Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/91

Rh The woman brought out her oilpot and Nimi quickly took some oil out of it in her hand, rubbed the Bow's hairs with it, hastily dressed her hair up into a passable knot She then gave her an affectionate little blow with her hand and cried " Where is thy Dacca sari?" The woman was a little surprised and said, " Well ! you are off your mind, it seems !" Nimi gave her another blow and said " Get it out, you wretch." . She brought out the sari for the fun of it ; —unhappy though she was, she was not lost to the fascination of fun. She was young and her youthful form was as lovely as a blooming lotus. In her complexion there was the vision of dreamland, in her eyes the wistful glance of youth, on her lips the ever brightening smile, and deep down her heart a fund of patience and forbearance. Though going on half-rations, she did not seem to have lost much grace and beauty — a beauty that scorned em- bellishr ents and shone forth in full glow. Like the light- ning hid by clouds, like genius not yet revealed, like music in the world of sounds, like happiness in the gloom of death, her beauty had something inexpressibly sweet in it — inexpressible softness, nobleness, and love and devotion. Smiling she brought out the sari and asked : " Here you are, Nimi ! What will you do with it?" " You'll put it on," said Nimi. " What then ? " Nimi then lovingly coiled her lovely arms round her