THE LADY FROM BENARES
I
BABU Girindra Nath, the Head Goods Clerk of Dinapur Railway Station, lived in a small thatched cottage away in the bazaar. After entering upon service he led rather a wild bachelor life for about ten years. But now he was quite another man, having recently taken unto him a wife.
Mrs. Girindra was not quite a child as Hindoo brides generally are—he saw to that. Her name was Maloti. Her complexion was rather dark,—but there was a tenderness about her that made her sweet though she could lay no claims to beauty. Young as she was, she had to keep house for her husband. She had no mother-in-law, no sister-in-law to look after her, poor child! When her husband was away at work, she had no one in the house to talk to, no one except Bhojooa's mother who spoke no Bengalee. This person was there in the capacity of a domestic servant. She had to be paid a rupee extra per month because it was stipulated that she should stay in the house all day long—looking after her young mistress.
