Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/28

6 warmed the milk, fed her child and went away again to give some hay and water to the cows. When she came back, Mahendra asked, "How long could we go on in this way?"

"Not very long, I am sure," said Kalyani, "but we must go on as long as we can;—so long, at any rate, as I live. You may then go away to town with our daughter."

"If we ever have to go to town, why then should I let you suffer so much now? Come let us go at once."

They then had a long discussion over it. "Do you think it would be any good our going to town?" asked Kalyani.

"I am afraid," answered Mahendra, "the town may have grown as desolate and as impossible to live in as here."

"But perhaps," said Kalyani, "we might fare better by going to Murshidabad, Cassimbazar, or Calcutta. It is by all means needful to leave this place."

Mahendra said, "This house is full of the hoarded wealth of generations. Do you know that all this will be plundered by thieves?"

K. "If they really come to plunder, can we two save it? If life is lost, who will enjoy the riches? Let us now lock up our doors and be off. If life is spared us, we shall come back to enjoy them again."

Mahendra said, "I don't know if you will be able to go on foot as you will have to; for Palki bearers are dead, and, as for bullock-carts, if you have