Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/31

 closely veiled, but when was woman's wit obscured by so trifling a matter as a veil? I managed to take a good look at my master's guest.

I found that he was about thirty years old. He was fair of complexion, and extremely good-looking. It was easy to see that he was the sort of man we women admire. Let me admit that as I stood with the dish of meat in my hand, I had another good look at him. While I was thus gazing at him through my parted veil, he raised his head and perceived that my looks were directed to his face. Our Bengali men say that as a light shines brighter in the darkness, so are a veiled woman's eyes brighter than an unveiled woman's looks. It seemed to me that he too was of this opinion. He smiled faintly, and once more bent over his food. I was the only one who caught his smile. In my confusion, I put all the meat into his plate, and hurried away!

I was half ashamed, half delighted. Let me make the dreadful admission that I was more