Srikanta
that early age, the tragic fatality which ends friendship between the great and the little in this world.
Three or four months passed. We had given each other up: and whatever may have been the pangs and sorrows on each side, neither of us made any enquiry about the other. It was at this time, in the midst of the Kali-puja holidays, that a stage was erected at the Dutts' house for the local amateur theatricals. The play was going to be Meghnad-badh ('The Killing of Meghnad'). I had often seen rustic operas performed but had not seen many theatrical plays. This and the fact that, as a great favour, I had been allowed to lend a hand in preparing the stage, roused my enthusiasm to such a pitch that I gave up all my usual occupations and was indefatigable in my task. Not only was I favoured by being allowed to help, but he who was to take the part of Rama, had himself once told me to hold a rope. Accordingly I had high hopes that at night when other boys, peering through the holes of the canvas-walls of the green-room, would he repulsed at the point of sticks, the special favour of Rama would mean different treatment for me; perhaps he would single me out of the rabble and call me in once or twice. But alas for all my arduous labours throughout the day, my recompense, after the lamps were lit, was nil. Hour after hour I stood near the green-room door: Ramachandra passed and re-passed me several times, but far from asking why I stood there, he never even gave me a nod of recognition. Ungrateful Rama! Had he no further need of a rope-holder?
After ten o'clock. when the first bell rang to signal the beginning of the play, I joined the audience, extremely pained and disgusted with the whole affair, and occupied
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