Page:Gora - Rabindranath Tagore.pdf/27

III were very tender, seemingly chiselled by a master hand with the utmost care. Her spare contour was devoid of all exaggeration, and her face had the impress of a pure and keen intelligence. Her complexion was dark, without the least resemblance to that of Gora. One thing about her struck all her acquaintances, namely, that with her sari she wore a bodice. At the time of which we are speaking, though certain modern young women had begun to adopt it as part of their dress, ladies of the old school looked askance at the wearing pf a bodice as savouring of Christianity. Anandamoyi's husband, Krishnadayal Babu, had held a post in the Commissariat Department, and Anandamoyi had spent most of her days with him, from childhood, away from Bengal. So she had not the idea that to cover the body properly was a matter to be ashamed of, or to laugh at. In spite of her devotion to household work, from scrubbing the floors and doing the washing to sewing, mending, and keeping the accounts, and her practical interest in all the members of her own family as well as those of her neighbours, she never seemed too fully occupied.

Anandamoyi acknowledged Binoy's salutation, saying: " When Gora's voice reaches down to us below, then we are certain that Binu has come. The house has been so quite all these days that I was wondering what was the matter with you, child. Why haven't you been for so long ? have you been ill ?"

"No," replied Binoy rather hesitatingly. " No, mother, I've not been ill, but just think of the heavy rain !"

" Rain indeed !" broke in Gora. " And when the rain season is over Binoy will make the sun his excuse ! If you put the blame on the outside elements they cannot defend themselves, but the real reason is known to his inner conscience."

"What nonsense you talk, Gora !" protested Binoy.

" That's true, child," agreed Anandamoyi. " Gora shouldn't have put it like that. The mind has its moods, sometimes sociable, sometimes downcast, it cannot always be the same. It is wrong to tax people about it. Come, Binoy, your favourite sweetmeats ready for you."

Gora shook his head vehemently as he said: " No, no, mother, none of that, please ! I cannot allow Binoy to eat in your room."

"Don't be absurd, Gora," said Anandamoyi. "I never