the hungry stones and other stories-第23章
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u。 Two flunkeys in livery came up the stairs； and announced in a loud voice； 〃The Chota Lord Sahib hoe arrived。〃 Kailas Babu was ready； waiting for him； in his old…fashioned ceremonial robes and ancestral turban； and Ganesh was by his side； dressed in his master's best suit of clothes for the occasion。 When the Chota Lord Sahib was announced； Kailas Balm ran panting and puffing and trembling to the door； and led in a friend of mine； in disguise； with repeated salaams； bowing low at each step； and walking backward as best he could。 He had his old family shawl spread over a hard wooden chair； and he asked the Lord Sahib to be seated。 He then made a high。 flown speech in Urdu； the ancient Court language of the Sahibs； and presented on the golden salver a string of gold mohurs； the last relics of his broken fortune。 The old family servant Ganesh； with an expression of awe bordering on terror； stood behind with the scent…sprinkler； drenching the Lord Sahib； touching him gingerly from time to time with the otto…of…roses from the filigree box。
Kailas Babu repeatedly expressed his regret at not being able to receive His Honour Bahadur with all the ancestral magnificence of his own family estate at Nayanjore。 There he could have welcomed him properly with due ceremonial。 But in Calcutta he was a mere stranger and sojourner…in fact a fish out of water。
My friend； with his tall silk hat on； very gravely nodded。 I need hardly say that according to English custom the hat ought to have been removed inside the room。 But my friend did not dare to take it off for fear of detection； and Kailas Balm and his old servant Ganesh were sublimely unconscious of the breach of etiquette。
After a ten minutes' interview； which consisted chiefly of nodding the head； my friend rose to his feet to depart。 The two flunkeys in livery； as had been planned beforehand； carried off in state the string of gold mohurs； the gold salver； the old ancestral shawl； the silver scent… sprinkler； and the otto…of…roses filigree box； they placed them ceremoniously in the carriage。 Kailas Babu regarded this as the usual habit of Chota Lard Sahibs。
I was watching all the while from the next room。 My sides were aching with suppressed laughter。 When I could hold myself in no longer； I rushed into a further room； suddenly to discover； in a corner； a young girl sobbing as if her heart would break。 When she saw my uproarious laughter she stood upright in passion； flashing the lightning of her big dark eyes in mine； and said with a tear…choked voice：
〃Tell me！ What harm has my grandfather done to you？ Why have you come to deceive him？ Why have you come here？ Why〃
She could say no more。 She covered her face with her hands； and broke into sobs。
My laughter vanished in a moment。 It had never occurred to me that there was anything but a supremely funny joke in this act of mine； and here I discovered that I had given the cruelest pain to this tenderest little heart。 All the ugliness of my cruelty rose up to condemn me。 I slunk out of the room in silence； like a kicked dog。
Hitherto I had only looked upon Kusum； the grand…daughter of Kailas Babu； as a somewhat worthless commodity in the marriage market； waiting in vain to attract a husband。 But now I found； with a shock of surprise； that in the corner of that room a human heart was beating。
The whole night through I had very little sleep。 My mind was in a tumult。 On the next day； very early in the morning； I took all those stolen goods back to Kailas Babe's lodgings； wishing to hand them over in secret to the servant Ganesh。 I waited outside the door； and； not finding any one； went upstairs to Kailas Babu's room。 I heard from the passage Kusum asking her grandfather in the most winning voice： 〃Dada； dearest； do tell me all that the Chota Lord Sahib said to you yesterday。 Don't leave out a single word。 I am dying to hear it all over again。〃
And Dada needed no encouragement。 His face beamed over with pride as he related all manner of praises； which the Lard Sahib had been good enough to utter concerning the ancient families of Nayanjore。 The girl was seated before him； looking up into his face； and listening with rapt attention。 She was determined； out of love for the old man； to play her part to the full。
My heart was deeply touched； and tears came to my eyes。 I stood there in silence in the passage； while Thakur Dada finished all his embellishments of the Chota Lord Sahib's wonderful visit。 When he left the room at last； I took the stolen goods and laid them at the feet of the girl and came away without a word。
Later in the day I called again to see Kailas Balm himself。 According to our ugly modern custom； I had been in the habit of making no greeting at all to this old man when I came into the room。 But on this day I made a low bow； and touched his feet。 I am convinced the old man thought that the coming of the Chota Lord Sahib to his house was the cause of my new politeness。 He was highly gratified by it； and an air of benign severity shone from his eyes。 His friends had flocked in； and he had already begun to tell again at full length the story of the Lieutenant…Governor's visit with still further adornments of a most fantastic kind。 The interview was already becoming an epic； both in quality and in length。
When the other visitors had taken their leave； I made my proposal to the old man in a humble manner。 I told him that； 〃 though I could never for a moment hope to be worthy of marriage connection with such an illustrious family； yet 。 。 。 etc。 etc。〃
When I made clear my proposal of marriage； the old man embraced me； and broke out in a tumult of joy： 〃 I am a poor man； and could never have expected such great good fortune。〃
That was the first and last time in his life that Kailas Babu confessed to being poor。 It was also the first and last time in his life that he forgot； if only for a single moment； the ancestral dignity that belongs to the Babus of Nayanjore。
LIVING OR DEAD？
I
The widow in the house of Saradasankar； the Ranihat zemindar； had no kinsmen of her father's family。 One after another all had died。 Nor had she in her husband's family any one she could call her own； neither husband nor son。 The child of her brother…in…law Saradasankar was her darling。 Far a long time after his birth； his mother had been very ill； and the widow； his aunt Kadambini； had fostered him。 If a woman fosters another's child； her love for him is all the stronger because she has no claim upon him…no claim of kinship； that is； but simply the claim of love。 Love cannot prove its claim by any document which society accepts； and does not wish to prove it； it merely worships with double passion its life's uncertain treasure。 Thus all the widow's thwarted love went out to wards this little child。 One night in Sraban Kadambini died suddenly。 For some reason her heart stopped beating。 Everywhere else the world held on its course； only m this gentle little breast； suffering with love； the watch of time stood still for ever。
Lest they should be harassed by the poike； four of the zemindar's Brahmin servants took away the body； without ceremony； to be burned。 The burning…ground of Ranihat was very far from the village。 There was a hut beside a tank； a huge banian near it； and nothing more。 Formerly a river； now completely dried up； ran through the ground； and part of the watercourse had been dug out to make a tank for the performance of funeral rites。 The people considered the tank as part of the river and reverenced it as such。
Taking the body into the hut； the four men sat down to wait for the wood。 The time seemed so long that two of the four grew restless； and went to see why it did not come。 Nitai and Gurucharan being gone； Bidhu and Banamali remained to watch over the body。
It was a dark night of Sraban。 Heavy clouds hung In a starless sky。 The two men sat silent in the dark room。 Their matches and lamp were useless。 The matches were damp； and would not light； for all their efforts； and the lantern went out。
After a long silence； one said： 〃Brother； it would be good if we had a bowl of tobacco。 In our hurry we brought none。〃
The other answered： 〃I can run and bring all we want。〃
