seen of Paresh Babu and his family, I have come to entertain a great respect for them. Maybe, for that reason, I have a certain attraction for seeing what their home life is like."
" 'Attraction' let it be, if you prefer it; but of that attraction you must beware. What harm if your zoological researches remain uncompleted ? This much is certain, that they belong to the genus predatory ; and if your studies lead you too near them, you will go so far in that not even the tip of your tail will be visible."
" You have one great fault, Gora," objected Binoy. "You seem believe that all the strength God had to give was bestowed on you alone, and that the rest of us are mere weaklings."
This remark seemed to strike Gora with the force of a new idea. "Right!" he shouted, giving Binoy an enthusiastic thump on the back. "Quite right ! That is the great fault of mine."
" Lord!" groaned Binoy. "You have a still greater fault, Gora, and that is your utter inability to estimate the force of concussion which the ordinary spinal cord is able to bear."
At this moment Gora's elder stepbrother, Mohim, came upstairs, stout and panting, and called out, " Gora !"
Gora at once left his seat and stood up respectfully as he answered, "Sir?"
" I just came," said Mohim, " to see if the thunder-clouds had burst on our roof. What's the excitement to-day ? I suppose by now you have driven the English half-way across the Indian Ocean ! I haven't noticed much loss to the Englishmen, but your sister-in-law below is lying in bed with a headache, and your leonine roaring is somewhat a trial to her."
With this Mohin left them and went back downstairs.
CHAPTER III
Just as Gora and Binoy were about to go down from the roof, Gora's mother arrived there, and Binoy respectfully saluted her, taking the dust of her feet.
To see Anandamoyi no one would think she was Gora's mother. She had a slender but well-knit figure; and though her hair was grey did not show. At first sight you would take her for under forty. The curves of her face
