Sarala: Shyama! all times are alike to you. Must you be always laughing?
Shyama: Must I not laugh? must I sit down and cry like you? Why should I cry?
As she spoke her voice became thick, and in her eyes some tears might have been seen. Shyama, as though ashamed, sat down with averted face.
Sarala: Shyama! they have cut us off. Thakurun Didi is cooking for them. I'm thinking what will happen to us to-day.
Shyama: You are not to eat with them?
Sarala related to Shyama the events of the morning. Again laughing, Shyama asked, "Then to which party am I to go? Happily I am not the mother of the gentlemen. If I were I should die before they could agree to take me to the river.[1] But I know not what may befall me as the servant of both families. Khuri Ma, do you know?"
Sarala, somewhat vexed, replied, "Your laughing troubles me, can you not refrain for a couple of hours?"
She had scarcely finished speaking when Bipin and Gopal came in from school. Gopal asked, "Ma, what shall I eat?" His mother, wiping his hot face, replied, "Wait a little and you shall have something." Bipin had received a sweetmeat from his mother. In putting it into his hand Pramada had said, "Sit down here and eat it, do not go outside till you have finished."
But why should Bipin listen? the moment he got the sweetmeat he went out, calling Gopal. Gopal obeying the call, and seeing Bipin eating, said, "Elder brother, will you not give me a bit?"
Bipin: No, brother, my mother will scold.
Gopal: Why will mother scold? When I get anything I give you some of it, my mother does not say anything."
Bipin: I cannot give it you now, brother, when I am big I will.
Gopal: Shall I always remain little? when I am big I shall not want anything from you.
Thus talking they both went near the kitchen. Bipin, looking
- ↑ Referring to the custom of taking dying persons to the side of the Ganges before the final moment.
