friend has spoilt, and whom his wife is still spoiling; don't follow suit, I pray you, but try some new diversion!"
Mahendra.—"That is to say—?"
Vihari.—"That is to say me for instance, whom no one else has ever deigned to look at."
Mahendra.—"So you want to be spoilt, eh, friend Vihari! That's not such an easy matter,—a mere petition is not enough."
"The capacity to be spoilt must also be there, Vihari Babu," laughed Binodini.
Vihari.—"Couldn't the skill of the operator make up for the patient's failings? Do try the experiment, won't you?"
Binodini.—"You mustn't be so determined, you should simply resign yourself. What say you, my Eyesore? Won't you try your hand on friend Vihari?"
Asha pushed Binodini away with the tips of her fingers. Vihari likewise refused to pursue this suggestion.
It had not escaped Binodini how sensitive Vihari was to being chaffed about Asha. It riled her that he should respect Asha and treat herself lightly. "This cunning mendicant," said she to Asha, "is really begging for your favour through me. Grant him at least something, my dear!"
Asha felt really annoyed.
Vihari got red in the face but, recovering himself in a moment, said with a smile: "So I'm to be put off with a draft while Dada gets all the cash?"
Mahendra in his turn, was annoyed. Plain speaking was hardly compatible with a romantic situation. He replied with some acerbity: "My dear Vihari, your Dada does not trade in these things. He is quite satisfied with what he has."
"He may not want to," Vihari rejoined, "but he is one of those lucky people towards whom trade-winds have a way of blowing."
"And which way does the wind blow with you, friend Vihari, who have nothing of your own!"—Binodini nudged Asha, her eyes sparkling mischief the while.
Asha indignantly left the room.
Vihari felt himself worsted and maintained an angry silence. He was on the point of rising to go when Binodini went out of the room with a parting shot: "Don't despair, Vihari Babu, I'll go and send my Eyesore Back."
With Binodini's departure Mahendra's irritation came to a head. Seeing the gloom settling on his countenance Vihari could stand it no longer and blurted out: "If you want to spoil your own life, Dada, you're welcome. That's a thing you've been consistently trying to do. But don't ruin the life of the pure-souled simple-hearted girl who is so trustfully clinging to you." Vihari's voice choked with emotion.
"I don't understand a word of what you are saying," replied Mahendra, sullenly, "will you leave off speaking in riddles and talk plainly?"
"I'll put it quite plainly," said Vihari. "Binodini is deliberately luring you into the path of sin, and you, like a fool, are blindly following her lead."
"That's a lie," shouted Mahendra in a towering rage. "If you are capable of harbouring such unworthy suspicions you aren't fit to come into the inner apartments[1] at all."
At this juncture Binodini re-entered with a little collation of sweetmeats arranged on a metal salver, which she placed before Vihari with a smile.
"Why this feast?" exclaimed Vihari, "I'm afraid I have no appetite."
"No excuses please," said Binodini. "You must refresh yourself before you leave."
"So my petition is granted, the spoiling has begun!"
Binodini's smile was full of meaning as she replied: "You have a claim as the friend of the family. Where there's a right why beg? You can insist on being made much of."—"Isn't that so, Mahendra Babu?"
Mahendra was speechless.
Binodini.—"You're not doing any justice to the sweets, Vihari Babu; are you bashful or is it a protest? Shall I ask someone else to come in?"
Vihari.—"No more, thank you, I've had enough!"
Binodini.—"Still sarcastic? There's no getting even with you! My poor sweets can't stop your mouth."
That night when Asha spoke out her resentment at Vihari's ways, Mahendra did not as usual laugh it away, but heartily joined in.
The very next morning Mahendra went off to Vihari's lodgings and said: "Look
- ↑ The woman's part of the house. Relatives and intimate friends of the family are the only men who have access to it.
