might eat refuse (a common form of abuse). This was a daily occurrence.
Arriving at the door of Nagendra's house, the grandmother escaped from her enemies, who at sight of the fierce black moustaches of the durwans fled from the battlefield, one crying—
"Bama Charn Dobé
Goes to bed early,
And when the thief comes he runs away."
Another—
"Ram Sing Paré
With a stick marches boldly,
But at sight of a thief he flies to the tank."
A third—
"Lal Chand Sing
Doth briskly dance and sing,
Is death on the food,
But at work is no good."
The boys fled, attacked by the durwans with a shower of words not to be found in any dictionary.
Hira's grandmother, plodding along, arrived at the dispensary attached to Nagendra's dwelling. Perceiving the doctor, she said, "Oh, father, where is the doctor, father?"
