilentmother,andtriedtosay:“Donotletmeleaveyou,mother.Putyourarmsaboutme,

asIhaveputmineaboutyou,andholdmefast.”

One day in a house in Calcutta, Subha’s mother dressed her up with great care. Sheimprisonedherhair,knottingitupin laces,shehungheraboutwithornaments,anddidherbesttokillhernaturalbeauty.Subha’seyesfilledwithtears.Hermother,fearingtheywould grow swollen with weeping, scolded her harshly, but the tears disregarded thescolding.Thebridegroomcamewithafriendtoinspectthebride.Herparentsweredizzywithanxietyand fearwhen they saw thegodarrive to select thebeast forhis sacrifice.Behind the stage, themothercalledher instructionsaloud,and increasedherdaughter’sweeping twofold,beforeshesenther into theexaminer’spresence.Thegreatman,afterscanningheralongtime,observed:“Notsobad.”

Hetookspecialnoteofhertears,andthoughtshemusthaveatenderheart.Heputittohercredit in the account, arguing that theheart,which to-daywas distressed at leaving herparents,would presently prove a useful possession.Like the oyster’s pearls, the child’stearsonlyincreasedhervalue,andhemadenoothercomment.

The almanacwas consulted, and themarriage took place on an auspicious day.Havingdeliveredovertheirdumbgirlintoanother’shands,Subha’sparentsreturnedhome.ThankGod!Theircasteinthisandtheirsafetyinthenextworldwereassured!Thebridegroom’sworklayinthewest,andshortlyafterthemarriagehetookhiswifethither.

Inlessthantendayseveryoneknewthatthebridewasdumb!Atleast,ifanyonedidnot,itwasnotherfault,forshedeceivednoone.Hereyestoldthemeverything,thoughnooneunderstood her. She looked on every hand, she found no speech, shemissed the faces,familiar from birth, of thosewho had understood a dumb girl’s language. In her silentheart there sounded an endless, voiceless weeping, which only the Searcher of Heartscouldhear.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

uniformity. From the Latin “unus,” meaning “one” and “forma” meaning “form.”Compareuniverse,unison,unite,formalism,formation,reform,deformed,deformity(thelastwordoccursinthenextparagraphofthestory).

translation.TheLatinwordmeaning“tobring”hastworoots,viz.“fer”and“lat.”Thisword is taken from the second root.We have the two parallel series of words inEnglish:

transfer,refer,confer,differ,etc.translate,relate,collate,dilate,etc.

puzzled.ThisisoneofthefewwordsintheEnglishlanguagewhoseoriginisdoubtful.Itprobably comes from the word to “pose” (which itself is a shortened form of“oppose”)meaningtosetforwardadifficultproblem.

losels.AnuncommonEnglishwordmeaningapersonwhoisgoodfornothing.Thewordisderivedfromtheverbto“lose.”

taciturnity.TheLatinword “tacitus,”means “quiet”or “silent.”Compare tacit, tacitly,reticence,reticent.

My! This is used by commonpeople inEngland. It is probably the short formof “Myeye!”

dogged.Thewordinthissensemeanstofollowlikeadog;tofollowclosely.Fromthiswe have the adjective “dogged” pronounced as two syllables dog-géd, meaningpersevering,persistent,nevergivingin,e.g.doggédcourage.

disregarded. From the French “garder” or “guarder,” meaning “to keep.” This Frenchword appears inmanyEnglish forms.Compare reward, guard, guerdon, guardian,ward,warder,regard.

dizzy.Thiswordcomes fromanoldSaxon root,whichhas leftmanywords inmodernEnglish.Comparedaze,dazed,dazzle,doze,drowse,drowsy.

deceived. From the Latin word “capere,” meaning to take. The English verbs such as“receive,”“conceive,”“perceive”havecomeintoEnglishfromtheFrench.TheLatinrootismoreclearlyseeninthenounssuchas“deception,”“reception,”“perception,”etc.Itshouldbecarefullynoticedthatthese“French”formsarespelteiveinsteadofieve.Asimpleruleisthis,thataftercwriteeinotie,butafterotherconsonantswriteie.Comparethespellingofbelieve,grieve,relievewiththatofreceive,deceive.

THEPOSTMASTER

VII

THEPOSTMASTER

THEpostmasterfirsttookuphisdutiesinthevillageofUlapur.Thoughthevillagewasasmall one, therewas an indigo factory near by, and the proprietor, anEnglishman, hadmanagedtogetapostofficeestablished.

OurpostmasterbelongedtoCalcutta.Hefeltlikeafishoutofwaterinthisremotevillage.Hisofficeandliving-roomwereinadarkthatchedshed,notfarfromagreen,slimypond,surroundedonallsidesbyadensegrowth.

The men employed in the indigo factory had no leisure; moreover, they were hardlydesirable companions for decent folk. Nor is a Calcutta boy an adept in the art ofassociatingwith others.Among strangers he appears either proud or ill at ease.At anyrate,thepostmasterhadbutlittlecompany;norhadhemuchtodo.

Attimeshetriedhishandatwritingaverseortwo.Thatthemovementoftheleavesandthecloudsoftheskywereenoughtofilllifewithjoy—suchwerethesentimentstowhichhesoughttogiveexpression.ButGodknowsthatthepoorfellowwouldhavefeltitasthegiftofanewlife, ifsomegenieoftheArabianNightshad inonenightsweptaway thetrees,leavesandall,andreplacedthemwithamacadamisedroad,hidingthecloudsfromviewwithrowsoftallhouses.

Thepostmaster’ssalarywassmall.Hehadtocookhisownmeals,whichheusedtosharewithRatan,anorphangirlofthevillage,whodidoddjobsforhim.

When in the evening the smoke began to curl up from the village cowsheds, and thecicalaschirpedineverybush;whenthemendicantsoftheBaülsectsangtheirshrillsongsintheirdailymeeting-place,whenanypoet,whohadattemptedtowatchthemovementofthe leaves in thedensebamboo thickets,wouldhave felt aghostly shiver rundownhisback,thepostmasterwouldlighthislittlelamp,andcallout“Ratan.”

Ratanwould sit outsidewaiting for this call, and, instead of coming in at once,wouldreply,“Didyoucallme,sir?”

“Whatareyoudoing?”thepostmasterwouldask.

“Imustbegoingtolightthekitchenfire,”wouldbetheanswer.

Andthepostmasterwouldsay:“Oh,let thekitchenfirebeforawhile; lightmemypipefirst.”

AtlastRatanwouldenter,withpuffed-outcheeks,vigorouslyblowingintoaflamealivecoal to light the tobacco.Thiswouldgive thepostmaster anopportunityof conversing.“Well, Ratan,” perhaps hewould begin, “do you remember anything of yourmother?”Thatwasafertilesubject.Ratanpartlyremembered,andpartlydidn’t.Herfatherhadbeenfonderofherthanhermother;himsherecollectedmorevividly.Heusedtocomehomeintheeveningafterhiswork,andoneor twoeveningsstoodoutmoreclearly thanothers,

likepictures inhermemory.Ratanwould sit on the floor near thepostmaster’s feet, asmemoriescrowdedinuponher.Shecalledtomindalittlebrotherthatshehad—andhowonsomebygonecloudydayshehadplayedatfishingwithhimontheedgeofthepond,witha twig foramake-believe fishing-rod.Such little incidentswoulddriveoutgreaterevents from her mind. Thus, as they talked, it would often get very late, and thepostmasterwouldfeeltoolazytodoanycookingatall.Ratanwouldthenhastilylightthefire,andtoastsomeunleavenedbread,which,withthecoldremnantsofthemorningmeal,wasenoughfortheirsupper.

Onsomeevenings,seatedathisdeskinthecornerofthebigemptyshed,thepostmastertoowouldcallupmemoriesofhisownhome,ofhismotherandhis sister,of those forwhom in his exile his heartwas sad,—memorieswhichwere always haunting him, butwhich he could not talk about with the men of the factory, though he found himselfnaturally recalling them aloud in the presence of the simple little girl. And so it cameaboutthatthegirlwouldalludetohispeopleasmother,brother,andsister,asifshehadknownthemallherlife.Infact,shehadacompletepictureofeachoneofthempaintedinherlittleheart.

Onenoon,duringabreakintherains,therewasacoolsoftbreezeblowing;thesmellofthedampgrassandleavesinthehotsunfeltlikethewarmbreathingofthetiredearthonone’s body.A persistent birdwent on all the afternoon repeating the burden of its onecomplaintinNature’saudiencechamber.

The postmaster had nothing to do. The shimmer of the freshlywashed leaves, and thebanked-up remnantsof the retreating rain-cloudswere sights to see; and thepostmasterwaswatchingthemandthinkingtohimself:“Oh,ifonlysomekindredsoulwerenear—justonelovinghumanbeingwhomIcouldholdnearmyheart!”Thiswasexactly,hewenton to think, what that bird was trying to say, and it was the same feeling which themurmuringleaveswerestrivingtoexpress.Butnooneknows,orwouldbelieve,thatsuchanideamightalsotakepossessionofanill-paidvillagepostmasterinthedeep,silentmid-dayintervalofhiswork.

The postmaster sighed, and called out “Ratan.” Ratan was then sprawling beneath theguava-tree,busilyengagedineatingunripeguavas.Atthevoiceofhermaster,sheranupbreathlessly,saying:“Wereyoucallingme,Dada?”“Iwasthinking,”saidthepostmaster,“ofteachingyoutoread.”Andthenfortherestoftheafternoonhetaughtherthealphabet.

Thus,inaveryshorttime,Ratanhadgotasfarasthedoubleconsonants.

It seemed as though the showers of the season would never end. Canals, ditches, andhollowswerealloverflowingwithwater.Dayandnightthepatterofrainwasheard,andthecroakingoffrogs.Thevillageroadsbecameimpassable,andmarketinghadtobedoneinpunts.

Oneheavilycloudedmorning,thepostmaster’slittlepupilhadbeenlongwaitingoutsidethe door for her call, but, not hearing it as usual, she took up her dog-eared book, andslowlyenteredtheroom.Shefoundhermasterstretchedoutonhisbed,and,thinkingthathe was resting, she was about to retire on tip-toe, when she suddenly heard her name—“Ratan!”Sheturnedatonceandasked:“Wereyousleeping,Dada?”Thepostmasterinaplaintivevoicesaid:“Iamnotwell.Feelmyhead;isitveryhot?”

Inthelonelinessofhisexile,andinthegloomoftherains,hisailingbodyneededalittletender nursing. He longed to remember the touch on the forehead of soft hands withtinklingbracelets,toimaginethepresenceoflovingwomanhood,thenearnessofmotherandsister.Andtheexilewasnotdisappointed.Ratanceasedtobealittlegirl.Sheatoncesteppedintothepostofmother,calledinthevillagedoctor,gavethepatienthispillsattheproper intervals,satupallnightbyhispillow,cookedhisgruelforhim,andeverynowandthenasked:“Areyoufeelingalittlebetter,Dada?”

Itwassometimebeforethepostmaster,withweakenedbody,wasabletoleavehissick-bed.“Nomoreofthis,”saidhewithdecision.“Imustgetatransfer.”HeatoncewroteofftoCalcuttaanapplicationforatransfer,onthegroundoftheunhealthinessoftheplace.

Relievedfromherdutiesasnurse,Ratanagaintookupheroldplaceoutsidethedoor.Butshenolongerheardthesameoldcall.Shewouldsometimespeepinsidefurtivelytofindthepostmastersittingonhis chair, or stretchedonhisbed, and staringabsent-mindedlyintotheair.WhileRatanwasawaitinghercall,thepostmasterwasawaitingareplytohisapplication.Thegirl readherold lessonsoverandoveragain,—hergreat fearwas lest,whenthecallcame,shemightbefoundwantinginthedoubleconsonants.Atlast,afteraweek, the call did come one evening.With an overflowing heartRatan rushed into theroomwithher—“Wereyoucallingme,Dada?”

Thepostmastersaid:“Iamgoingawayto-morrow,Ratan.”

“Whereareyougoing,Dada?”

“Iamgoinghome.”

“Whenwillyoucomeback?”

“Iamnotcomingback.”

Ratanaskednootherquestion.Thepostmaster,ofhisownaccord,wentontotellherthathisapplicationforatransferhadbeenrejected,sohehadresignedhispostandwasgoinghome.

Foralongtimeneitherofthemspokeanotherword.Thelampwentondimlyburning,andfromaleakinonecornerofthethatchwaterdrippedsteadilyintoanearthenvesselonthefloorbeneathit.

AfterawhileRatanrose,andwentofftothekitchentopreparethemeal;butshewasnotsoquickaboutitasonotherdays.Manynewthingstothinkofhadenteredherlittlebrain.Whenthepostmasterhadfinishedhissupper,thegirlsuddenlyaskedhim:“Dada,willyoutakemetoyourhome?”

The postmaster laughed. “What an idea!” said he; but he did not think it necessary toexplaintothegirlwhereinlaytheabsurdity.

That whole night, in her waking and in her dreams, the postmaster’s laughing replyhauntedher—“Whatanidea!”

Ongettingup in themorning, thepostmaster foundhisbath ready.Hehad stuck tohisCalcuttahabitofbathinginwaterdrawnandkeptinpitchers,insteadoftakingaplungeintheriveraswasthecustomofthevillage.Forsomereasonorother,thegirlcouldnotask

him about the time of his departure, so she had fetched the water from the river longbeforesunrise,thatitshouldbereadyasearlyashemightwantit.Afterthebathcameacall for Ratan. She entered noiselessly, and looked silently into her master’s face fororders.Themastersaid:“Youneednotbeanxiousaboutmygoingaway,Ratan;Ishalltellmy successor to look after you.” These words were kindly meant, no doubt: butinscrutablearethewaysofawoman’sheart!

Ratanhadbornemanyascoldingfromhermasterwithoutcomplaint,butthesekindwordsshecouldnotbear.Sheburstoutweeping,andsaid:“No,no,youneednottellanybodyanythingatallaboutme;Idon’twanttostayonhere.”

Thepostmasterwasdumbfounded.HehadneverseenRatanlikethisbefore.

Thenewincumbentdulyarrived,andthepostmaster,havinggivenovercharge,preparedtodepart.JustbeforestartinghecalledRatanandsaid:“Hereissomethingforyou;Ihopeitwill keepyou for some little time.”Hebroughtout fromhispocket thewholeofhismonth’s salary, retainingonly a trifle forhis travelling expenses.ThenRatan fell at hisfeetandcried:“Oh,Dada,Iprayyou,don’tgivemeanything,don’t inanywaytroubleaboutme,”andthensheranawayoutofsight.

Thepostmasterheavedasigh,tookuphiscarpetbag,puthisumbrellaoverhisshoulder,and,accompaniedbyamancarryinghismany-colouredtintrunk,heslowlymadefortheboat.

Whenhegotinandtheboatwasunderway,andtherain-swollenriver,likeastreamoftearswelling up from the earth, swirled and sobbed at her bows, then he felt a pain atheart; the grief-stricken face of a village girl seemed to represent for him the greatunspokenpervadinggriefofMotherEarthherself.Atone timehehadan impulse togoback,andbringawayalongwithhimthatlonesomewaif,forsakenoftheworld.Butthewindhadjustfilledthesails,theboathadgotwellintothemiddleoftheturbulentcurrent,andalreadythevillagewasleftbehind,anditsoutlyingburning-groundcameinsight.

So the traveller, borne on the breast of the swift-flowing river, consoled himself withphilosophicalreflectionsonthenumberlessmeetingsandpartingsgoingonintheworld—ondeath,thegreatparting,fromwhichnonereturns.

ButRatanhadnophilosophy.Shewaswanderingaboutthepostofficeinafloodoftears.ItmaybethatshehadstillalurkinghopeinsomecornerofherheartthatherDadawouldreturn,andthatiswhyshecouldnottearherselfaway.Alasforourfoolishhumannature!Itsfondmistakesarepersistent.Thedictatesofreasontakealongtimetoasserttheirownsway.Thesurestproofsmeanwhilearedisbelieved.Falsehopeisclungtowithallone’smightandmain,tilladaycomeswhenithassuckedtheheartdryanditforciblybreaksthroughitsbondsanddeparts.After thatcomesthemiseryofawakening,andthenonceagainthelongingtogetbackintothemazeofthesamemistakes.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

indigo.Thiswordhasaveryinterestinghistory.Itmeans“Indian.”Thecelebrateddark-blue dye came from India. This dye was first known to the Greeks who called it“Indikon,”thentotheLatinswhocalleditIndicum,thentotheItaliansandSpaniards

whocalleditIndigo.ItwasintroducedintoEnglandfromItalybyartistsandpainterswhokepttheItalianword“indigo”withoutchange.

genie. There is a Latin word “genius,” meaning originally a spirit inhabiting a specialplace.ItisfromthiswordthatourEnglishcommonnoun“genius”istaken,meaninga specially gifted or inspired person, e.g. “a man of genius.” But in the ArabianNights a completely different Arabic word is found, viz. “jinn” with its feminineform“jinni.”Thiswaswritten inEnglish“genie”andwasconfusedwith theword“genius.”The plural of geniewhen used in this sense is genii,which is really thepluraloftheLatinwordgenius.

macadamised.This is quite amodernword inEnglish. It comes from thenameof theinventorofthiskindofroad-paving,whowasMr.J.L.Macadam.Hediscoveredthatdifferent layersofsmallstonerolled in,oneafter theother,canstand thewearandtearoftraffic.Wehavesimilarwordsfrompropernames.Compare,boycott,burke,lynch,etc.

allude.From theLatin “ludere,” toplay.Compareprelude, interlude,delude, collusion,elude,elusive,allusion.

guava.ThiswordcameintoEnglishfromtheSpanish.It isofgreat interest totracethenamesofthefruitsinEnglishbacktotheirsources,e.g.currant,comesfromCorinth;mango from the Portuguesemanga (from the Tamil “mankay” fruit-tree); orangefromtheArabic“narang”andHindustani“narangi”;apricotfromArabical-burquq;datefromtheGreek“daktulos,”meaning“finger.”

alphabet.ThetwofirstlettersintheGreeklanguagearecalled“alpha”and“beta.”Thenthewholeseriesofletterswasnamedanalphabetaoralphabet.

consonants. From the Latin “sonare,”meaning to sound. Consonants are letters which“soundwith”thevowels.Comparedissonant,assonance,sonant,sonorous,sonata.

canal. This is one example of a word taken into English from the Latin, through theFrench, having a companionword inEnglish.The companionword in this case ischannel.Comparecavalryandchivalry,legalandloyal,guardandward.

dumbfounded.ThiswordhascomeintotheEnglishlanguagefromcommonspeech.Itisamixtureof theEnglishworddumb,and theLatin“fundere,”“topour”whichwefindinconfound,profound,confusion.ItisnotoftenthatwegetsuchhybridwordsinearlierEnglish,thoughto-daytheyarebecomingcommoninthecaseofnewwordssuchasmotorcar,speedometer,airplane,waterplane,automobile,etc.TheoldruleusedtobethatacompoundwordinEnglishshouldhavebothitspartsfromthesamelanguage (e.g. both parts Latin, or Greek, or Saxon, etc.). But this rule is rapidlybreakingdownincommonpracticeasnewwordsrushintotheEnglishlanguagetoexpressallthenewdiscoveriesofscience.WehaveEnglishandGreekrootsmixed(suchasairplane),andLatinandGreekrootsmixed(suchasoleograph).

THECASTAWAY

VIII

THECASTAWAY

TOWARDSeveningthestormwasatitsheight.Fromtheterrificdownpourofrain,thecrashofthunder,andtherepeatedflashesoflightning,youmightthinkthatabattleofthegodsand demonswas raging in the skies.Black cloudswaved like the Flags ofDoom.TheGangeswas lashedintoafury,andthe treesof thegardensoneitherbankswayedfromsidetosidewithsighsandgroans.

InaclosedroomofoneoftheriversidehousesatChandernagore,ahusbandandhiswifewere seated on a bed spread on the floor, intently discussing.An earthen lamp burnedbesidethem.

Thehusband,Sharat,wassaying:“Iwishyouwouldstayonafewdaysmore;youwouldthenbeabletoreturnhomequitestrongagain.”

Thewife,Kiran,wassaying:“Ihavequiterecoveredalready.Itwillnot,cannotpossibly,domeanyharmtogohomenow.”

EverymarriedpersonwillatonceunderstandthattheconversationwasnotquitesobriefasIhavereportedit.Thematterwasnotdifficult,but theargumentsforandagainstdidnot advance it towards a solution. Like a rudderless boat, the discussion kept turningroundandroundthesamepoint;andat last threatened tobeoverwhelmedinafloodoftears.

Sharatsaid:“Thedoctorthinksyoushouldstophereafewdayslonger.”

Kiranreplied:“Yourdoctorknowseverything!”

“Well,”saidSharat,“youknowthatjustnowallsortsofillnessesareabroad.Youwoulddowelltostophereamonthortwomore.”

“AndatthismomentIsupposeeveryoneinthisplaceisperfectlywell!”

What had happened was this: Kiran was a universal favourite with her family andneighbours, so that, when she fell seriously ill, they were all anxious. The villagewiseacresthoughtitshamelessforherhusbandtomakesomuchfussaboutamerewifeandeventosuggestachangeofair,andaskedifSharatsupposedthatnowomanhadeverbeenillbefore,orwhetherhehadfoundoutthatthefolkoftheplacetowhichhemeanttotakeherwereimmortal.DidheimaginethatthewritofFatedidnotrunthere?ButSharatandhismotherturnedadeafeartothem,thinkingthatthelittlelifeoftheirdarlingwasofgreater importance than theunitedwisdomof avillage.People arewont to reason thuswhen danger threatens their loved ones. So Sharat went to Chandernagore, and Kiranrecovered, thoughshewasstillveryweak.Therewasapinched lookonherfacewhichfilledthebeholderwithpity,andmadehishearttremble,ashethoughthownarrowlyshehadescapeddeath.

Kiranwasfondofsocietyandamusement;thelonelinessofherriversidevilladidnotsuit

heratall.Therewasnothingtodo,therewerenointerestingneighbours,andshehatedtobe busy all day with medicine and dieting. There was no fun in measuring doses andmakingfomentations.Suchwasthesubjectdiscussedintheirclosedroomonthisstormyevening.

SolongasKirandeignedtoargue,therewasachanceofafairfight.Whensheceasedtoreply,andwithatossofherheaddisconsolatelylookedtheotherway,thepoormanwasdisarmed.Hewasonthepointofsurrenderingunconditionallywhenaservantshoutedamessagethroughtheshutdoor.

Sharatgotupandonopeningthedoorlearntthataboathadbeenupsetinthestorm,andthatoneof theoccupants, ayoungBrahminboy,had succeeded in swimmingashoreattheirgarden.

Kiranwasatonceherownsweetselfandsettoworktogetoutsomedryclothesfortheboy.Shethenwarmedacupofmilkandinvitedhimtoherroom.

The boy had long curly hair, big expressive eyes, and no sign yet of hair on the face.Kiran,aftergettinghimtodrinksomemilkaskedhimallabouthimself.

HetoldherthathisnamewasNilkanta,andthathebelongedtoatheatricaltroupe.Theywerecomingtoplayinaneighbouringvillawhentheboathadsuddenlyfounderedinthestorm.Hehadnoideawhathadbecomeofhiscompanions.Hewasagoodswimmerandhadjustmanagedtoreachtheshore.

The boy stayedwith them.His narrow escape from a terrible deathmadeKiran take awarminterest inhim.Sharat thought theboy’sappearanceat thismomentratheragoodthing,ashiswifewouldnowhavesomethingtoamuseher,andmightbepersuadedtostayonforsometimelonger.Hermother-in-law,too,waspleasedattheprospectofprofitingtheirBrahminguestbyherkindness.AndNilkantahimselfwasdelightedat hisdoubleescape from hismaster and from the otherworld, aswell as at finding a home in thiswealthyfamily.

But in a short while Sharat and his mother changed their opinion, and longed for hisdeparture.TheboyfoundasecretpleasureinsmokingSharat’shookahs;hewouldcalmlygooffinpouringrainwithSharat’sbestsilkumbrellaforastrollthroughthevillage,andmakefriendswithallwhomhemet.Moreover,hehadgotholdofamongrelvillagedogwhichhepettedsorecklesslythatitcameindoorswithmuddypaws,andlefttokensofitsvisitonSharat’sspotlessbed.Thenhegatheredabouthimadevotedbandofboysofallsortsandsizes,andtheresultwas thatnotasolitarymangoin theneighbourhoodhadachanceofripeningthatseason.

ThereisnodoubtthatKiranhadahandinspoilingtheboy.Sharatoftenwarnedheraboutit,butshewouldnotlistentohim.ShemadeadandyofhimwithSharat’scast-offclothes,andgavehimnewonesalso.Andbecauseshefeltdrawntowardshim,andhadacuriositytoknowmoreabouthim,shewasconstantlycallinghimtoherownroom.AfterherbathandmiddaymealKiranwouldbeseatedon thebedsteadwithherbetel-leafboxbyherside; andwhile hermaid combed anddriedher hair,Nilkantawould stand in front andrecitepiecesoutofhisrepertorywithappropriategestureandsong,hiself-lockswavingwildly. Thus the long afternoon hours passed merrily away. Kiran would often try topersuadeSharattositwithherasoneoftheaudience,butSharat,whohadtakenacordial

dislike to theboy, refused;norcouldNilkantadohisparthalfsowellwhenSharatwasthere.Hismotherwouldsometimesbeluredbythehopeofhearingsacrednamesintherecitation;butloveofhermid-daysleepspeedilyovercamedevotion,andshelaylappedindreams.

TheboyoftengothisearsboxedandpulledbySharat,butasthiswasnothingtowhathehadbeenusedtoasamemberof thetroupe,hedidnotmindit in theleast.Inhisshortexperienceoftheworldhehadcometotheconclusionthat,astheearthconsistedoflandand water, so human life was made up of eatings and beatings, and that the beatingslargelypredominated.

ItwashardtotellNilkanta’sage.Ifitwasaboutfourteenorfifteen,thenhisfacewastoooldforhisyears;ifseventeenoreighteen,thenitwastooyoung.Hewaseitheramantooearlyoraboytoolate.Thefactwasthat,joiningthetheatricalbandwhenveryyoung,hehad played the parts of Radhika, Damayanti, and Sita, and a thoughtful Providence soarranged things that he grew to the exact stature that his manager required, and thengrowthceased.

SinceeveryonesawhowsmallNilkantawas,andhehimselffeltsmall,hedidnotreceiveduerespectforhisyears.Causes,naturalandartificial,combinedtomakehimsometimesseemimmatureforseventeenyears,andatothertimesamereladoffourteenbutfartooknowingevenforseventeen.Andasnosignofhairappearedonhisface, theconfusionbecamegreater.Eitherbecausehesmokedorbecauseheusedlanguagebeyondhisyears,hislipspuckeredintolinesthatshowedhimtobeoldandhard;butinnocenceandyouthshone in his large eyes. I fancy that his heart remained young, but the hot glare ofpublicityhadbeenaforcing-housethatripeneduntimelyhisoutwardaspect.

InthequietshelterofSharat’shouseandgardenatChandernagore,Naturehadleisuretoworkherwayunimpeded.Nilkantahadlingeredinakindofunnaturalyouth,butnowhesilently and swiftly overpassed that stage. His seventeen or eighteen years came toadequate revelation.No one observed the change, and its first signwas this, thatwhenKirantreatedhimlikeaboy,hefeltashamed.WhenthegayKiranonedayproposedthatheshouldplaythepartoflady’scompanion,theideaofwoman’sdresshurthim,thoughhe could not say why. So now, when she called for him to act over again his oldcharacters,hedisappeared.

ItneveroccurredtoNilkantathathewasevennownotmuchmorethanalad-of-all-workin a strolling company. He even made up his mind to pick up a little education fromSharat’s factor. But, because he was the pet of his master’s wife, the factor could notendurethesightofhim.Also,hisrestlesstrainingmadeitimpossibleforhimtokeephismind long engaged; sooneror later, the alphabet did amistydancebeforehis eyes.Hewould sit long enoughwith an open book on his lap, leaning against a champak bushbesidetheGanges.Thewavessighedbelow,boatsfloatedpast,birdsflittedandtwitteredrestlesslyabove.Whatthoughtspassedthroughhismindashelookeddownonthatbookhealoneknew,ifindeedhedidknow.Heneveradvancedfromonewordtoanother,butthegloriousthought, thathewasactuallyreadingabook,filledhissoulwithexultation.Wheneveraboatwentby,heliftedhisbook,andpretendedtobereadinghard,shoutingatthetopofhisvoice.Buthisenergydroppedassoonastheaudiencewasgone.

Formerlyhesanghissongsautomatically,butnowtheir tunesstirred inhismind.Theirwordswereoflittleimportandfulloftriflingalliteration.Eventhefeeblemeaningtheyhadwasbeyondhiscomprehension;yetwhenhesang—

Twice-bornbird,ah!whereforestirredTowrongourroyallady?

Goose,ah,saywhywiltthouslayHerinforestshady?

thenhe feltas if transported toanotherworldand to fearother folk.This familiarearthandhisownpoorlifebecamemusic,andhewastransformed.Thattaleofthegooseandtheking’sdaughterflunguponthemirrorofhismindapictureofsurpassingbeauty.Itisimpossible to say what he imagined himself to be, but the destitute little slave of thetheatricaltroupefadedfromhismemory.

Whenwitheveningthechildofwantliesdown,dirtyandhungry,inhissqualidhome,andhearsofprinceandprincessandfabledgold,theninthedarkhovelwithitsdimflickeringcandle, hismind springs free from its bonds of poverty andmisery andwalks in freshbeautyandglowingraiment,strongbeyondallfearofhindrance,throughthatfairyrealmwhereallispossible.

Even so, thisdrudgeofwanderingplayers fashionedhimself andhisworldanew,ashemovedinspiritamidhissongs.Thelappingwater,rustlingleaves,andcallingbirds;thegoddesswhohadgivensheltertohim,thehelpless,theGod-forsaken;hergracious,lovelyface,herexquisitearmswiththeirshiningbangles,herrosyfeetassoftasflower-petals;allthesebysomemagicbecameonewiththemusicofhissong.Whenthesingingended,themirage faded, and theNilkantaof the stage appearedagain,withhiswild elf-locks.Fresh from thecomplaintsofhisneighbour, theownerof thedespoiledmango-orchard,Sharatwould come and box his ears and cuff him.The boyNilkanta, themisleader ofadoringyouths,wentforthoncemore,tomakeevernewmischiefbylandandwaterandinthebranchesthatareabovetheearth.

Shortlyafter theadventofNilkanta,Sharat’syoungerbrother,Satish,cametospendhiscollegevacationwiththem.Kiranwashugelypleasedatfindingafreshoccupation.SheandSatishwereofthesameage,andthetimepassedpleasantlyingamesandquarrelsandreconciliationsandlaughterandeventears.Suddenlyshewouldclasphimovertheeyesfrombehindwithvermilion-stainedhands,orshewouldwrite“monkey”onhisback,orelseshewouldboltthedooronhimfromtheoutsideamidstpealsoflaughter.Satishinhisturn did not take things lying down; he would steal her keys and rings; he would putpepperamongherbetel,hewouldtiehertothebedwhenshewasnotlooking.

Meanwhile, heaven only knowswhat possessed poor Nilkanta. Hewas suddenly filledwith a bitterness which he must avenge on somebody or something. He thrashed hisdevoted boy-followers for no fault, and sent them away crying.Hewould kick his petmongreltillitmadetheskiesresoundwithitswhinings.Whenhewentoutforawalk,hewouldlitterhispathwithtwigsandleavesbeatenfromtheroadsideshrubswithhiscane.

Kiran liked to see people enjoying good fare. Nilkanta had an immense capacity foreating, and never refused a good thing however often itwas offered. SoKiran liked tosendforhimtohavehismealsinherpresence,andplyhimwithdelicacies,happyinthebliss of seeing thisBrahminboy eat to satiety.AfterSatish’s arrival shehadmuch lessspare time on her hands, and was seldom present when Nilkanta’s meals were served.Before,herabsencemadenodifferencetotheboy’sappetite,andhewouldnotrisetillhe

haddrainedhiscupofmilkandrinseditthoroughlywithwater.

Butnow,ifKiranwasnotpresent toaskhimtotrythisandthat,hewasmiserable,andnothingtastedright.Hewouldgetup,withouteatingmuch,andsaytotheserving-maidina choking voice: “I am not hungry.” He thought in imagination that the news of hisrepeated refusal, “I am not hungry,” would reach Kiran; he pictured her concern, andhopedthatshewouldsendforhim,andpresshimtoeat.Butnothingofthesorthappened.Kiran never knew and never sent for him; and themaid finishedwhatever he left. Hewould thenputout the lampinhis room,and throwhimselfonhisbed in thedarkness,buryinghishead in thepillowinaparoxysmofsobs.Whatwashisgrievance?Againstwhom?Andfromwhomdidheexpectredress?Atlast,whennooneelsecame,MotherSleepsoothedwithhersoftcaressesthewoundedheartofthemotherlesslad.

Nilkanta came to the unshakable conviction that Satish was poisoning Kiran’s mindagainsthim.IfKiranwasabsent-minded,andhadnotherusualsmile,hewouldjumptotheconclusionthatsometrickofSatishhadmadeherangrywithhim.Hetooktoprayingto thegods,withall the fervourofhishate, tomakehimat thenext rebirthSatish,andSatishhim.HehadanideathataBrahmin’swrathcouldneverbeinvain;andthemorehetriedtoconsumeSatishwiththefireofhiscurses,themoredidhisownheartburnwithinhim.AndupstairshewouldhearSatishlaughingandjokingwithhissister-in-law.

Nilkanta never dared openly to show his enmity to Satish. But he would contrive ahundredpettywaysofcausinghimannoyance.WhenSatishwentforaswimintheriver,and lefthissoapon thestepsof thebathing-place,oncomingbackfor ithewouldfindthatithaddisappeared.Oncehefoundhisfavouritestripedtunicfloatingpasthimonthewater,andthoughtithadbeenblownawaybythewind.

One dayKiran, desiring to entertain Satish, sent forNilkanta to recite as usual, but hestoodthereingloomysilence.Quitesurprised,Kiranaskedhimwhatwasthematter.Buthe remained silent.Andwhen again pressed by her to repeat some particular favouritepieceofhers,heanswered:“Idon’tremember,”andwalkedaway.

Atlastthetimecamefortheirreturnhome.Everybodywasbusypackingup.Satishwasgoingwiththem.ButtoNilkantanobodysaidaword.Thequestionwhetherhewastogoornotseemedtohaveoccurredtonobody.

Thesubject,asamatteroffact,hadbeenraisedbyKiran,whohadproposedtotakehimalong with them. But her husband and his mother and brother had all objected sostrenuously that she let thematterdrop.Acoupleofdaysbefore theywere to start, shesentfortheboy,andwithkindwordsadvisedhimtogobacktohisownhome.

Somanydayshadhefeltneglectedthatthistouchofkindnesswastoomuchforhim;heburstintotears.Kiran’seyeswerealsobrimmingover.Shewasfilledwithremorseatthethoughtthatshehadcreatedatieofaffection,whichcouldnotbepermanent.

ButSatishwasmuch annoyed at the blubberingof this overgrownboy. “Whydoes thefool stand therehowling insteadof speaking?” saidhe.WhenKiranscoldedhimforanunfeelingcreature,hereplied:“Mydearsister,youdonotunderstand.Youaretoogoodandtrustful.ThisfellowturnsupfromtheLordknowswhere,andistreatedlikeaking.Naturallythetigerhasnowishtobecomeamouseagain.Andhehasevidentlydiscoveredthatthereisnothinglikeatearortwotosoftenyourheart.”

Nilkantahurriedlyleftthespot.HefelthewouldliketobeaknifetocutSatishtopieces;aneedletopiercehimthroughandthrough;afiretoburnhimtoashes.ButSatishwasnotevenscared.Itwasonlyhisownheartthatbledandbled.

Satish had brought with him from Calcutta a grand inkstand. The inkpot was set in amother-of-pearl boat drawn by aGerman-silver goose supporting a penholder. Itwas agreatfavouriteofhis,andhecleaneditcarefullyeverydaywithanoldsilkhandkerchief.Kiranwouldlaugh,andtappingthesilverbird’sbeakwouldsay—

Twice-bornbird,ah!whereforestirredTowrongourroyallady?

andtheusualwarofwordswouldbreakoutbetweenherandherbrother-in-law.

Thedaybeforetheyweretostart,theinkstandwasmissingandcouldnowherebefound.Kiran smiled, and said: “Brother-in-law, your goose has flown off to look for yourDamayanti.”

But Satishwas in a great rage.Hewas certain thatNilkanta had stolen it—for severalpeople said they had seen him prowling about the room the night before. He had theaccused brought before him.Kiran alsowas there. “You have stolenmy inkstand, youthief!”heblurtedout.“Bringitbackatonce.”NilkantahadalwaystakenpunishmentfromSharat,deservedorundeserved,withperfectequanimity.But,whenhewascalledathiefinKiran’spresence,hiseyesblazedwithafierceanger,hisbreastswelled,andhisthroatchoked.IfSatishhadsaidanotherword,hewouldhaveflownathimlikeawildcatandusedhisnailslikeclaws.

Kiranwasgreatlydistressedatthescene,andtakingtheboyintoanotherroomsaidinhersweet,kindway:“Nilu,ifyoureallyhavetakenthatinkstandgiveittomequietly,andIshallseethatnoonesaysanotherwordtoyouaboutit.”Bigtearscourseddowntheboy’scheeks,tillatlasthehidhisfaceinhishands,andweptbitterly.Kirancamebackfromtheroomandsaid:“IamsureNilkantahasnot taken the inkstand.”SharatandSatishwereequallypositivethatnootherthanNilkantacouldhavedoneit.

ButKiransaiddeterminedly:“Never.”

Sharatwantedtocross-examinetheboy,buthiswiferefusedtoallowit.

ThenSatishsuggestedthathisroomandboxshouldbesearched.AndKiransaid:“IfyoudaredosuchathingIwillneverforgiveyou.Youshallnotspyonthepoorinnocentboy.”And as she spoke, her wonderful eyes filled with tears. That settled the matter andeffectuallypreventedanyfurthermolestationofNilkanta.

Kiran’sheartoverflowedwithpityat thisattemptedoutrageonahomeless lad.Shegottwonewsuitsofclothesandapairofshoes,andwiththeseandabanknoteinherhandshequietly went into Nilkanta’s room in the evening. She intended to put these partingpresentsintohisboxasasurprise.Theboxitselfhadbeenhergift.

Fromherbunchofkeyssheselectedonethatfittedandnoiselesslyopenedthebox.Itwassojumbledupwithoddsandendsthat thenewclotheswouldnotgoin.Soshethoughtshehadbetter takeeverythingoutandpack thebox forhim.At firstknives, tops,kite-flyingreels,bambootwigs,polishedshellsforpeelinggreenmangoes,bottomsofbroken

tumblersandsuch like thingsdear toaboy’sheartwerediscovered.Then therecamealayeroflinen,cleanandotherwise.Andfromunderthelinenthereemergedthemissinginkstand,gooseandall.

Kiran,withflushedface,satdownhelplesslywiththeinkstandinherhand,puzzledandwondering.

Inthemeantime,NilkantahadcomeintotheroomfrombehindwithoutKiranknowingit.HehadseenthewholethingandthoughtthatKiranhadcomelikeathieftocatchhiminhisthieving,—andthathisdeedwasout.Howcouldheeverhopetoconvinceherthathewasnota thief,and thatonlyrevengehadpromptedhimto take the inkstand,whichhemeanttothrowintotheriverat thefirstchance?Inaweakmomenthehadput it in thebox instead.“Hewasnota thief,”hisheartcriedout,“nota thief!”Thenwhatwashe?Whatcouldhesay?Thathehadstolen,andyethewasnotathief?HecouldneverexplaintoKiranhowgrievouslywrongshewas.Andthen,howcouldhebearthethoughtthatshehadtriedtospyonhim?

At lastKiranwithadeepsigh replaced the inkstand in thebox,and,as if shewere thethiefherself,covereditupwiththelinenandthetrinketsastheywerebefore;andatthetopsheplacedthepresents,togetherwiththebanknotewhichshehadbroughtforhim.

Thenextdaytheboywasnowheretobefound.Thevillagershadnotseenhim;thepolicecoulddiscovernotraceofhim.SaidSharat:“Now,asamatterofcuriosity,letushavealookathisbox.”ButKiranwasobstinateinherrefusaltoallowthattobedone.

Shehadtheboxbroughtuptoherownroom;andtakingouttheinkstandalone,shethrewitintotheriver.

Thewholefamilywenthome.Inadaythegardenbecamedesolate.AndonlythatstarvingmongrelofNilkanta’sremainedprowlingalongtheriver-bank,whiningandwhiningasifitsheartwouldbreak.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

favourite. A certain number of words such as honour, colour, favour,ardour, fervourhave come into English through the French from the Latin. There is a constanttendencyto-dayinmodernEnglishtoleaveouttheletter“u”andspellcolor,favor,etc.ButthismovementhasnotyetgainedmuchgroundinEngland.

wiseacres.ThisformoriginallycomesfromtheDutch.Theending“acres”isacorruptionof the Dutch “seggen” which is the same as the English to say. The word isequivalentto“wise-sayers.”

deign.ThisisawordwhichcomesthroughtheFrenchfromtheLatin“dignus,”meaningworthy.Compareindignant,dignitary,condign,indignity.

troupe.Anexampleoftwowords,withslightlydifferentmeanings,comingfromoneandthesameFrenchword.TheFrenchwordis“troupe,”meaningacompany.ThisformisusedinEnglishforacompanyofplayersoractors.But theform“troop”isusedchieflyofsoldiers.

automatically. This is a modern English word from the Greek “autos,” meaning self.

Compareautobiography,autonomy, autocracy.Modern English is drawing largelyfromtheGreeklanguageforitsnewwords.

alliteration.TheLatinwordforletteris“littera.”FromthiswegetmanyEnglishwords,e.g.letter,literate,literal,literature,illiterate,obliterate,transliterate,etc.

mirage.FromtheLatin“mirari,”towonder.Comparemirror,miracle,admire.Thisisoneof the words in English which keeps the old French accent on the last syllable—miráge.ThetendencyinEnglishisalwaystothrowtheaccentbackasfaraspossible.Manywords have changed their pronunciation in the course of time.Obdurate, inMilton’s time, was pronounced obdúrate, but to-day it is pronounced óbdurate.TrafalgarwaspronouncedTrafalgárlastcentury.NowwepronounceitTrafálgar.

THESONOFRASHMANI

IX

THESONOFRASHMANI

I

KALIPADA‘smotherwasRashmani,butshehadtodothedutyofthefatheraswell,becausewhenbothoftheparentsare“mother”thenitisbadforthechild.Bhavani,herhusband,waswhollyincapableofkeepinghischildrenunderdiscipline.Toknowwhyhewasbentonspoilinghisson,youmusthearsomethingoftheformerhistoryofthefamily.

BhavaniwasborninthefamoushouseofSaniari.Hisfather,AbhayaCharan,hadason,ShyamaCharan,byhisfirstwife.Whenhemarriedagainafterherdeathhehadhimselfpassedthemarriageableage,andhisnewfather-in-lawtookadvantageoftheweaknessofhispositiontohaveaspecialportionofhisestatesettledonhisdaughter.Inthiswayhewassatisfiedthatproperprovisionhadbeenmade,ifhisdaughtershouldbecomeawidowearlyinlife.ShewouldbeindependentofthecharityofShyamaCharan.

Thefirstpartofhisanticipationcametrue.Forverysoonafterthebirthofason,whomshe called Bhavani, Abhaya Charan died. It gave the father-in-law great peace andconsolation, as he looked forward to his own death, to know that his daughter wasproperlylookedafter.

ShyamaCharanwas quite grown up. In fact his own eldest boywas a year older thanBhavani.Hebroughtupthelatterwithhisownson.Indoingthishenevertookafarthingfromthepropertyallottedtohisstep-mother,andeveryyearhegotareceiptfromheraftersubmittingdetailed accounts.His honesty in this affair surprised the neighbourhood. Infact they thought thatsuchhonestywasanothernameforfoolishness.Theydidnot liketheideaofadivisionbeingmadeintheundividedancestralproperty.IfShyamaCharaninsome underhandmanner had been able to annul the dowry, his neighbourswould haveadmired his sagacity; and there were good advisers ready to hand who could haverenderedhimmaterialaidintheattainmentofsuchanobject.ButShyamaCharan,inspiteoftheriskofcripplinghispatrimony,strictlysetasidethedowrywhichcametotheshareofhisstep-mother;andthewidow,VrajaSundari,beingnaturallyaffectionateandtrustful,had every confidence in ShyamaCharanwhom she trusted as her own son.More thanonce she had chided him for being so particular about her portion of the property. Shewouldtellhimthat,asshewasnotgoingtotakeherpropertywithherwhenshedied,andasitwouldinanycasereverttothefamily,itwasnotnecessarytobesoverystrictaboutrenderingaccounts.Butheneverlistenedtoher.

ShyamaCharanwasaseveredisciplinarianbyhabitandhischildrenwereperfectlyawareofthefact.ButBhavanihadeverypossiblefreedom,andthisgaverisetotheimpressionthathewasmorepartialtohisstep-brotherthantohisownsons.ButBhavani’seducationwassadlyneglectedandhecompletelyreliedonShyamaCharanforthemanagementofhis share of the property. He merely had to sign documents occasionally without everspending a thought on their contents. On the other hand, Tarapada, the eldest son of

ShyamaCharan,wasquiteanexpertinthemanagementoftheestate,havingtoactasanassistanttohisfather.

After thedeathofShyamaCharan,Tarapadasaid toBhavani, “Uncle,wemustnot livetogetheraswehavedoneforsolong,becausesometriflingmisunderstandingmaycomeatanymomentandcauseutterdisruption.”

Bhavanineverimagined,eveninhisdream,thatadaymightcomewhenhewouldhavetomanagehisownaffairs.Theworldinwhichhehadbeenbornandbredeverappearedtohimcompleteandentire in itself. Itwasan incomprehensiblecalamity tohimthat therecould be a dividing line somewhere and that thisworld of his could be split into two.WhenhefoundthatTarapadawas immovableand indifferent to thegriefanddishonourthatsuchastepwouldbringtothefamily,hebegantorackhisbraintofindouthowthepropertycouldbedividedwiththeleastpossiblestrain.

Tarapadashowedsurpriseathisuncle’sanxietyandsaidthattherewasnoneedtotroubleaboutthis,becausethedivisionhadalreadybeenmadeinthelife-timeofhisgrandfather.Bhavanisaidinamazement,“ButIknownothingofthis!”Tarapadasaidinanswer,“Thenyoumustbetheonlyoneinthewholeneighbourhoodwhodoesnot.For,lestthereshouldberuinouslitigationafterhehadgone,mygrandfatherhadalreadygivenaportionoftheproperty toyourmother.”Bhavani thought thisnotunlikelyandasked,“Whatabout thehouse?”Tarapadasaid,“Ifyouwish,youcankeepthishousetoyourselfandweshallbecontentedwiththeotherhouseinthedistricttown.”

As Bhavani had never been to this town-house, he had neither knowledge of it, noraffection for it. He was astounded at the magnanimity of Tarapada for so easilyrelinquishinghis right to the house in the villagewhere theyhadbeenbrought up.ButwhenBhavani toldeverything tohismother, shestruckher foreheadwithherhandandsaid: “This is preposterous!What I got frommy husband was my own dowry and itsincome is very small. I do not seewhy you should be deprived of your share in yourfather’sproperty.”

Bhavani said, “Tarapada is quite positive that his grandfather never gave us any thingexceptthisland.”

VrajaSundariwasastonishedandinformedhersonthatherhusbandhadmadetwocopiesofhiswill,oneofwhichwasstilllyinginherownbox.Theboxwasopenedanditwasfound that therewasonly thedeedofgift for thepropertybelonging to themotherandnothingelse.Thecopyofthewillhadbeentakenout.

Thehelpofadviserswassought.ThemanwhocametotheirrescuewasBagala,thesonoftheirfamilyguru.Itwastheprofessionofthefathertolookafterthespiritualneedsofthevillage; thematerial sidewas left to the son.The twoof themhaddividedbetweenthemselves the other world and this. Whatever might be the result for others, theythemselveshadnothingtosufferfromthisdivision.Bagalasaidthat,evenifthewillwasmissing,thesharesintheancestralpropertymustbeequal,asbetweenthebrothers.

Justatthistime,acopyofawillmadeitsappearancesupportingtheclaimsoftheotherside.InthisdocumenttherewasnomentionofBhavaniandthewholepropertywasgiventothegrandsonsatthetimewhennosonwasborntoBhavani.WithBagalaashiscaptainBhavanisetoutonhisvoyageacrosstheperilousseaoflitigation.Whenhisvesselatlast

reached harbour his fundswere nearly exhausted and the ancestral propertywas in thehandsoftheotherparty.Thelandwhichwasgiventohismotherhaddwindledtosuchanextent,thatitcouldbarelygivethemshelter,orkeepupthefamilydignity.ThenTarapadawentawaytothedistricttownandtheynevermetagain.

II

ShyamaCharan’streacherypiercedtheheartofthewidowlikeanassassin’sknife.Totheendofher life,almosteverydayshewouldheaveasighandsaythatGodwouldneversuffer such an injustice to be done. She was quite firm in her faith when she said toBhavani,“Idonotknowyourlaworyourlawcourts,butIamcertainthatmyhusband’struewillandtestamentwillsomedayberecovered.Youwillfinditagain.”

BecauseBhavaniwashelplessinworldlymatterssuchassurancesasthesegavehimgreatconsolation. He settled down in his inactivity, certain in his own mind that his piousmother’s prophecy could never remain unfulfilled. After his mother’s death his faithbecameallthestronger,sincethememoryofherpietyacquiredgreaterradiancethroughdeath’smystery.Hefeltquiteunconcernedaboutthestressoftheirpovertywhichbecamemore and more formidable as the years went by. The necessities of life and themaintenanceof family traditions,—theseseemed tohimlikeplayactingona temporarystage,notrealthings.Whenhisformerexpensiveclothingwasoutwornandhehadtobuycheapmaterials in the shop, this amusedhimalmost like a joke.He smiledand said tohimself,—“These people do not know that this is only a passing phase ofmy fortune.Their surprisewill be all thegreater,when someday I shall celebrate thePujaFestivalwithunwontedmagnificence.”

This certainty of future prodigality was so clear to his mind’s eye that present penuryescapedhisattention.Hisservant,Noto,wastheprincipalcompanionwithwhomhehaddiscussions about these things. They used to have animated conversations, in whichsometimeshisopiniondifferedfromhismaster’s,astotheproprietyofbringingdownatheatrical troupe fromCalcutta for these future occasions.Noto used to get reprimandsfromBhavaniforhisnaturalmiserlinessintheseitemsoffutureexpenditure.

WhileBhavani’soneanxietywasabouttheabsenceofanheir,whocouldinherithisvastpossible wealth, a son was born to him. The horoscope plainly indicated that the lostpropertywouldcomebacktothisboy.

Fromthetimeofthebirthofhisson,Bhavani’sattitudewaschanged.Itbecamecruellydifficultforhimnowtobearhispovertywithhisoldamusedequanimity,becausehefeltthathehadadutytowardsthisnewrepresentativeoftheillustrioushouseofSaniari,whohad such a glorious future before him. That the traditional extravagance could not bemaintainedontheoccasionofthebirthofhischildgavehimthekeenestsorrow.Hefeltasifhewerecheatinghisownson.Sohecompensatedhisboywithaninordinateamountofspoiling.

Bhavani’swife,Rashmani,hadadifferenttemperamentfromherhusband.SheneverfeltanyanxietyaboutthefamilytraditionsoftheChowdhurisofSaniari.Bhavaniwasquiteaware of the fact and indulgently smiled to himself, as though nothing better could beexpected from a woman who came from a Vaishnava family of very humble lineage.

Rashmani frankly acknowledged that she could not share the family sentiments: whatconcernedhermostwasthewelfareofherownchild.

There was hardly an acquaintance in the neighbourhood with whom Bhavani did notdiscussthequestionofthelostwill;butheneverspokeawordaboutittohiswife.Onceor twice he had tried, but her perfect unconcern had made him drop the subject. Sheneither paid attention to the past greatness of the family, nor to its future glories,—shekepthermindbusywiththeactualnecessitiesof thepresent,andthosenecessitieswerenotsmallinnumberorquality.

When theGoddess of Fortune deserts a house, she usually leaves some of her burdensbehind,andthisancientfamilywasstillencumberedwithitshostofdependents,thoughitsownshelterwasnearlycrumblingtodust.Theseparasitestakeittobeaninsultiftheyareaskedtodoanyservice.Theygethead-achesattheleasttouchofthekitchensmoke.They are visited with sudden rheumatism the moment they are asked to run errands.Therefore all the responsibilities of maintaining the family were laid upon Rashmaniherself.Womenlosetheirdelicacyofrefinement,whentheyarecompellednightanddaytohagglewith their destiny over thingswhich are pitifully small, and for this they areblamedbythoseforwhomtheytoil.

BesidesherhouseholdaffairsRashmanihad tokeepall theaccountsof the little landedpropertywhichremainedandalsotomakearrangementsforcollectingrents.Neverbeforewas the estate managed with such strictness. Bhavani had been quite incapable ofcollectinghisdues:Rashmaninevermadeanyremissionoftheleastfractionofrent.Thetenants, and even her own agents, reviled her behind her back for themeanness of thefamily from which she came. Even her husband occasionally used to enter his protestagainst the harsh economy which went against the grain of the world-famed house ofSaniari.

Rashmaniquiteungrudginglytooktheblameofallthisuponherselfandopenlyconfessedthepovertyofherparents.Tyingtheendofhersaritightlyroundherwaistshewentonwith her household duties in her own vigorous fashion and made herself thoroughlydisagreeablebothtotheinmatesofthehouseandtoherneighbours.Butnobodyeverhadthe courage to interfere. Only one thing she carefully avoided. She never asked herhusband to help her in any work and she was nervously afraid of his taking up anyresponsibilities. Indeed shewas always furiously engaged in keeping her husband idle;andbecause he had received the best possible training in this direction shewaswhollysuccessfulinhermission.

Rashmanihadattainedmiddle agebeforeher soncame.Up to this timeall thepent-uptendernessofthemotherinherandalltheloveofthewifehadtheircentreofdevotioninthissimple-heartedgood-for-nothinghusband.Bhavaniwasachildgrownupbymistakebeyonditsnaturalage.Thiswasthereasonwhy,afterthedeathofherhusband’smother,shehadtoassumethepositionofmotherandmistressinone.

InordertoprotectherhusbandfrominvasionsofBagala,thesonoftheguru,andothercalamities,Rashmaniadoptedsuchasterndemeanour,thatthecompanionsofherhusbandused tobe terriblyafraidofher.Sheneverhad theopportunity,whichawomanusuallyhas, of keeping her fierceness hidden and of softening the keen edge of her words,—

maintainingadignifiedreservetowardsmensuchasisproperforawoman.

Bhavani meekly accepted his wife’s authority with regard to himself, but it becameextremelyhardforhimtoobeyherwhenitrelatedtoKalipada,hisson.Thereasonwas,thatRashmanineverregardedBhavani’ssonfromthepointofviewofBhavanihimself.Inher heart she pitied her husband and said, “Poor man, it was no fault of his, but hismisfortune,tobebornintoarichfamily.”Thatiswhyshenevercouldexpectherhusbandtobedeprivedofanycomforttowhichhehadbeenaccustomed.Whatevermightbethecondition of the household finance, she tried hard to keep him in his habitual ease andluxury.Underherrégimeallexpensewasstrictly limitedexcept in thecaseofBhavani.Shewouldneverallowhimtonoticeifsomeinevitablegapoccurredinthepreparationofhismealsorhis apparel.Shewouldblame some imaginarydog for spoilingdishes thatwerenevermadeandwouldblameherselfforhercarelessness.ShewouldattackNotoforlettingsomefictitiousarticleofdressbestolenorlost.ThishadtheusualeffectofrousingBhavani’ssympathyonbehalfofhisfavouriteservantandhewouldtakeuphisdefence.IndeedithadoftenhappenedthatBhavanihadconfessedwithbare-facedshamelessnessthat he hadused the dresswhichhadnever beenbought, and forwhose lossNotowasblamed;butwhathappenedafterwards,hehadnotthepowertoinventandwasobligedtorelyuponthefertileimaginationofhiswifewhowasalsotheaccuser!

ThusRashmanitreatedherhusband,butsheneverputhersoninthesamecategory.Forhewasherownchildandwhyshouldhebeallowedtogivehimselfairs?Kalipadahadtobecontentforhisbreakfastwithafewhandfulsofpuffedriceandsometreacle.Duringthecoldweatherhehad towraphisbodyaswellashisheadwitha thick roughcottonchaddar.Shewouldcallhisteacherbeforeherandwarnhimnevertospareherboy,ifhewas the leastneglectfulwithhis lessons.This treatmentofhisownsonwas thehardestblowthatBhavaniCharansufferedsincethedaysofhisdestitution.Butashehadalwaysacknowledgeddefeatatthehandsofthepowerful,hehadnotthespirittostandupagainsthiswifeinhermethodofdealingwiththeboy.

ThedresswhichRashmaniprovidedforherson,duringthePujafestivities,wasmadeofsuchpoormaterialthatinformerdaystheveryservantsofthehousewouldhaverebelledifithadbeenofferedtothem.ButRashmanimorethanoncetriedherbesttoexplaintoherhusbandthatKalipada,being themostrecentaddition to theChowdhuri family,hadneverknowntheirformersplendourandsowasquitegladtogetwhatwasgiventohim.But this pathetic innocence of the boy about his own destiny hurt Bhavani more thananythingelse, andhecouldnot forgivehimself fordeceiving thechild.WhenKalipadawoulddancefor joyandrush tohimtoshowhimsomepresentfromhismother,whichwasridiculouslytrivial,Bhavani’sheartwouldsuffertorture.

Bagala,theguru’sson,wasnowinanaffluentconditionowingtohisagencyinthelawsuitwhichhadbroughtabouttheruinofBhavani.Withthemoneywhichhehadinhandheused tobuycheap tinselwares fromCalcuttabefore thePujaholidays. Invisible ink,—absurdcombinationsof stick, fishing-rodandumbrella,—letter-paperwithpictures inthecorner,—silkfabricsboughtatauctions,andotherthingsofthiskind,attractivetothesimplevillagers,—thesewerehisstockintrade.AlltheforwardyoungmenofthevillageviedwithoneanotherinrisingabovetheirrusticitybypurchasingthesesweepingsoftheCalcuttamarketwhich,theyweretold,wereabsolutelynecessaryforthecitygentry.

Once Bagala had bought a wonderful toy,—a doll in the form of a foreignwoman,—which,whenwoundup,would rise fromherchairandbegin to fanherselfwithsuddenalacrity.Kalipadawas fascinated by it.He had a very good reason to avoid asking hismotheraboutthetoy;sohewentstraighttohisfatherandbeggedhimtopurchaseitforhim.Bhavanianswered“yes”atonce,butwhenheheardthepricehisfacefell.Rashmanikept all the money and he went to her as a timid beggar. He began with all sorts ofirrelevant remarks and then took a desperate plunge into the subject with startlingincoherence.

Rashmanibriefly remarked:“Areyoumad?”BhavaniCharansat silent revolving inhismindwhattosaynext.

“Lookhere,”heexclaimed,“Idon’tthinkIneedmilkpuddingdailywithmydinner.”

“Whotoldyou?”saidRashmanisharply.

“Thedoctorsaysit’sverybadforbiliousness.”

“Thedoctor’safool!”

“ButI’msurethatriceagreeswithmebetterthanyourluchis.Theyaretooindigestible.”

“I’veneverseentheleastsignofindigestioninyou.Youhavebeenaccustomedtothemallyourlife!”

BhavaniCharanwasreadyenoughtomakesacrifices,but therehispassagewasbarred.Buttermightriseinprice,butthenumberofhisluchisneverdiminished.Milkwasquiteenoughforhimathismiddaymeal,butcurdsalsohadtobesuppliedbecausethatwasthefamilytradition.Rashmanicouldnothaveborneseeinghimsitdowntohismeal,ifcurdswere not supplied. Therefore all his attempts tomake a breach in his daily provisions,throughwhichthefanningforeignwomanmightenter,wereanutterfailure.

ThenBhavanipaidavisittoBagalafornoreasonwhatever,andafteragreatdealofroundabouttalkaskedconcerningtheforeigndoll.OfcoursehisstraightenedcircumstanceshadlongbeenknowntoBagala,yetitwasaperfectmiserytoBhavanitohavetohesitatetobuythisdollforhissonowingtowantofreadymoney.Swallowinghispride,hebroughtoutfromunderhisarmanexpensiveoldKashmirshawl,andsaidinahuskyvoice:“MycircumstancesarebadjustatpresentandIhaven’tgotmuchcash.SoIhavedeterminedtomortgagethisshawlandbuythatdollforKalipada.”

If theobjectofferedhadbeen less expensive than thisKashmir shawl,Bagalawouldatoncehaveclosedthebargain.Butknowingthat itwouldnotbepossibleforhimtotakepossessionofthisshawlinfaceofthevillageopinion,andstillmoreinfaceofRashmani’swatchfulness,herefusedtoacceptit;andBhavanihadtogobackhomedisappointedwiththeKashmirshawlhiddenunderhisarm.

Kalipadaaskedeverydayforthatforeignfanningtoy,andBhavanismiledeverydayandsaid,—“Wait,abit,myboy,tilltheseventhdayofthemooncomesround.”Buteverynewdayitbecamemoreandmoredifficulttokeepupthatsmile.

OnthefourthdayofthemoonBhavanimadeasuddeninroaduponhiswifeandsaid:

“I’venoticedthatthere’ssomethingwrongwithKalipada,—somethingthematterwithhis

health.”

“Nonsense,”saidRashmani,“he’sinthebestofhealth.”

“Haven’tyounoticedhimsittingsilentforhourstogether?”

“Ishouldbeverygreatlyrelievedifhecouldsitstillforasmanyminutes.”

Whenallhisarrowshadmissedtheirmark,andnoimpressionhadbeenmade,BhavaniCharan heaved a deep sigh and passing his fingers through his hairwent away and satdownontheverandahandbegantosmokewithfearfulassiduity.

Onthefifthday,athismorningmeal,Bhavanipassedbythecurdsandthemilkpuddingwithout touching them. In theeveninghe simply tookone singlepieceofsandesh.Theluchiswere leftunheeded.Hecomplainedofwantofappetite.This timeaconsiderablebreachwasmadeinthefortifications.

Onthesixthday,Rashmani tookKalipadaintotheroomandsweetlycallinghimbyhispetnamesaid,“Betu,youareoldenoughtoknowthatitisthehalfwayhousetostealingtodesirethatwhichyoucan’thave.”

Kalipadawhimperedandsaid,“WhatdoIknowaboutit?Fatherpromisedtogivemethatdoll.”

Rashmani satdown toexplain tohimhowmuch laybehindhis father’spromise,—howmuchpain,howmuchaffection,howmuchlossandprivation.Rashmanihadneverinherlife before talked thus to Kalipada, because it was her habit to give short and sharpcommands.Itfilledtheboywithamazementwhenhefoundhismothercoaxinghimandexplaining things at such a length, and mere child though he was, he could fathomsomethingofthedeepsufferingofhismother’sheart.Yetatthesametimeitwillbeeasilyunderstood, that it was hard for this boy to turn his mind away altogether from thatcaptivating foreign fanning woman. He pulled a long face and began to scratch theground.

ThismadeRashmani’sheartatoncehard,andshesaidinherseveretone:“Yes,youmayweepandcry,orbecomeangry,butyoushallnevergetthatwhichisnotforyoutohave.”Andshehastenedawaywithoutanotherword.

Kalipadawentout.BhavaniCharanwasstillsmokinghishookah.NoticingKalipadafroma distance he got up and walked in the opposite direction as if he had some urgentbusiness.Kalipadarantohimandsaid,—“Butthatdoll?”Bhavanicouldnotraiseasmilethatday.HeputhisarmroundKalipada’sneckandsaid:

“Baba,waitalittle.Ihavesomepressingbusinesstogetthrough.Letmefinishitfirst,andthenwewilltalkaboutit.”Sayingthis,hewentoutofhishouse.

Kalipadasawhimbrushatearfromhiseyes.Hestoodatthedoorandwatchedhisfather,anditwasquiteevident,eventothisboy,thathewasgoingnowhereinparticular,andthathewasdraggingtheweightofadespairwhichcouldnotberelieved.

Kalipadaatoncewentbacktohismotherandsaid:

“Mother,Idon’twantthatforeigndoll.”

ThatmorningBhavaniCharanreturnedlate.Whenhesatdowntohismeal,afterhisbath,

itwasquiteevident,bythelookonhisface, that thecurdsandthemilkpuddingwouldfarenobetterwithhimthanonthedaybefore,andthatthebestpartofthefishwouldgotothecat.

Just at this critical juncture Rashmani brought in a card-board box, bound round withtwine,andsetitbeforeherhusband.Herintentionhadbeentorevealthemysteryofthispackettoherhusbandwhenhewenttotakehisnapafterhismeal.Butinordertoremovethe undeserved neglect of the curds and the milk and the fish, she had to disclose itscontentsbefore the time.Sotheforeigndollcameoutof theboxandwithoutmoreadobegantofanitselfvigorously.

After this, the cat had to go away disappointed.Bhavani remarked to hiswife that thecookingwasthebesthehadevertasted.Thefishsoupwasincomparable: thecurdshadset themselves with an exactness that was rarely attained, and the milk pudding wassuperb.

On the seventh day of the moon, Kalipada got the toy for which he had been pining.Duringthewholeofthatdayheallowedtheforeignertogoonfanningherselfandtherebymadehisboycompanionsjealous.Inanyothercasethisperformancewouldhaveseemedtohimmonotonouslytiresome,butknowingthatonthefollowingdayhewouldhavetogive the toyback,hisconstancy to iton thatsingleoccasion remainedunabated.At therentaloftworupeesperdiemRashmanihadhireditfromBagala.

Ontheeighthdayofthemoon,Kalipadaheavedadeepsighandreturnedthetoy,alongwith theboxand twine, toBagalawithhisownhands.FromthatdayforwardKalipadabegantosharetheconfidencesofhismother,anditbecamesoabsurdlyeasyforBhavanitogiveexpensivepresentseveryyear,thatitsurprisedevenhimself.

When, with the help of hismother, Kalipada came to know that nothing in this worldcould be gainedwithout paying for it with the inevitable price of suffering, he rapidlygrewupinhismindandbecameavaluedassistanttohismotherinherdailytasks.Itcometobeanaturalruleoflifewithhimthatnooneshouldaddtotheburdenoftheworld,butthateachshouldtrytolightenit.

WhenKalipadawonascholarshipattheVernacularexamination,Bhavaniproposedthatheshouldgiveuphisstudiesandtakeinhandthesupervisionoftheestate.Kalipadawenttohismotherandsaid,—“Ishallneverbeaman,ifIdonotcompletemyeducation.”

Themothersaid,—“Youareright,Baba,youmustgotoCalcutta.”

Kalipadaexplainedtoherthatitwouldnotbenecessarytospendasinglepiceonhim;hisscholarshipwouldbesufficient,andhewouldtrytogetsomeworktosupplementit.

ButitwasnecessarytoconvinceBhavaniofthewisdomofthecourse.Rashmanididnotwishtoemploytheargumentthat therewasverylittleoftheestateremainingtorequiresupervision;forsheknewhowitwouldhurthim.ShesaidthatKalipadamustbecomeamanwhom everyone could respect. But all themembers of theChowdhuri family hadattained their respectabilitywithout ever going a step outside the limits of Saniari. Theouterworldwasasunknowntothemastheworldbeyondthegrave.Bhavani,therefore,couldnotconceivehowanybodycouldthinkofaboylikeKalipadagoingtoCalcutta.Butthecleverestmaninthevillage,Bagala,fortunatelyagreedwithRashmani.

“Itisperfectlyclear,”hesaid,“that,oneday,Kalipadawillbecomealawyer;andthenhewillsetmattersrightconcerningthepropertyofwhichthefamilyhasbeendeprived.”

Thiswas a great consolation toBhavaniCharan and he brought out the file of recordsaboutthetheftofthewillandtriedtoexplainthewholethingtoKalipadabydintofdailydiscussion.Buthissonwaslackinginproperenthusiasmandmerelyechoedhisfather’ssentimentaboutthissolemnwrong.

The day before Kalipada’s departure for Calcutta Rashmani hung round his neck anamuletcontainingsomemantrastoprotecthimfromevils.Shegavehimatthesametimeafifty-rupeecurrencynote,advisinghimtokeepitforanyspecialemergency.Thisnote,whichwasthesymbolofhismother’snumberlessdailyactsofself-denial,wasthetruestamulet of all for Kalipada. He determined to keep it by him and never to spend it,whatevermighthappen.

III

Fromthistimeonwardtheoldinterminablediscussionsaboutthetheftofthewillbecameless frequent on the part ofBhavani.His one topic of conversationwas themarvellousadventure ofKalipada in searchof his education.Kalipadawas actually engaged in hisstudies in thecityofCalcutta!KalipadaknewCalcuttaaswellas thepalmofhishand!Kalipadahadbeenthefirsttohearthegreatnewsthatanotherbridgewasgoingtobebuiltover theGanges nearHughli!The day onwhich the father received his son’s letter, hewouldgo toeveryhouse in thevillage toread it tohisneighboursandhewouldhardlyfindtimeeventotakehisspectaclesfromhisnose.Onarrivingatafreshhousehewouldremove them from their case with the utmost deliberation; then he would wipe themcarefullywiththeendofhisdhoti; then,wordbyword,hewouldslowlyread the letterthroughtooneneighbourafteranother,withsomethinglikethefollowingcomment:—

“Brother, just listen!What is theworldcomingto?Eventhedogsandthejackalsare tocrosstheholyGangeswithoutwashingthedustfromtheirfeet!Whocouldimaginesuchasacrilege?”

No doubt it was very deplorable; but all the same it gave Bhavani Charan a peculiarpleasuretocommunicateatfirsthandsuchimportantnewsfromhisownson’sletter,andthis more than compensated for the spiritual disaster which must surely overtake thenumberlesscreaturesofthispresentage.Toeveryonehemethesolemnlynoddedhisheadand prophesied that the dayswere soon comingwhenMotherGangeswould disappearaltogether; all thewhile cherishing the hope that the news of such amomentous eventwouldcometohimbyletterfromhisownsoninthepropertime.

Kalipada, with very great difficulty, scraped together just enough money to pay hisexpenses till hepassedhisMatriculation and againwona scholarship.Bhavani at oncemadeuphismindtoinviteall thevillagetoafeast,forheimaginedthathisson’sgoodship of fortune had now reached its haven and there would be no more occasion foreconomy.ButhereceivednoencouragementfromRashmani.

Kalipadawasfortunateenoughtosecureaplaceofstudyinastudents’lodginghousenearhiscollege.Theproprietorallowedhimtooccupyasmallroomonthegroundfloorwhich

was absolutely useless for other lodgers. In exchange for this and his board, he had tocoachthesonoftheownerofthehouse.Theonegreatadvantagewasthattherewouldbeno chance of any fellow lodger ever sharing his quarters. So, although ventilationwaslacking,hisstudieswereuninterrupted.

ThoseofthestudentswhopaidtheirrentandlivedintheupperstoryhadnoconcernwithKalipada; but soon it became painfully evident that those who are up above have thepower to hurl missiles at those below with all the more deadly force because of theirdistance.TheleaderofthoseabovewasSailen.

Sailenwas the scion of a rich family. Itwas unnecessary for him to live in a students’mess,buthesuccessfullyconvincedhisguardiansthatthiswouldbebestforhisstudies.TherealreasonwasthatSailenwasnaturallyfondofcompany,andthestudents’lodginghousewasanidealplacewherehecouldhaveallthepleasureofcompanionshipwithoutanyofitsresponsibilities.ItwasthefirmconvictionofSailenthathewasagoodfellowandamanoffeeling.Theadvantageofharbouringsuchaconvictionwasthatitneedednoproofinpractice.Vanityisnotlikeahorseoranelephantrequiringexpensivefodder.

Nevertheless,asSailenhadplentyofmoneyhedidnotallowhisvanitymerelytograzeatlarge;hetookspecialprideinkeepingitstall-fed.Itmustbesaidtohiscreditthathehadagenuinedesiretohelppeopleintheirneed,butthedesireinhimwasofsuchacharacter,thatifamanindifficultyrefusedtocometohimforhelp,hewouldturnroundonhimanddohisbesttoaddtohistrouble.HismessmateshadtheirticketsforthetheatreboughtforthembySailen, and it cost themnothing to have occasional feasts.They could borrowmoney fromhimwithoutmeaning to pay it back.When a newlymarried youthwas indoubtaboutthechoiceofsomegiftforhiswife,hecouldfullyrelyonSailen’sgoodtastein thematter.On theseoccasions the love-lornyouthwould takeSailen to theshopandpretendtoselectthecheapestandleastsuitablepresents:thenSailen,withacontemptuouslaughwould interveneand select the right thing.At thementionof theprice theyounghusbandwouldpulla long face,butSailenwouldalwaysbe ready toabidebyhisownsuperiorchoiceandtopaythecost.

In thismannerSailenbecametheacknowledgedpatronof thestudentsupstairs. Itmadehimintolerantoftheinsolenceofanyonewhorefusedtoaccepthishelp.Indeed,tohelpothersinthiswayhadbecomehishobby.

Kalipada, inhis tattered jersey, used to sit on a dirtymat in his damp roombelowandrecitehislessons,swinginghimselffromsidetosidetotherhythmofthesentence.Itwasasheernecessityforhimtogetthatscholarshipnextyear.

Kalipada’smotherhadmadehimpromise,beforehelefthomeforCalcuttathathewouldavoid the company of rich youngmen. Therefore he bore the burden of his indigencealone,strictlykeepinghimselffromthosewhohadbeenmorefavouredbyfortune.ButtoSailen,itseemedasheerimpertinencethatastudentaspoorasKalipadashouldyethavethe pride to keep away from his patronage. Besides this, in his food and dress andeverything,Kalipada’spovertywassoblatantlyexposed,ithurtSailen’ssenseofdecency.Every time he looked down intoKalipada’s room, hewas offended by the sight of thecheapclothing,thedingymosquitonetandthetatteredbedding.Wheneverhepassedonhiswaytohisownroomintheupperstorythesightofthesethingswasunavoidable.To

crownitall therewas thatabsurdamuletwhichKalipadaalwayshadhangingroundhisneck,andthosedailyritesofdevotionwhichweresoridiculouslyoutoffashion!

OnedaySailenandhisfollowerscondescendedtoinviteKalipadatoafeast,thinkingthathisgratitudewouldknownobounds.ButKalipadasentananswersayingthathishabitsweredifferentanditwouldnotbewholesomeforhimtoaccepttheinvitation.Sailenwasunaccustomed to such a refusal, and it roused up in him all the ferocity of his insultedbenevolence. For some days after this, the noise on the upper story became so loudlyinsistentthatitwasimpossibleforKalipadatogoonwithhisstudies.HewascompelledtospendthegreaterpartofhisdaysstudyinginthePark,andtogetupveryearlyandsitdowntohisworklongbeforeitwaslight.

Owing to his half-starved condition, his mental overwork, and badly-ventilated room,Kalipadabegantosufferfromcontinualattacksofheadache.Thereweretimeswhenhewas obliged to lie down on his bed for three or four days together. But he made nomentionofhisillnessinhisletterstohisfather.Bhavanihimselfwascertainthat,justasvegetation grew rank in his village surroundings, so comforts of all kinds sprangupofthemselvesfromthesoilofCalcutta.Kalipadaneverforamomentdisabusedhismindofthatmisconception.Hedidnotfailtowritetohisfather,evenwhensufferingfromoneoftheseparoxysmsofpain.Thedeliberaterowdinessofthestudentsintheupperstoryaddedatsuchtimestohisdistress.

Kalipadatriedtomakehimselfasscarceandsmallaspossible, inordertoavoidnotice;butthisdidnotbringhimrelief.Oneday,hefoundthatacheapshoeofhisownhadbeentakenawayandreplacedbyanexpensiveforeignone.Itwasimpossibleforhimtogotocollegewithsuchanincongruouspair.Hemadenocomplaint,however,butboughtsomeold second-hand shoes from the cobbler.Oneday, a student from theupper story cameintohisroomandaskedhim:

“Haveyou,byanymistake,broughtawaymysilvercigarettecasewithyou?”

Kalipadagotannoyedandanswered:

“Ihaveneverbeeninsideyourroominmylife.”

Thestudentstoopeddown.“Hullo!”hesaid,“hereitis!”Andthevaluablecigarettecasewaspickedupfromthecorneroftheroom.

Kalipada determined to leave this lodging house as soon as ever he had passed hisIntermediateExamination,providedonlyhecouldgetascholarship toenablehimtodoso.

EveryyearthestudentsofthehouseusedtohavetheirannualSaraswatiPuja.Thoughthegreater part of the expenses fell to the share of Sailen, every one else contributedaccordingtohismeans.Theyearbefore,theyhadcontemptuouslyleftoutKalipadafromthe list of contributors; but this year, merely to tease him, they came with theirsubscription book. Kalipada instantly paid five rupees to the fund, though he had nointentionofparticipatinginthefeast.Hispenuryhadlongbroughtonhimthecontemptofhis fellow lodgers, but this unexpectedgift of five rupees became to them insufferable.TheSaraswatiPujawasperformedwithgreatéclatandthefiverupeescouldeasilyhavebeenspared.IthadbeenhardindeedforKalipadatopartwithit.Whilehetookthefood

givenhiminhislandlord’shousehehadnocontroloverthetimeatwhichitwasserved.Besidesthis,sincetheservantsbroughthimthefood,hedidnotliketocriticisethedishes.Hepreferredtoprovidehimselfwithsomeextrathings;andaftertheforcedextravaganceof his five-rupee subscription he had to forgo all this and suffered in consequence.Hisparoxysmsofheadachebecamemorefrequent,andthoughhepassedhisexamination,hefailedtoobtainthescholarshipthathedesired.

ThelossofthescholarshipdroveKalipadatodoextraworkasaprivatetutorandtosticktothesameunhealthyroominthelodginghouse.Thestudentsoverheadhadhopedthattheywouldberelievedofhispresence.Butpunctuallytothedaytheroomwasunlockedonthelowerfloor.Kalipadaentered,cladinthesameolddirtycheckParseecoat.Acooliefrom Sealdah Station took down from his head a steel trunk and other miscellaneouspackages and laid themon the floor of the room; and a longwrangle ensued as to theproperamountofpicethatweredue.

In thedepthsof thosepackages thereweremangochutniesandothercondimentswhichhismother had specially prepared.Kalipadawas aware that, in his absence, the upper-storystudents,insearchofajest,didnotscrupletocomeintohisroombystealth.

Hewasespeciallyanxioustokeepthesehomegiftsfromtheircruelscrutiny.Astokensofhome affection they were supremely precious to him; but to the town students, theydenotedmerelytheboorishnessofpoverty-strickenvillagers.Thevesselswerecrudeandearthen,fastenedupbyanearthenlidfixedonwithpasteofflour.Theywereneitherglassnorporcelain,and thereforesure tobe regardedwith insolentdisdainby rich town-bredpeople.

FormerlyKalipadausedtokeepthesestoreshiddenunderhisbed,coveringthemupwitholdnewspapers.Butthistimehetooktheprecautionofalwayslockinguphisdoor,evenifhewentoutforafewminutes.ThisstillfurtherrousedthespleenofSailenandhisparty.ItseemedtothempreposterousthattheroomwhichwaspoorenoughtodrawtearsfromtheeyesofthemosthardenedburglarshouldbeascarefullyguardedasifitwereasecondBankofBengal.

“Does he actually believe,” they said among themselves, “that the temptation will beirresistibleforustostealthatParseecoat?”

Sailen had never visited this dark and mildewed room from which the plaster wasdropping.Theglimpsesthathehadtaken,whilegoingup-stairs,—especiallywhen,intheevening,Kalipada,theupperpartofhisbodybare,wouldsitporingoverhisbookswithasmokylampbesidehim,—wereenoughtogivehimasenseofsuffocation.SailenaskedhisbooncompanionstoexploretheroombelowandfindoutthetreasurewhichKalipadahadhidden.Everybodyfeltintenselyamusedattheproposal.

ThelockonKalipada’sdoorwasacheapone,whichhadthemagnanimitytolenditselftoanykey.OneeveningwhenKalipadahadgoneouttohisprivatetuition,twoorthreeofthestudentswithanexuberantsenseofhumourtookalanternandunlockedtheroomandentered.Itdidnotneedamomenttodiscoverthepotsofchutneyunderthebed,butthesehardlyseemedvaluableenoughtodemandsuchwatchfulcareonthepartofKalipada.Afurthersearchdisclosedakeyonaringunderthepillow.Theyopenedthesteeltrunkwiththekeyandfounda fewsoiledclothes,booksandwritingmaterial.Theywereabout to

shut thebox in disgustwhen they saw, at theverybottom, a packet coveredbyadirtyhandkerchief.Onuncovering threeor fourwrappers they foundacurrencynoteof fiftyrupees.Thismade themburstout intopealsof laughter.They felt certain thatKalipadawasharbouringsuspicionagainstthewholeworldinhismindbecauseofthisfiftyrupees!

Themeannessof this suspiciousprecautiondeepened the intensityof theircontempt forKalipada.Justthen,theyheardafoot-stepoutside.Theyhastilyshutthebox,lockedthedoor,andranupstairswiththenoteintheirpossession.

Sailenwas vastly amused. Though fifty rupeeswas amere trifle, he could never havebelieved thatKalipada had somuchmoney in his trunk.They all decided towatch theresultofthislossuponthatqueercreaturedownstairs.

WhenKalipadacamehomethatnightafterhistuitionwasover,hewastootiredtonoticeanydisorder inhis room.Oneofhisworstattacksofnervousheadachewascomingonandhewentstraighttobed.

Thenextday,whenhebroughtouthistrunkfromunderthebedandtookouthisclothes,hefounditopen.Hewasnaturallycareful,butitwasnotunlikely,hethought,thathehadforgottentolockitonthedaybefore.Butwhenheliftedthelidhefoundallthecontentstopsy-turvy,andhisheartgaveagreatthudwhenhediscoveredthatthenote,giventohimbyhismother,wasmissing.Hesearchedtheboxoverandoveragaininthevainhopeoffindingit,andwhenhislosswasmadecertain,heflunghimselfuponhisbedandlaylikeonedead.

Justthen,heheardfootstepsfollowingoneanotheronthestairs,andeverynowandthenanoutburstoflaughterfromtheupperroom.Itstruckhim,allofasudden,thatthiswasnotatheft:Sailenandhispartymusthavetakenthenotetoamusethemselvesandmakelaughteroutofit.Itwouldhavegivenhimlesspainifathiefhadstolenit.Itseemedtohimthattheseyoungmenhadlaidtheirimpioushandsuponhismotherherself.

ThiswasthefirsttimethatKalipadahadascendedthosestairs.Herantotheupperfloor,—theoldjerseyonhisshoulders,—hisfaceflushedwithangerandthepainofhisillness.As it was Sunday, Sailen and his company were seated in the verandah, laughing andtalking.Withoutanywarning,Kalipadaburstuponthemandshouted:

“Givemebackmynote!”

If hehadbegged it of them, theywouldhave relented;but the sightofhis angermadethemfurious.Theystartedupfromtheirchairsandexclaimed:

“Whatdoyoumean,sir?Whatdoyoumean?Whatnote?”

Kalipadashouted:“Thenoteyouhavetakenfrommybox!”

“Howdareyou?”theyshoutedback.“Doyoutakeustobethieves?”

If Kalipada had held anyweapon in his hand at thatmoment he certainlywould havekilledsomeoneamongthem.Butwhenhewasabouttospring,theyfellonhim,andfourorfiveofthemdraggedhimdowntohisroomandthrusthiminside.

Sailensaid tohiscompanions:“Here, take thishundred-rupeenote,and throw it to thatdog!”

Theyallloudlyexclaimed:“No!Lethimclimbdownfirstandgiveusawrittenapology.Thenweshallconsiderit!”

Sailen’spartyallwenttobedatthepropertimeandsleptthesleepoftheinnocent.InthemorningtheyhadalmostforgottenKalipada.Butsomeofthem,whilepassinghisroom,heard the soundof talkingand they thought thatpossiblyhewasbusyconsulting somelawyer.Thedoorwasshutfromtheinside.Theytriedtooverhear,butwhattheyheardhadnothinglegalaboutit.Itwasquiteincoherent.

TheyinformedSailen.Hecamedownandstoodwithhisearclosetothedoor.Theonlything that could be distinctly heard was the word ‘Father.’ This frightened Sailen. HethoughtthatpossiblyKalipadahadgonemadonaccountofthegriefoflosingthatfifty-rupeenote.Sailenshouted“KalipadaBabu!”twoorthreetimes,butgotnoanswer.Onlythatmutteringsoundcontinued.Sailencalled,—“KalipadaBabu,—pleaseopenthedoor.Yournotehasbeen found.”But still thedoorwasnotopenedand thatmuttering soundwenton.

Sailenhadneveranticipatedsucharesultasthis.Hedidnotexpressawordofrepentancetohisfollowers,buthefeltthestingofitallthesame.Someadvisedhimtobreakopenthedoor:othersthoughtthat thepoliceshouldbecalledin,—forKalipadamightbeinadangerousstateoflunacy.Sailenatoncesentforadoctorwholivedcloseathand.WhentheyburstopenthedoortheyfoundthebeddinghangingfromthebedandKalipadalyingonthefloorunconscious.Hewastossingaboutandthrowinguphisarmsandmuttering,withhiseyesredandopenandhisfaceallflushed.Thedoctorexaminedhimandaskediftherewereanyrelativenearathand;forthecasewasserious.

Sailenansweredthatheknewnothing,butwouldmakeinquiries.Thedoctorthenadvisedthe removalof thepatientatonce toanupstairs roomandpropernursingarrangementsdayandnight.Sailentookhimuptohisownroomanddismissedhisfollowers.HegotsomeiceandputitonKalipada’sheadandbegantofanhimwithhisownhand.

Kalipada,fearingthatmockingreferenceswouldbemade,hadconcealedthenamesandaddressofhisparentsfromthesepeoplewithspecialcare.SoSailenhadnoalternativebutto open his box. He found two bundles of letters tied up with ribbon. One of themcontainedhismother’s letters, theothercontainedhisfather’s.Hismother’s letterswerefewerinnumberthanhisfather’s.Sailenclosedthedoorandbegantoreadtheletters.Hewasstartledwhenhesawtheaddress,—Saniari,thehouseoftheChowdhuries,—andthenthenameofthefather,Bhavani.Hefoldedupthelettersandsatstill,gazingatKalipada’sface.Someofhisfriendshadcasuallymentioned,thattherewasaresemblancebetweenKalipadaandhimself.Buthewasoffendedattheremarkanddidnotbelieveit.To-dayhediscovered the truth. He knew that his own grandfather, Shyama Charan, had a step-brothernamedBhavani;butthelaterhistorytothefamilyhadremainedasecrettohim.Hedidnotevenknow thatBhavanihadasonnamedKalipada;andhenever suspectedthatBhavani had come to such an abject state of poverty as this.He now felt not onlyrelieved,butproudofhisownrelative,Kalipada,thathehadrefusedtoenterhimselfonthelistofprotégés.

IV

Knowing that his party had insultedKalipada almost every day, Sailen felt reluctant tokeephim in the lodginghousewith them.Sohe rentedanother suitablehouseandkepthimthere.BhavanicamedowninhastetoCalcuttathemomenthereceivedaletterfromSailen informing him of his son’s illness. Rashmani partedwith all her savings givinginstructionstoherhusbandtosparenoexpenseuponherson.Itwasnotconsideredproperfor thedaughtersof thegreatChowdhuri family to leave theirhomeandgo toCalcuttaunlessabsolutelyobliged,andthereforeshehadtoremainbehindofferingprayers toallthetutelarygods.WhenBhavaniCharanarrivedhefoundKalipadastillunconsciousanddelirious.ItnearlybrokeBhavani’sheartwhenheheardhimselfcalled‘MasterMashai.’Kalipadaoftencalledhiminhisdeliriumandhetriedtomakehimselfrecognizedbyhisson,butinvain.

Thedoctorcameagainandsaidthefeverwasgettingless.Hethoughtthecasewastakingamorefavourableturn.ForBhavani,itwasanimpossibilitytoimaginethathissonwouldnot recover.Hemust live: itwashisdestiny to live.Bhavaniwasmuch struckwith thebehaviourofSailen.Itwasdifficulttobelievethathewasnotoftheirownkithandkin.Hesupposedall thiskindness tobedue to the towntrainingwhichSailenhadreceived.Bhavani spoke to Sailen disparagingly of the country habits which village people likehimselfgotinto.

GraduallythefeverwentdownandKalipadarecoveredconsciousness.Hewasastonishedbeyondmeasurewhenhesawhisfathersittingintheroombesidehim.Hisfirstanxietywas lest he should discover themiserable state inwhich he had been living. Butwhatwouldbeharderstilltobearwas,ifhisfatherwithhisrusticmannersbecamethebuttofthe people upstairs. He looked round him, but could not recognize his own room andwonderedifhehadbeendreaming.Buthefoundhimselftooweaktothink.

Hesupposedthatithadbeenhisfatherwhohadremovedhimtothisbetterlodging,buthehadnopower to calculatehowhe couldpossiblybear the expense.Theonly thing thatconcernedhimatthatmomentwasthathefelthemustlive,andforthathehadaclaimupontheworld.

Once when his father was absent Sailen came in with a plate of grapes in his hand.Kalipadacouldnotunderstandthisatallandwondered if therewassomepractical jokebehind it.He at oncebecameexcited andwonderedhowhe could savehis father fromannoyance.SailensettheplatedownonthetableandtouchedKalipada’sfeethumblyandsaid:“Myoffencehasbeengreat:prayforgiveme.”

Kalipadastartedandsatuponhisbed.HecouldseethatSailen’srepentancewassincereandhewasgreatlymoved.

WhenKalipadahadfirstcometothestudents’lodginghousehehadfeltstronglydrawntowards this handsome youth. He never missed a chance of looking at his face whenSailenpassedbyhisroomonhiswayupstairs.Hewouldhavegivenalltheworldtobefriends with him, but the barrier was too great to overcome. Now to-day when Sailenbrought him the grapes and asked his forgiveness, he silently looked at his face and

silentlyacceptedthegrapeswhichspokeofhisrepentance.

ItamusedKalipadagreatlywhenhenoticedtheintimacythathadsprungupbetweenhisfatherandSailen.SailenusedtocallBhavaniCharan“grandfather”andexercisedtothefullthegrandchild’sprivilegeofjokingwithhim.Theprincipalobjectofthejokeswastheabsent “grandmother.” Sailenmade the confession that he had taken the opportunity ofKalipada’s illness to steal all thedelicious chutnieswhich his “grandmother” hadmadewithherownhand.Thenewsofhisactof“thieving”gaveKalipadaverygreat joy.Hefounditeasytodeprivehimself,ifhecouldfindanyonewhocouldappreciatethegoodthings made by his mother. Thus this time of his convalescence became the happiestperiodinthewholeofKalipada’slife.

Therewasonlyone flaw in thisunalloyedhappiness.Kalipadahada fiercepride inhispoverty which prevented him ever speaking about his family’s better days. ThereforewhenhisfatherusedtotalkofhisformerprosperityKalipadawinced.Bhavanicouldnotkeep to himself the one great event of his life,—the theft of that will which he wasabsolutelycertainthathewouldsomedayrecover.Kalipadahadalwaysregardedthisasakindofmaniaofhisfather’s,andincollusionwithhismotherhehadoftenhumouredhisfatherconcerningthisamiableweakness.Butheshrankinshamewhenhisfathertalkedabout this toSailen.Henoticedparticularly thatSailendidnot relish suchconversationand that he often tried to prove, with a certain amount of feeling, its absurdity. ButBhavani,whowasreadytogiveintoothersinmattersmuchmoreserious,inthismatterwasadamant.Kalipadatriedtopacifyhimbysayingthattherewasnogreatneedtoworryabout it, because thosewhowere enjoying its benefitwere almost the sameashisownchildren,sincetheywerehisnephews.

Such talk Sailen could not bear for long and he used to leave the room. This painedKalipada,becausehethoughtthatSailenmightgetquiteawrongconceptionofhisfatherandimaginehimtobeagraspingworldlyoldman.SailenwouldhaverevealedhisownrelationshiptoKalipadaandhisfatherlongbefore,butthisdiscussionaboutthetheftofthewillpreventedhim. Itwashardforhimtobelieve thathisgrandfatheror fatherhadstolenthewill;ontheotherhandhecouldnotbutthinkthatsomecruelinjusticehadbeendone in deprivingBhavani of his share of the ancestral property.Therefore he gave uparguingwhenthesubjectwasbroughtforwardandtooksomeoccasiontoleaveassoonaspossible.

ThoughKalipadastillhadheadachesintheevening,withaslightriseintemperature,hedidnottakeitatallseriously.Hebecameanxioustoresumehisstudiesbecausehefeltitwouldbeacalamitytohimifheagainmissedhisscholarship.Hesecretlybegantoreadoncemore,withouttakinganynoticeofthestrictordersofthedoctor.Kalipadaaskedhisfathertoreturnhome,assuringhimthathewasinthebestofhealth.Bhavanihadbeenallhislifefedandnourishedandcookedforbyhiswife;hewaspiningtogetback.Hedidnotthereforewaittobepressed.

Onthemorningofhisintendeddeparture,whenhewenttosaygood-byetoKalipada,hefoundhimvery ill indeed, his face redwith fever andhiswholebodyburning.Hehadbeencommitting tomemorypageafterpageofhis textbookofLogichalf through thenight,andfortheremainderhecouldnotsleepatall.ThedoctortookSailenaside.“Thisrelapse,” he said, “is fatal.” Sailen came to Bhavani and said, “The patient requires a

mother’snursing:shemustbebroughttoCalcutta.”

ItwaseveningwhenRashmanicame,andsheonlysawhersonaliveforafewhours.Notknowinghowherhusbandcouldsurvivesucha terribleshockshealtogethersuppressedherownsorrow.Hersonwasmergedinherhusbandagain,andshetookupthisburdenofthedeadandthelivingonherownachingheart.ShesaidtoherGod,—“Itistoomuchformetobear.”Butshedidbearit.

V

Itwasmidnight.WiththeverywearinessofhersorrowRashmanihadfallenasleepsoonafterreachingherownhomeinthevillage.ButBhavanihadnosleepthatnight.Tossingonhisbedforhoursheheavedadeepsighsaying,—“MercifulGod!”Thenhegotupfromhis bed and went out. He entered the room where Kalipada had been wont to do hislessonsinhischildhood.Thelampshookashehelditinhishand.Onthewoodensettletherewasstillthetorn,ink-stainedquilt,madelongagobyRashmaniherself.OnthewallwerefiguresofEuclidandAlgebradrawnincharcoal.TheremainsofaRoyalReaderNo.III and a few exercise bookswere lying about; and the one odd slipper of his infancy,whichhadevadednoticesolong,waskeepingitsplaceinthedustyobscurityofthecorneroftheroom.To-dayithadbecomesoimportantthatnothingintheworld,howevergreat,couldkeepithiddenanylonger.Bhavaniputthelampinthenicheonthewallandsilentlysatonthesettle;hiseyesweredry,buthefeltchokedasifwithwantofbreath.

Bhavani opened the shutters on the eastern side and stood still, grasping the iron bars,gazingintothedarkness.Throughthedrizzlingrainhecouldseetheoutlineoftheclumpoftreesattheendoftheouterwall.AtthisspotKalipadahadmadehisowngarden.Thepassionflowerswhichhehadplantedwithhisownhandhadgrowndenselythick.Whilehegazedat thisBhavanifelthisheartcomeup intohis throatwithchokingpain.Therewasnobodynowtowaitforandexpectdaily.Thesummervacationhadcome,butnoonewouldcomebackhometofillthevacantroomanduseitsoldfamiliarfurniture.

“OBabamine!”hecried,“OBaba!OBabamine!”

Hesatdown.Theraincamefaster.Asoundoffootstepswasheardamongthegrassandwitheredleaves.Bhavani’sheartstoodstill.Hehopeditwas…thatwhichwasbeyondallhope. He thought it was Kalipada himself come to see his own garden,—and in thisdownpour of rain how wet he would be! Anxiety about this made him restless. Thensomebodystoodforamomentinfrontoftheironwindowbars.ThecloakroundhisheadmadeitimpossibleforBhavanitoseehisfaceclearly,buthisheightwasthesameasthatofKalipada.

“Darling!”criedBhavani,“Youhavecome!”andherushedtoopenthedoor.

Butwhenhecameoutsidetothespotwherethefigurehadstood,therewasnoonetobeseen.Hewalkedupanddowninthegardenthroughthedrenchingrain,butnoonewasthere. He stood still for a moment raising his voice and calling,—“Kalipada,” but noanswer came. The servant, Noto, whowas sleeping in the cowshed, heard his cry andcameoutandcoaxedhimbacktohisroom.

Nextday,inthemorning,Noto,whilesweepingtheroomfoundabundlejustunderneath

the grated window. He brought it to Bhavani who opened it and found it was an olddocument. He put on his spectacles and after reading a few lines came rushing in toRashmaniandgavethepaperintoherhand.

Rashmaniasked,“Whatisit?”

Bhavanireplied,“Itisthewill!”

“Whogaveityou?”

“Hehimselfcamelastnighttogiveittome.”

“Whatareyougoingtodowithit?”

Bhavanisaid:“Ihavenoneedofitnow.”Andhetorethewilltopieces.

When thenews reached thevillageBagalaproudlynoddedhisheadandsaid:“Didn’t IprophesythatthewillwouldberecoveredthroughKalipada?”

But the grocer Ramcharan replied: “Last night when the ten o’clock train reached theStation a handsome looking young man came to my shop and asked the way to theChowdhuri’shouseandIthoughthehadsomekindofbundleinhishand.”

“Absurd,”saidBagala.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

detailed.FromtheFrench“tailler,”tocut.Comparetailor,entail,retail.

patrimony. From theLatin “pater,” a father.Comparepaternal,patriarch,patriot. Theending -mony is from the Latin -monium. Compare testimony, matrimony,sanctimony.

revert.FromtheLatin“vertere,”toturn.Compareconvert,subvert,divert,invert,advert,version,conversion,adverse.

amazement.Thiswordisofdoubtfulorigin.Wehavethesimplerform“maze”butdonotknowhowithascomeintoEnglish.

preposterous. The Latin word “pre” means “before,” and the Latin word “posterus”behind. The literal meaning, therefore, is “before-behind” and so “absurd,”“outrageous.”

treachery.ThiscomesfromtheOldFrench“treacher,”totrick.It is tobedistinguishedfrom theword “traitor,”which comes from theLatin “traditor,” onewho gives upanother.Compareintricate,trickery,trick,intrigue.

parasites.FromtheGreekword“sitos,”food,—onewhofeedsonanother.

property. From the Latin “proprius,” meaning “one’s own.” Compare proper,appropriate,improper.

haggle.ThisisanOldNorwegianwordwhichhascomeintoEnglish,meaningliterallytochop.

good-for-nothing.Such“phrase”wordsas thesearenotverycommoninEnglish.They

aremorecommoninFrench.ComparetheEnglishne’er-do-well,lazybones,out-of-the-way,andtheFrenchcoup-d’état,nom-de-plume,fin-de-siécle.Ontheotherhand,adjectives made up of two words are quite common in English. Compare simple-hearted,middle-aged.

régime. Thisword still retains its French form and accent and pronunciation. Little bylittlesuchFrenchwordsbecomepronouncedandspeltinanEnglishformandtakeapermanentplaceinthelanguage.Forinstance,theFrenchword“morale”withaccenton the last syllable is now becoming a common English word. In time it willprobablybeaccentedonthefirstsyllablelikeordinaryEnglishwordsandwilldropitsfinal“e.”

gap.ThisisanotherOldNorwegianwordmeaningawideopening.Comparegape.TheseNorwegianwordscameintoEnglishsomewhatplentifullyatthetimeoftheDanishConquest.

sympathy.FromtheGreek“syn”with,and“pathos”suffering.Itshouldbenotedthattheword“compassion”fromtheLatin“cum”with,and“passio”suffering,hasthesamerootmeaning,viz.“sufferingwithanother.”

law-suit. The English word “suit” comes from the Latin “sequi,” to follow, which inFrenchbecomes “suivre.”Wehave twoEnglish forms, one formdirectly from theLatin, theother from theFrench.FromtheLatinprosecute,persecute,consecutive,execute.FromtheFrenchpursue,ensue,sue.

A “suit” in a game of cards means the cards that follow one another in asequence.

A “suit” of clothes means the trousers, coat, waistcoat, following the samepattern.ComparealsotheFrenchwordsuitewhichhasnowbeentakenintoEnglish,e.g.asuiteofrooms,asuiteoffurniture(pronouncedlike“sweet”).

incoherence. From the Latin “haerere,” to stick. Compare adhere, cohere, inherent,coherence.

foreign.FromtheOldFrench“forain,”outofdoors.Theletter“g”hasbecomewronglyinsertedinthiswordasalsoin“sovereign.”

bargain.FromthelateLatin“barca,”aboat,becausetradewascarriedonbyboatsalongtherivers.Comparebarque,barge,bark.

husky.Fromthenounhusk,—asdryasahusk.

shawl.From thePersianword“shāl.”Aconsiderablenumberofwords are coming intouse inEnglish now from theEast.One of themost curious recent ones isBlightywhichisacorruptionofwilayati,bilaiti.ForwordsintroducedintoEnglishcomparekarma, sanyasi, fakir, brahmin, ghat, puggaree, pyjama, pucca, curry, chutney,chintz,cummerbund,khaki,rupee,durrie,turban,sepoy.

doll.This isashortenedformoftheEnglishgirl’snameDorothy,Dolly,Doll.Comparepoll-parrotfromPollyorPoll.

soup.ThiswordstillretainsitsFrenchform,withoutthefinal“e”(Frenchsoupe),buttheEnglishwordssup,supperhavedroppedtheirFrenchspellingaltogether.

ticket.FromtheOldFrench“estiquette,”meaningsomethingfixedlikeabillonthewall.(ComparetheEnglishwordto“stick”whichcomesfromthesameroot.)

We have here a case of a French word branching off into two quite distinctEnglishwords,—“etiquette”and“ticket,”eachhavingitsownmeaning.

jersey.OneoftheislandsintheEnglishChannelcalledJerseyfirstmadethisspecialformof woollen vest. Many English words are thus taken from the names of places.Comparecurrant(Corinth),argosy(Ragusa),calico(Calicut),bronze(Brundusium),gipsy(Egyptian),cashmere(Kashmir).

impertinence.Originallythiswordmeansthatwhichisnot“pertinent,”andsosomething“out-of-place.”Lateronitgotthepresentmeaningofsomethinginsolent.

mosquito.FromtheSpanish.ThewordisthediminutiveoftheLatin“musca,”afly.

scruple.FromtheLatin“scrupulus,”asmallsharpstone.ThiswordmeantfirstinEnglishavery smallweight of twentygrains; then it came tomean a slightweight on themindorconscience.IntheTrialSceneofShakespeare’sMerchantofVenicewehavetheoriginalsenseused,—“thetwentiethpartofonepoorscruple.”

exuberant. From the Latin “uber,” udder. Thus it comes to mean “flowing from theudder”andso“overflowing.”

handkerchief.“Kerchief”camefromtwoFrenchwords“couvre,” tocover,and“chef,”thehead.Itmeantaheadcloth.Thenasmallerclothwasusedinthehandandthiswascalledahand-kerchief.

lunacy.From theLatin“luna,” themoon. In former timesEuropeansused to think thatmadnesswasduetosomeinfluenceofthemoon.Comparethewordmoonstruck.

algebra.This isoneof themanywordsfromArabicbeginningwith“al,” the.Comparealkali,albatross,alcohol,alembic,alchemy,alcove.

Euclid. This word was originally the name of a great Greek mathematical writer. Hiswritingswerecalled“BooksofEuclid.”NowthesubjectisusuallycalledGeometry.

absurd.FromtheLatin“surdus,”deaf.Deafpeoplegenerallyappearstupidtothosewhocanhear.Sothiswordhascometomeanfoolishorridiculous.

topsy-turvy. This probably is a shortened form of topside-turvy,—“turvy” being acolloquialcorruptionfor“turned”or“turnedover.”

THEBABUSOFNAYANJORE

X

THEBABUSOFNAYANJORE

I

ONCEuponatimetheBabusatNayanjorewerefamouslandholders.Theywerenotedfortheirprincelyextravagance.TheywouldtearofftheroughborderoftheirDaccamuslin,becauseitrubbedagainsttheirdelicateskin.Theycouldspendmanythousandsofrupeesovertheweddingofakitten.Andonacertaingrandoccasionitisallegedthatinordertoturnnight intoday they lightednumberless lampsandshoweredsilver threads from theskytoimitatesunlight.

Thosewerethedaysbeforetheflood.Thefloodcame.Thelineofsuccessionamongtheseold-worldBabus,with their lordlyhabits,couldnotcontinuefor long.Likea lampwithtoomanywicksburning,theoilflaredawayquickly,andthelightwentout.

KailasBabu,ourneighbour,isthelastrelicofthisextinctmagnificence.Beforehegrewup,hisfamilyhadverynearlyreacheditslowestebb.Whenhisfatherdied,therewasonedazzlingoutburstoffuneralextravagance,andtheninsolvency.Thepropertywassoldtoliquidate the debt.What little readymoneywas left overwas altogether insufficient tokeepupthepastancestralsplendours.

Kailas Babu left Nayanjore and came to Calcutta. His son did not remain long in thisworldoffadedglory.Hedied,leavingbehindhimanonlydaughter.

InCalcuttaweareKailasBabu’sneighbours.Curiouslyenoughourownfamilyhistoryisjusttheoppositeofhis.Myfathergothismoneybyhisownexertions,andpridedhimselfonneverspendingapennymore thanwasneeded.Hisclotheswere thoseofaworkingman, and his hands also. He never had any inclination to earn the title of Babu byextravagantdisplay;andImyself,hisonlyson,owehimgratitudeforthat.Hegavemetheverybesteducation,andIwasabletomakemywayintheworld.IamnotashamedofthefactthatIamaself-mademan.Crispbank-notesinmysafearedearertomethanalongpedigreeinanemptyfamilychest.

Ibelieve thiswaswhy Idisliked seeingKailasBabudrawinghisheavychequeson thepubliccreditfromthebankruptbankofhisancientBabureputation.Iusedtofancythathelookeddownonme,becausemyfatherhadearnedmoneywithhisownhands.

I ought to have noticed that no one showed any vexation towards Kailas Babu exceptmyself.Indeeditwouldhavebeendifficulttofindanoldmanwhodidlessharmthanhe.Hewasalwaysreadywithhiskindlylittleactsofcourtesyintimesofsorrowandjoy.Hewouldjoininalltheceremoniesandreligiousobservancesofhisneighbours.Hisfamiliarsmilewould greet young and old alike.His politeness in asking details about domesticaffairs was untiring. The friends whomet him in the street were perforce ready to bebutton-holed,whilealongstringofquestionsofthiskindfollowedoneanotherfromhislips:

“Mydearfriend,Iamdelightedtoseeyou.Areyouquitewell?HowisShashi?AndDada—isheallright?Doyouknow,I’veonlyjustheardthatMadhu’ssonhasgotfever.Howishe?Haveyouheard?AndHariCharanBabu—Ihavenotseenhimforalongtime—Ihopeheisnotill.What’sthematterwithRakkhal?Ander—er,howaretheladiesofyourfamily?”

KailasBabuwasspotlesslyneatinhisdressonalloccasions,thoughhissupplyofclotheswas sorely limited.Everydayheused to air his shirts andvests and coats and trouserscarefully, andput themout in the sun, alongwithhis bed-quilt, his pillowcase, and thesmallcarpetonwhichhealwayssat.Afterairingthemhewouldshakethem,andbrushthem,andputthemcarefullyaway.Hislittlebitsoffurnituremadehissmallroomdecent,andhintedthattherewasmoreinreserveifneeded.Veryoften,forwantofaservant,hewouldshutuphishouseforawhile.Thenhewouldironouthisshirtsandlinenwithhisownhands,anddootherlittlemenialtasks.Afterthishewouldopenhisdoorandreceivehisfriendsagain.

ThoughKailasBabu, as I have said, had lost all his landed property, he had still somefamilyheirloomsleft.Therewasasilvercruetforsprinklingscentedwater,afiligreeboxfor otto-of-roses, a small gold salver, a costly ancient shawl, and the old-fashionedceremonialdressandancestral turban.Thesehehad rescuedwith thegreatestdifficultyfromthemoney-lenders’clutches.Oneverysuitableoccasionhewouldbringthemoutinstate,andthustrytosavetheworld-fameddignityoftheBabusofNayanjore.Atheartthemostmodestofmen,inhisdailyspeechheregardeditasasacredduty,owedtohisrank,togivefreeplaytohisfamilypride.Hisfriendswouldencouragethistraitinhischaracterwithkindlygood-humour,anditgavethemgreatamusement.

Theneighbourhood soon learnt to call him theirThakurDada.Theywould flock tohishouseandsitwithhimforhours together.Topreventhis incurringanyexpense,oneorotherofhisfriendswouldbringhimtobaccoandsay:“ThakurDada,thismorningsometobaccowassenttomefromGaya.Dotakeitandseehowyoulikeit.”

ThakurDadawould take it and say itwas excellent.Hewould then go on to tell of acertainexquisitetobaccowhichtheyoncesmokedintheolddaysofNayanjoreatthecostofaguineaanounce.

“Iwonder,”heusedtosay,“ifanyonewouldliketotryitnow.Ihavesomeleft,andcangetitatonce.”

Everyoneknewthat,iftheyaskedforit,thensomehoworotherthekeyofthecupboardwouldbemissing;orelseGanesh,hisoldfamilyservant,hadputitawaysomewhere.

“You never can be sure,” hewould add, “where things go towhen servants are about.Now,thisGaneshofmine,—Ican’t tellyouwhatafoolheis,butIhaven’t theheart todismisshim.”

Ganesh,forthecreditofthefamily,wasquitereadytobearalltheblamewithoutaword.

Oneof thecompanyusuallysaidat thispoint:“Nevermind,ThakurDada.Pleasedon’ttroubletolookforit.Thistobaccowe’resmokingwilldoquitewell.Theotherwouldbetoostrong.”

ThenThakurDadawouldberelievedandsettledownagain,andthetalkwouldgoon.

Whenhisguestsgotuptogoaway,ThakurDadawouldaccompanythemtothedoorandsaytothemonthedoor-step:“Oh,bytheway,whenareyouallcomingtodinewithme?”

Oneorotherofuswouldanswer:“Notjustyet,ThakurDada,notjustyet.We’llfixadaylater.”

“Quiteright,”hewouldanswer.“Quiteright.Wehadmuchbetterwaittilltherainscome.It’stoohotnow.AndagrandrichdinnersuchasIshouldwanttogiveyouwouldupsetusinweatherlikethis.”

But when the rains did come, every one was very careful not to remind him of hispromise.Ifthesubjectwasbroughtup,somefriendwouldsuggestgentlythatitwasveryinconvenienttogetaboutwhentherainsweresosevere,andthereforeitwouldbemuchbettertowaittilltheywereover.Thusthegamewenton.

ThakurDada’spoorlodgingwasmuchtoosmallforhisposition,andweusedtocondolewithhimabout it.Hisfriendswouldassurehimtheyquiteunderstoodhisdifficulties: itwasnexttoimpossibletogetadecenthouseinCalcutta.Indeed,theyhadallbeenlookingoutforyearsforahousetosuithim.But,Ineedhardlyadd,nofriendhadbeenfoolishenough to findone.ThakurDadaused to say,with a sighof resignation: “Well,well, IsupposeIshallhavetoputupwiththishouseafterall.”Thenhewouldaddwithagenialsmile:“But,youknow,Icouldneverbeartobeawayfrommyfriends.Imustbenearyou.Thatreallycompensatesforeverything.”

SomehowIfeltallthisverydeeplyindeed.Isupposetherealreasonwas,thatwhenamanisyoung,stupidityappearstohimtheworstofcrimes.KailasBabuwasnotreallystupid.In ordinary business matters every one was ready to consult him. But with regard toNayanjorehisutteranceswerecertainlyvoidofcommonsense.Because,outofamusedaffectionforhim,noonecontradictedhisimpossiblestatements,herefusedtokeeptheminbounds.WhenpeoplerecountedinhishearingtheglorioushistoryofNayanjorewithabsurd exaggerations, hewould accept all they saidwith the utmost gravity, and neverdoubted,eveninhisdreams,thatanyonecoulddisbelieveit.

II

When I sitdownand try toanalyse the thoughts and feelings that Ihad towardsKailasBabu,Iseethattherewasastilldeeperreasonformydislike.Iwillnowexplain.

ThoughIamthesonofarichman,andmighthavewastedtimeatcollege,myindustrywassuchthatItookmyM.A.degreeinCalcuttaUniversitywhenquiteyoung.Mymoralcharacterwas flawless. In addition,my outward appearancewas so handsome, that if Iweretocallmyselfbeautiful,itmightbethoughtamarkofself-estimation,butcouldnotbeconsideredanuntruth.

There could be no question that among the young men of Bengal I was regarded byparentsgenerallyasaveryeligiblematch.Iwasmyselfquiteclearonthepointandhaddeterminedtoobtainmyfullvalueinthemarriagemarket.WhenIpicturedmychoice,Ihadbeforemymind’seyeawealthyfather’sonlydaughter,extremelybeautifulandhighlyeducated.Proposals camepouring in tome from far andnear; large sums in cashwereoffered. Iweighed these offerswith rigid impartiality in the delicate scales ofmy own

estimation.Buttherewasnoonefittobemypartner.Ibecameconvinced,withthepoetBhabavuti,that,

Inthisworld’sendlesstimeandboundlessspaceOnemaybebornatlasttomatchmysovereigngrace.

Butinthispunymodernage,andthiscontractedspaceofmodernBengal,itwasdoubtfulifthepeerlesscreatureexistedasyet.

Meanwhilemy praiseswere sung inmany tunes, and in differentmetres, by designingparents.

Whether Iwaspleasedwith theirdaughtersornot, thisworshipwhich theyofferedwasneverunpleasing.Iusedtoregarditasmyproperdue,becauseIwassogood.Wearetoldthatwhenthegodswithholdtheirboonsfrommortalstheystillexpecttheirworshipperstopay them fervent honour and are angry if it is withheld. I had that divine expectancestronglydevelopedinmyself.

Ihavealreadymentioned thatThakurDadahadanonlygrand-daughter. I had seenhermany times, but hadnevermistakenher for beautiful.No thought had ever enteredmymindthatshewouldbeapossiblepartnerformyself.Allthesame,itseemedquitecertaintome that somedayor otherKailasBabuwouldoffer her,with all dueworship, as anoblationatmyshrine.Indeed—thiswastheinnersecretofmydislike—Iwasthoroughlyannoyedthathehadnotdonesoalready.

IheardthatThakurDadahadtoldhisfriendsthattheBabusofNayanjorenevercravedaboon.Evenifthegirlremainedunmarried,hewouldnotbreakthefamilytradition.Itwasthisarroganceofhisthatmademeangry.Myindignationsmoulderedforsometime.ButIremainedperfectlysilentandboreitwiththeutmostpatience,becauseIwassogood.

Aslightningaccompaniesthunder,soinmycharacteraflashofhumourwasmingledwiththemutteringsofmywrath. Itwas,ofcourse, impossible forme topunish theoldmanmerelytogiveventtomyrage;andforalongtimeIdidnothingatall.Butsuddenlyoneday such an amusing plan came intomy head, that I could not resist the temptation ofcarryingitintoeffect.

IhavealreadysaidthatmanyofKailasBabu’sfriendsusedtoflattertheoldman’svanityto the full.One,whowasa retiredGovernment servant,had toldhim thatwheneverhesaw the Chota Lât Sahib he always asked for the latest news about the Babus ofNayanjore, and the Chota Lât had been heard to say that in all Bengal the only reallyrespectablefamilieswerethoseoftheMaharajaofCossiporeandtheBabusofNayanjore.When thismonstrousfalsehoodwas told toKailasBabuhewasextremelygratifiedandoften repeated the story. And wherever after that he met this Government servant incompanyhewouldask,alongwithotherquestions:

“Oh!er—bytheway,howistheChotaLâtSahib?Quitewell,didyousay?Ah,yes,Iamsodelightedtohearit!AndthedearMemSahib,isshequitewelltoo?Ah,yes!andthelittlechildren—aretheyquitewellalso?Ah,yes!that’sverygoodnews!Besureandgivethemmycomplimentswhenyouseethem.”

KailasBabuwouldconstantlyexpresshisintentionofgoingsomedayandpayingavisittotheLordSahib.ButitmaybetakenforgrantedthatmanyChotaLâtsandBurraLâts

alsowouldcomeandgo,andmuchwaterwouldpassdowntheHoogly,beforethefamilycoachofNayanjorewouldbefurbisheduptopayavisittoGovernmentHouse.

OnedayItookKailasBabuasideandtoldhiminawhisper:“ThakurDada,IwasattheLeveeyesterday,andtheChotaLâtSahibhappenedtomentiontheBabusofNayanjore.ItoldhimthatKailasBabuhadcometotown.Doyouknow,hewasterriblyhurtbecauseyouhadn’t called.He toldmehewasgoing toput etiquetteonone sideandpayyouaprivatevisithimselfthisveryafternoon.”

Anybodyelsecouldhaveseenthroughthisplotofmineinamoment.And,ifithadbeendirectedagainstanotherperson,KailasBabuwouldhaveunderstoodthejoke.Butafterallthat he had heard from his friend the Government servant, and after all his ownexaggerations,avisitfromtheLieutenant-Governorseemedthemostnaturalthingintheworld.Hebecamehighlynervousandexcitedatmynews.Eachdetailofthecomingvisitexercisedhimgreatly,—mostofallhisownignoranceofEnglish.Howonearthwasthatdifficulty to bemet? I told him therewas no difficulty at all: itwas aristocratic not toknowEnglish:and,besides, theLieutenant-Governoralwaysbroughtan interpreterwithhim,andhehadexpresslymentionedthatthisvisitwastobeprivate.

About midday, when most of our neighbours are at work, and the rest are asleep, acarriageandpairstoppedbeforethelodgingofKailasBabu.Twoflunkeysinliverycameupthestairs,andannouncedinaloudvoice,“TheChotaLâtSahibhasarrived!”KailasBabu was ready, waiting for him, in his old-fashioned ceremonial robes and ancestralturban, andGaneshwas by his side, dressed in hismaster’s best suit of clothes for theoccasion.

When the Chota Lât Sahib was announced, Kailas Babu ran panting and puffing andtrembling to the door, and led in a friend ofmine, in disguise, with repeated salaams,bowing lowateachstepandwalkingbackwardasbesthecould.HehadhisoldfamilyshawlspreadoverahardwoodenchairandheaskedtheLâtSahibtobeseated.Hethenmade a high-flown speech in Urdu, the ancient Court language of the Sahibs, andpresented on the golden salver a string of gold mohurs, the last relics of his brokenfortune.Theold family servantGanesh,with an expressionof aweborderingon terror,stoodbehindwiththescent-sprinkler,drenchingtheLâtSahib,andtouchedhimgingerlyfromtimetotimewiththeotto-of-rosesfromthefiligreebox.

Kailas Babu repeatedly expressed his regret at not being able to receive His HonourBahadurwithalltheancestralmagnificenceofhisownfamilyestateatNayanjore.Therehecouldhavewelcomedhimproperlywithdueceremonial.ButinCalcuttahewasamerestrangerandsojourner,—infactafishoutofwater.

Myfriend,withhistallsilkhaton,verygravelynodded.IneedhardlysaythataccordingtoEnglishcustomthehatoughttohavebeenremovedinsidetheroom.Butmyfrienddidnotdare to takeitoffforfearofdetection:andKailasBabuandhisoldservantGaneshweresublimelyunconsciousofthebreachofetiquette.

After a tenminutes’ interview,which consisted chiefly of nodding the head,my friendrose to his feet to depart. The two flunkeys in livery, as had been planned beforehand,carriedoffinstatethestringofgoldmohurs,thegoldsalver,theoldancestralshawl,thesilverscent-sprinkler,andtheotto-of-rosesfiligreebox;theyplacedthemceremoniously

inthecarriage.KailasBaburegardedthisastheusualhabitofChotaLâtSahibs.

Iwaswatchingallthewhilefromthenextroom.Mysideswereachingwithsuppressedlaughter.WhenIcouldholdmyselfinnolonger,Irushedintoafurtherroom,suddenlytodiscover,inacorner,ayounggirlsobbingasifherheartwouldbreak.Whenshesawmyuproarious laughter she stood upright in passion, flashing the lightning of her big darkeyesinmine,andsaidwithatear-chokedvoice:“Tellme!Whatharmhasmygrandfatherdonetoyou?Whyhaveyoucometodeceivehim?Whyhaveyoucomehere?Why——”

Shecouldsaynomore.Shecoveredherfacewithherhandsandbrokeintosobs.

Mylaughtervanishedinamoment.Ithadneveroccurredtomethattherewasanythingbutasupremelyfunnyjokeinthisactofmine,andhereIdiscoveredthatIhadgiventhecruellest pain to this tenderest little heart. All the ugliness of my cruelty rose up tocondemnme.Islunkoutoftheroominsilence,likeakickeddog.

Hitherto I had only looked upon Kusum, the grand-daughter of Kailas Babu, as asomewhat worthless commodity in the marriage market, waiting in vain to attract ahusband. But now I found,with a shock of surprise, that in the corner of that room ahumanheartwasbeating.

ThewholenightthroughIhadverylittlesleep.Mymindwasinatumult.Onthenextday,veryearly in themorning, I tookall thosestolengoodsback toKailasBabu’s lodgings,wishingtohandthemoverinsecrettotheservantGanesh.Iwaitedoutsidethedoor,and,notfindinganyone,wentupstairstoKailasBabu’sroom.IheardfromthepassageKusumaskinghergrandfatherinthemostwinningvoice:“Dada,dearest,dotellmeall that theChotaLâtSahibsaidtoyouyesterday.Don’tleaveoutasingleword.Iamdyingtohearitalloveragain.”

AndDadaneedednoencouragement.His facebeamedoverwithprideashe relatedallmanner of praises which the Lât Sahib had been good enough to utter concerning theancient familiesofNayanjore.Thegirlwasseatedbeforehim, lookingup intohis face,andlisteningwithraptattention.Shewasdetermined,outoflovefortheoldman,toplayherparttothefull.

Myheartwasdeeplytouched,andtearscametomyeyes.Istoodthereinsilenceinthepassage, while Thakur Dada finished all his embellishments of the Chota Lât Sahib’swonderfulvisit.Whenhelefttheroomatlast,Itookthestolengoodsandlaidthematthefeetofthegirlandcameawaywithoutaword.

LaterinthedayIcalledagaintoseeKailasBabuhimself.Accordingtoouruglymoderncustom,IhadbeeninthehabitofmakingnogreetingatalltothisoldmanwhenIcameintotheroom.ButonthisdayImadealowbowandtouchedhisfeet.IamconvincedtheoldmanthoughtthatthecomingoftheChotaLâtSahibtohishousewasthecauseofmynewpoliteness.Hewashighlygratifiedbyit,andanairofbenignserenityshonefromhiseyes.Hisfriendshadlookedin,andhehadalreadybeguntotellagainatfull lengththestoryof theLieutenant-Governor’svisitwithstill furtheradornmentsofamostfantastickind.Theinterviewwasalreadybecominganepic,bothinqualityandinlength.

When the other visitors had taken their leave, Imademyproposal to the oldman in ahumblemanner.Itoldhimthat,“thoughIcouldneverforamomenthopetobeworthyof

marriageconnectionwithsuchanillustriousfamily,yet…etc.etc.”

WhenImadeclearmyproposalofmarriage,theoldmanembracedmeandbrokeoutinatumultofjoy:“Iamapoorman,andcouldneverhaveexpectedsuchgreatgoodfortune.”

ThatwasthefirstandlasttimeinhislifethatKailasBabuconfessedtobeingpoor.Itwasalso the first and last time in his life that he forgot, if only for a single moment, theancestraldignitythatbelongstotheBabusofNayanjore.

WORDSTOBESTUDIED

landholder.Thismethodof formingcompoundwordsfromtwooriginalEnglishwordsshouldbestudied.Comparethefollowingwordswhichhave“land”foroneoftheirparts:landlord,landowner,landlady,landslip,landfall.Whenthesecondwordisnotverycloselyattachedtothefirstword,ahyphenisputbetween,thusland-grabber,land-shark.

extinct. From the Latin “stinguere,” to quench. Compare distinct, instinct, extinguish,distinguish.

cheque.Thiswordisthesameas“check,”—onlyinthiscasetheoriginalFrenchformhasbeenkept.Theverbto“check”cameintoEnglishoriginallyfromthegameofchess.InEasternlandswhenthechesskingwasindangertheword“Shah!”wascalledout,andwhen thechesskingcouldnotmove,“Shahmata!”Thesewerecorrupted into“Check!”and“Checkmate!”

bankrupt.Thisword is a curiousmixtureof theoldFrench“banque” (comparebench,banquet) and theLatin“rumpere,” tobreak (comparecorrupt,disrupt). It is thusahybridwordinmodernEnglish.

filigree.FromtwoLatinwords,“filum,”athread,and“granum,”agrain.

otto-of-roses.Acorruptionofattar.ThewordisoriginallyArabicandPersian.

turban.ThiswordhasnowtakenitsplaceinmostoftheEuropeanlanguages.IthascometoEuropefromtheTurkish“tulbend”andthePersian“dulband.”

tobacco.ThiswordcameoriginallyfromCentralAmerica.Itwasbrought toEuropebytheSpaniards,whopronouncedit“tabaco.”Ithasnowtravelledallroundtheworld,andhasgainedaplaceinalltheIndianvernacularsaswellasintheFurtherEast.

boon.TheOldEnglishword“ben”meantaprayer,andthiswastheoriginalmeaningof“boon.” But a new word appeared in English, viz. the adjective “boon” from theFrench “bon,” meaning “good.” (Compare boon companion). This influenced theearlierword,whichthusgaineditspresentmeaningofa“blessing”or“gift.”

smoulder. “Smolder” is an Old English word meaning “smoke.” Cognate words inEnglisharesmotherandsmall,whichcomefromthesameroot.

gingerly.Theoriginofthiswordisverydoubtful.Someconnectitwith“ging”or“gang,”meaning“togo.”Otherswith“gent-”meaning“gentle”or“graceful.”Thewordhasnorelationto“ginger”whichisanEasternwordcomingoriginallyfromtheSanskritçraga-veraandtheHindustanizunjubil.

fantastic.From theGreek“phainō,” tomanifest.Compareemphasis,emphatic, fantasy,fancy,phenomenon.

NOTES

NOTES

I.—THECABULIWALLAH

“TheCabuliwallah”isoneof themostfamousof thePoet’s“ShortStories.”Ithasbeenoftentranslated.ThepresenttranslationisbythelateSisterNivedita,andhersimple,vividstyle should be noticed by the Indian student reader. It is a good example of modernEnglish,withitsshortsentences,itscarefulchoiceofwords,anditsluminousclearnessofmeaning.

Cabuliwallah.]AmanfromCabulorKabul,thecapitalofAfghanistan.

embarked.]Likeashipputtingouttoseaonanewvoyage.

Bhola.]Mini’sattendant.

ProtapSingh.]RabindranathTagorepictureshimselfasengagedinwritinganovel,fullofwildadventures.Thesenamesaremadeuptosuitthestory.

soprecarious.]Thewriteramusinglyimaginestheheroandheroineactuallyswingingbytheropeuntilhecangetbacktohisdeskandfinishwritingabouthowtheyescaped.

Abdurrahman.]TheAmirofKabul.

Frontierpolicy.]ThequestionaboutguardingtheNorth-WestofIndiaagainstinvasion.

withoutdemur.]Withoutmakinganyobjection,oraskingformoremoney.

judiciousbribery.]Hegaveherlittlepresents,judgingwellwhatshewouldlikebest.

new fangled.] The parents had not talked about such things, as old-fashioned peoplewouldhavecertainlydone.

euphemism.]Thismeans, inGreek, “fair speech.”Here itmeans a pleasantwordusedinsteadoftheunpleasantword“jail.”

kingswentforth.]DuringthehotweatherthekingsofancientIndiausedtostayathome:theywouldbegintofightagainatthebeginningofthecoldweather.

myheartwouldgoout.]Thatistosay,hewouldlongtoseesuchplaces.

falltoweaving.]ThisisanEnglishidiom,like“setto”:itmeanstobegin.

conjurethemselves.]Justastheconjurermakesallkindsofthingsappearbeforetheeyes.

vegetableexistence.]Vegetablesare rooted to theground.SoRabindranath is rooted tohisdeskandcannotmakelongjourneys.

As itwas indefinite.]Because therewas no actual reason for it. Indefinite heremeansvague.

forbid theman the house.] This is a briefway of saying forbid theman to enter thehouse.

bebagged.] This word is made up for the occasion, and means “laden with bags.”

Comparethewordsbedewed,besmeared.

justwhere.] The word “just” has become very commonly used in modern English. Itmeans “exactly,” “merely” or “at the very moment.” Compare “He had just goneout.”“Itwasjustajoke.”

Scarcelyonspeakingterms.]RabindranathTagoreisheremakingajoke;“nottobeonspeakingterms”meansusually“tobedispleasedwith.”Minihadbecomesoeagertotalkwithhergirlfriendsthatshehadalmostneglectedherfather.

Durga.]TheDurgaFestivalinBengalissupposedtorepresentthetimewhenParvati,orDurga,leftherfather’shomeintheHimalayas,calledKailas,andwenttolivewithherhusband,Siva.

Bhairavi.]Oneofthemusicaltuneswhichdenotesseparation.

chandeliers.] The glass ornamental hangings on which candles were lighted in greathousesatweddings.

better-omened.]Itwasnotconsideredagoodomen,orgoodfortune,tomeetacriminalonaweddingday.

dispersed.]Usedup.

Parbati.]AnotherallusiontotheGoddessDurgaandherhomeintheHimalayas.

apparition.] Thisword comes from the same root as theword to “appear.” Itmeans asuddenorstrangesight.Itoftenmeansaghost.Minihadsochangedthatwhensheappearedinherweddingdressshestartledhim,asifhehadseenaghost.

makefriendswithheranew.]Hisowndaughterwouldnotknowhimatfirst.

Sawbeforehim thebarrenmountains.]Hismemorywas so strong that itmade himforgetthecrowdedCalcuttastreetandthinkofhishomeinthemountains.

II.—THEHOME-COMING

every one seconded the proposal.] All were so eagerly in favour that theywanted tospeakatonceinsupportofit.

regaldignity.]Hispositionasakingoftheotherboys.

fertilebrain.]Fullofinventionsandplans.

manoeuvre.]AFrenchwordmeaningaplanofbattle.

pointofhonour.]Hewouldfeelhimselfdisgracedifhegaveway.

MotherEarth.]Earthisherepicturedasaperson.Thereisawell-knownstoryofagiantwho gained fresh power every time his body touched the earth, which was hisMother.

Furies.]Thesewere supposed tobecertaindemons,whopursuedguiltymenwith loudcries.

the servant wasmaster.] Notice the play of words here. The “servant” and “master”

changeplaces.

criticaljuncture.]Atthisexactmomentwhenthingsweresodangerous.

Dada.]TheusualBengalwordfor“Brother.”

nolovewaslost.]Thisisamildwayofsayingthattheydislikedoneanother.

onpinsandneedles.]Exceedinglyrestless;likesomeonestandingonsharppoints.

inperpetuity.]Thephraseisamocklegalone,meaning“foralltime.”

bynomeanspleased.]Shewasverydispleased,becauseshehadalreadychildrenofherown. In English a phrase is often put in a negative way to imply a very strongpositivestatement.Thus“bynomeanshappy”maymean“veryunhappy.”

committingsuchanindiscretion.]Doingsuchanunwisething.

indecenthaste.]Amockhumorousexpression,meaning“veryquickly.”

cravesforrecognition.]Wishestobenoticedandloved.

physicallove.]Justasayounganimalclingstoitsmotherforprotection.

animalinstinct.]Thephraserepeatsinanotherformwhatwassaidbefore,inthewords“akindofphysicallove.”

pursed her lips.] Drew her lips tight like themouth of a purse which is tightened bypullingthestring.

asifexpectingsomeone.]Hewaslookingforhismother.

verycritical.]Verydangerous.Thedangerpointof the illnessmightbe reachedat anymomentanddeathmightcome.

Bythemark.]Whenashallowplacecomesatsea,oronagreatriver,oneofthesailorsthrowsapieceof lead,withastring tied to it, into thewater,and then looksat themarkonthestring.Hecallsoutthatthedepthis“three”or“four”fathomsaccordingtothemark.

plumb-line.]Thelinewithaleadweight.

plumbing.]Toplumbistogettothebottomofapieceofwater.HerePhatikispicturedashimselfgoingdeeperanddeeperintotheseaofdeath,whichnonecanfathom.

theholidays.]TheBengaliword for “holiday”means also “release.” It is as thoughheweresaying,“Myreleasehascome.”ThiscannotberepresentedintheEnglish.

III.—ONCETHEREWASAKING

In this story Rabindranath Tagore begins with some amusing sentences about the dull,matter of fact character of modern scientific people, who cannot enjoy a fairy storywithout asking “Is it true?” The Poet implies that there are deeper truths thanmodernsciencehasyetdiscovered.Theendingofthepresentstorywillshowthismoreclearly.

sovereigntruth.]There is a playupon theword “sovereign”which canmean “kingly”andalso“supreme.”

exacting.] There is further play here with the words “exact” and “exacting.” “Exact”meanspreciseand“exacting”meansmakingothersprecise.

legendaryhaze.]Theancientlegendsareveryobscure,justlikeanobjectseenthroughamist.

knowledge.]Merebookknowledge,—knowledgeofoutsidethings.

truth.] Inner truth such as comes from the heart of man and cannot be reasoned ordisputed.

halfpastseven.]Thetimewhenhistutorwasdue.

nootherneed.]AsifGodwouldcontinuetherainmerelytokeephistutoraway!

Ifnot.]Thoughitmightnothavebeencausedbyhisprayers,stillforsomereasontheraindidcontinue.

nordidmyteacher.]Supplythewords“giveup.”

punishment to fit the crime.] An amusing reference to the doctrine of karma, whichstatesthateachdeedwillhaveitsduerewardorpunishment.

asme.]Strictlyspeakingitshouldbe“I”not“me”butheiswritingnottoostrictly.

Ihopenochild.]Theauthorhereamusinglypretendsthatthechild’swayofgettingoutofhislessonswastooshockingforyoungboysinthejuniorschooltoreadabout.

Iwillmarrymydaughtertohim.]Theverbto“marry”inEnglishcanbeusedintwosenses:—

(1)Towedsomeone:totakeinmarriage.(2)Togetsomeonewedded:togiveinmarriage.

Thelatersenseisusedhere.

inthedawnofsomeindefinitetime.]Insomepastexistencelongago.

Ifmygrandmotherwereanauthor.]HereRabindranathreturnstohismockinghumour.Amodernauthor,hesays,wouldbeobligedtoexplainallsortsofdetailsinthestory.

hueandcry.]Thisisaphraseusedforthenoiseandbustlethatismadewhenpeoplearesearchingforathief.

Herreaders.]ReferringbacktotheGrandmother.

inanunderhandway.]Underthedisguiseofafairystory.

grandmotheragain.]That is, in theold conditionswhenpeoplewerenot too exactingaboutaccuracy.

luckless grandson.] A humorous way of referring to himself. The author had themisfortunetobeborninthemodernageofscience.

Sevenwings.]Theword“wings”ishereused,notfor“wings”likethoseofbirds,butforthesidesofalargebuilding,projectingoutatananglefromthemainbuilding.

Butwhatistheuse….]Theauthorherebreaksoffthestory,asthoughitwereuselesstogo on any further in thesemodern days when every thing has to be scientifically

proved.

Some“whatthen?”]Somefutureexistenceaboutwhichexplanationsmightbeasked.

nograndmotherofagrandmother.]Noone,howeverold.

neveradmitsdefeat.]Refusestobelieveindeath.

teacherlessevening.]Eveningonwhichtheteacherdidnotcome.

chamberofthegreatend.]Deathitselfisreferredto;itistheendofhumanlifeonearthandwhatisbeyonddeathisshutoutfromus.

incantation.]Sacredversesormantras.

IV.—THERETURNOFTHECHILD

foundtwomasters.]Thewifewashismasternow,aswellasherhusband.

makeforsafety.]Gettosomeplacewherehecouldnotbecaught.

willbea judge someday.]Thebaby seemed sowise toRaicharan, thathe thoughthewouldcertainlygrowuptobeajudge.

epoch in human history.] It seemed to Raicharan as though some great event hadhappenedwhichoughttoberecorded.

wrestler’strick.]Thewriter, infun,makesRaicharan’sskilldependondoing justwhatthewrestlertriestoavoid,i.e.beingthrownonhisback.

swalloweddown.]Washedthemawayinaflood.

littledespot.]Thebaby,whowasabletomakeRaicharandoexactlywhatheliked.

The silent ceremonial.] The author pictures the sunset as like some splendid kinglyceremony,whereeverygorgeouscolourcanbeseen.

“Pittyfow.”]“Prettyflower.”Thebabycanonlylispthewords.

Hewaspromotedfromahorseintoagroom.]Hewasnolongeraskedbythebabytobea“horse”inhisgames,buttolookafterthistoycarriage,asagroomwould.

withallsortsofcuriousnoises.]Hebegantoimitatethesoundsofbirds.

destinedtobeajudge.]ThebabycouldseethroughRaicharan’sattemptstodeceive,asajudgewouldseethroughfalseevidence.

wavelets.]Thelittlewavesseemedlikesomanythousandlittlechildrenrunningawayinfunormischief.

therewasnoonethere.]Thesewordsarerepeatedagainandagaintogivethesenseofutterlossanddesolation.

overwhelmingresentment.]HisownbabyseemedtohavebeengiventohiminordertotempthimtoforgethislittleMaster.Raicharanwasangrytothinkthatanyonecouldimaginesuchforgetfulnesstobepossible.

The littleMastercouldnotcastoff the spell.]Couldnot keep away from the servantwholovedhimsomuch.HefancieshislittleMasterhascomebacktolifeagaininthisnewlittlebaby,drawnasitwerebysomeenchantmentoflove.

accumulated.]Gatheredtogether:referringtotheideaofkarma.

personalappearance.]Hespentalongtimeinarranginghisclothesandmakinghimselflookhandsome.

countrymanners.]Countrypeoplehavehabitsandwaysofspeakingwhichseemabsurdtotownpeople.

akindofcondescension.]AsifheweresuperiorandRaicharanwerebeneathhim.

mendicantquack.]Abeggardealinginherbsandmedicinesandcharms.

hungry,eagereyes.]Asifshecouldnevergazelongenoughuponhim.

themagistrateinhim.]Themagistrate’swayoflookingatthings.

magisterialconscience.]Hisinstinctsasajudge,whomustcondemntheguilty.

V.—MASTERMASHAI

Ratikanta.]Heisrepresentedthroughoutasatypicalhanger-onoftherichfamily,selfishandflattering.

VictorHugo.]ThemostfamousofVictorHugo’sstories iscalled“LesMiserables.”ItsopeningsceneofSanValjeanandthesaintlyBishopisverywellknowninliterature.

deep-laidplot.]Noticehowthroughout thisstory thedifferentmembersof thiswealthyhouseappeartobeunabletotakeaccountofunselfishmotives.

thisissheerkidnapping.]AdharBabubelievesthatHaralalhasacquiredsomehypnoticinfluenceoverVenuandistryingtorobhimofhismoney.

brokersandmiddlemen.]Thosewhobought thegrainfromthepeasantsandsold it totheEnglishfirm.

anysecurity.]Amoneypaymentwhichwouldbeforfeitedifanythingwentwrong.

anoteofhand.]ApapersignedbyVenugopalsayingthatheowedsomuchmoney.

filedasuit.]Broughtanactioninthelawcourtsagainstthefathertorecoverthemoneylenttotheson.

Currencynotes.]Notesoftwenty,fifty,ahundredrupees,—suchascouldbechangedformoney.

theft thenightbefore.]AdharBabuhadalreadymissed the things thatVenuhad takenaway.

it’s a paying business.] Adhar Babu imagines that Venu and Haralal have becomepartnersinordertoswindleotherpeople.

withyourconnivance.]Withyoursecretknowledgeandapproval.

Deliverancewasintheinfinitesky.]Hefeltthatalltheevils,whichwerepressingclosearound him,were broken through and that he had come out beyond them into theclear lightof truth. Itwas like comingoutof somenarrowconfinedplace into theopensky.

VI.—SUBHA

Subhashini.]Sweetlyspeaking.

Sukheshini.]Withlovelyhair.

Suhashini.]Sweetlysmiling.

process of translation.] To change the unspoken language of thought into the spokenlanguage of words is like translating the mother tongue into a foreign language.Muchofthebeautyislost.

thatspeechofthedarkeyes.]Naturewasspeakingineverypartofherowngreatbeing,inthesamesilentwayasthosedarkeyesofSubhawerespeaking.

without any common language.] The cows had the common language of looks withwhichtotalktoSubha.ButPratap,whocouldspeak,hadnotlearntSubha’slanguageoflooks.

theybecomepublicproperty.]Everyonecanamusehimselfbytalkingwiththeminidlemoments.

water nymph.] Referring to the legends, common in all countries, of water fairies ormermaidslivingatthebottomofariverorbeneaththeseaanddwellinginwonderfulpalaces.

tide from the central places of the sea.]When the moon is full, the tide rises to itshighest point: it seems to start from somecentral place far out at sea and to comerollingandsurgingin.

silent troubledMother.]Nature,with her full tide and fullmoon, seems troubled andlongingtobreakoutintospeech,justasSubhalongedtodo.

they have caught your bridegroom.] Pratap employs the word “caught” from hisfavouritepursuitoffishing.Thebridegroomhasbeencaughtjustlikeafish.

didherbesttokillhernaturalbeauty.]Herhairwasmuchmorebeautifulwhenleftinitsnaturalway,insteadofbeingallboundupinanet.

TheGod…thegreatman.]Thesewordsrefer to thebridegroomhimself,whowieldssuchmightypowersofchoiceorrefusal.Theyareironical.

VII.—THEPOSTMASTER

likeafishoutofwater.]Completelyoutofplace,becausehewasusedtocitylife.

macadamised road.] He would have infinitely preferred the streets and shops andcrowdedmarketsofCalcutta.

smoke…fromthevillagecowsheds.]Suchasisusedtodriveawaythemosquitoes.

Baül.]AreligioussectinBengalwhosememberssingsongsandoftengoaboutbegging.

Nomore of this.] Hewas afraid hemight become too deeply attached to Ratan if hestayed.

Itsfondmistakesarepersistent.]Wecontinuallytrytodeceiveourselvesthatwhatwewishtobetrueistrue.Whenatlastwefindoutthetruth,wecouldalmostwishwehadnotdoneso.

VIII.—THECASTAWAY

Likearudderlessboat.]Noticehowthemetaphoriskeptuptotheendofthesentence.

ThewritofFate.]They said that if shewas to die, shewas to die, and nothing couldpreventit.

profitingtheirBrahminguest.]Shewouldbelieve this tobeanactofmerit forwhichshewouldberewarded.

out of his repertory.] Out of the stock of plays he recited when he belonged to thetheatricaltroupe.

hearingsacrednames.]Thisalso,shebelieved,wouldbringhermerit.

forcinghouse.]Likesomeglassconservatoryusedforexoticflowers.

exactstature.]Themanagerwishedhimtotakethepartsofwomenwhoaresmallerthanmen.

cametoadequaterevelation.]Werenowabundantlyapparent.

twice-bornbird.]Oncebornintheeggandonceafterthebreakingoftheegg.ThegooseinthestorywasthemessengerbetweenNalaandDamayanti.

the tigerhasnowish tobecomeamouse.]A reference toa folk storyof a saintwhoturnedapetmouseintoatiger.

Germansilver.]Akindofcheapsilvercontainingmuchalloyinit.

tolookforyourDamayanti.]TofindSatishawife.

IX.—THESONOFRASHMANI

dothedutyofthefather.]Bydiscipliningandpunishingthechild.

cripplinghispatrimony.]Injuringtheestate.

thisispreposterous.]Thenaturalthingwouldbeforthepropertytobedividedbetweenthetwobrothersandtheirdescendants,butbythiswillonlyonesonwasrecognizedandonesetofgrandsons.

given to the grandsons.] To Shyama Charan’s and Bhavani’s sons. According to thispreposterouswillBhavaniwasleftoutaltogether,andalsohisson.

ShyamaCharan’streachery.]Shefullybelievedthathehadstolenthewillandputthisfalseoneinitsplace.

Noto used to get reprimands.] Used to be blamed for wishing to save this waste ofmoney.Of course thewhole thingwas imaginary, but it gaveBhavani the pleasedfeelingofbeinggenerous.

traditionalextravagance.]Suchashadalwaysbeendisplayedinformerdayswhenthefamilywasprosperous.

Someimaginarydog.]Shewouldsaythatsomedoghadrunoffwiththefoodwhichshehadprepared.

Bhavanihad confessed.]Rashmani,Noto andBhavani himselfwere all alike ready to

keep up the illusion that the old magnificence was still there, if only this or thataccidenthadnotdeprivedthemofitsdisplay.

invisible ink.] Inkwhich is invisiblewhen firstwrittenwith,butwhenheatedbecomesvisible.

Baba,wait a little.] In Bengal daughters are often calledMa (mother) and sons Baba(father).

itbecameabsurdlyeasy.]Because,afterthis,boththemotherandhersoncouldjoininthepretencetogether.

lackinginproperenthusiasm.]Didnotcaremuchaboutthesubject.

morethancompensated.]Thepleasureoftellingthenewswasgreaterthanthepainofknowingthatsuchasacrilegewasgoingtotakeplace.

withallthemoredeadlyforce.]Thethrowerbeingupabove,thespeedwouldincreaseallthemoreonthedownwardflightofthemissile.

requiringexpensivefodder.]Vanitycanfeeditselfontheideaofselfimportance.

tograzeatlarge.]Merelytofeedonwhatisbeforeit.Hegaveitextrafoodbypayingforanumberofflatterers,justasahorseisstall-fedwithextrasuppliesoffood.

turnedroundonhim.]Hisvanitywouldbeoffendedandhewouldbehisenemyinsteadofhishelper.

forcedextravagance.]Kalipadahadbeenforcedbythesneersofthestudentstogivefarmorethanhecouldafford.

drawtearsfromtheeyes.]Anamusingwayofsayingthatnoburglarwouldeverdreamoftryingtorobsucharoom.

laidtheirimpioushands.]Hadgrosslyinsulted.

lethimclimbdownfirst.]AnEnglishmetaphormeaning“lethimbehumble.”

hediscoveredthetruth.]ThetruththathewasanearrelativeofKalipada.

grandchild’s privilege.] Especially in Bengal, a grandchild is allowed the liberty ofmakingjokeswithhisgrandfather.

hefounditeasy.]Helovedhismothersomuchthatwhenhefoundanyonepleasedwiththings which she had made he enjoyed seeing them use these things rather thanhimself.

X.—THEBABUSOFNAYANJORE

thedaysbeforetheflood.]Theword“antediluvian”meaning“beforetheflood,”isusedsometimes inEnglish for thingsveryancientandoutofdate.There isaplayuponthishere.

dazzlingoutburst.]Justas,atafireworkdisplay,pitchdarknessfollowsthelastfirework.

drawing his heavy cheques.] To “draw a cheque” is to take so much from a credit

accountinthebank.ThewordsarehumorouslyusedhereoftakingsomethingfromthepublicbeliefaboutthegreatnessoftheBabusofNayanjore.

ander-er.]Hehesitatesalittleashementionstheladies.

ThakurDada.]Grandfather.

mymoralcharacterwasflawless.]Notehowtheauthorshowstheconceitofthisyoungman.Compare,lowerdown,thephrase“becauseIwassogood.”

poetBhabavuti.]The poetmeans that theremust be someone in this vast universe oftimeandspacewhoisthematchfortheheroofhispoem.

ChotaLâtSahib.]Thestory refers to the timewhenCalcuttawas theCapitalof India.The Burra Lât Sahib was the Viceroy, the Chota Lât Sahib was the Lieutenant-Governor.

walkingbackward.]Asamarkofrespect.Hewascontinuallybowingandthensteppingback.Thiskindofceremonialbowingwascommonerinearlierdaysthanitisnow.

tall silk hat.] These were only worn in India at State functions and their use in thiscountry by Englishmen is becomingmore andmore rare. But in earlier days theywerenotuncommon.Theyareblackincolourandshining.

uglymoderncustom.]Theauthordislikesthepassingawayofanoldbeautifulcustomofreverencetowardsoldmen.

becomingan epic.]Becoming legendary by its additions.An epic poemoften goes ondescribinganincidentwithallkindsofmarvellouseventsaddedtoit,tillitbecomesaverylongstory.