Page:Mashi and Other Stories.djvu/107

Rh drew out their contents. They were rupees and gold mohurs.

Jaganath, addressing the boy, said: "I told you, Nitai, that I would give you all my money. I have not got much,—these ghurras are all that I possess. These I will make over to you today."

The boy jumped with delight, "All?" he exclaimed; "you won't take back a rupee, will you?"

"If I do," said the old man in solemn tones, "may my hand be attacked with leprosy. But there is one condition. If ever my grandson, Gokul Chandra, or his son, or his grandson, or his great-grandson or any of his progeny should happen to pass this way, then you must make over to him, or to them, every rupee and every mohur here."

The boy thought that the old man was raving. "Very well," he replied.

"Then sit on this assan," said Jaganath.

"What for?"

"Because puja will be done to you."

"But why?" said the boy, taken aback.

"This is the rule."

The boy squatted on the assan as he was told. Jaganath smeared his forehead with sandal paste, put a mark of vermilion between his eyebrows, flung