Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/88

66 " Oh no !" said Nimi, " there's plenty of distress here. But we are only two souls, what we have with us we eat ourselves and give some to our neighbours. Don't you remember we had some rain— you said rains do fall in woods. Well, for that we could raise some crops even this year. Others sold them but we did not." "Where's your husband," asked Jivananda. Nimi looked down and softly said : " He's out with a few seers of rice to give to somebody." Now Jivananda had not had such a hearty meal for many a day. So he did not waste any more time in talk ; he finished up the repast in a very short time, making all sorts of odd sounds as he ate. Now Mrs. Nimaimani had cooked for herself and her husband only and out of it she gave away her share of meal. Seeing the plate quite empty now, she was a little disconcerted and poured upon it her husband's share also. Without the least hesitation Jivananda despatched it all to the huge cavity ycleped the stomach. Then Nimai asked " Would you have anything more, brother ?" " What more can you give ?" " We have a ripe jack-fruit." Nimi brought it up and without a murmur Jivananda despatched that too down that abysmal cavity. Nimi then smiled and said, " I have got nothing more to offer to you." " Then go," said the brother, " I shall come and eat another day." Nimi then gave him water to wash his hands and