Page:Nil Durpan.djvu/111

 under the shade of that tree; but when brought towards our house they did not see that. Only hearing that Nobin was taken by force to the Factory, they rolled on the ground under the tree and cried. They did not see that he was being carried home by the peasants.

(Aside) Aduri, we shall take him into the house.

Aduri.  Bring him into the house. None of them are here.

Sadhu.  (Making Nobin Madhab to lie on the bed) Madam, where art thou?

Aduri.  They began to see standing under the tree. When this person (pointing to Torapa) fled away with him, we thought he was taken to the Factory. They began to tear themselves under the tree. I came to the house to call certain persons. Will our mistress remain alive when she sees this dead son? Do you stand; let me call them here. (Exit Aduri

Priest.  Oh God, hast thou killed such a man! Hast thou stopped the provision of so many men! We do not find any such symptom that our eldest Babu sit up again.

Sadhu.  God's will. He can give life to a dead man.

Priest.  On the third day, Bindu Babu, according to the shastras, celebrated the offering of the funeral cake (pinda-dan) on the banks of the Ganges; it is through the entreaties of his mother that preparations are being made for the monthly ceremony (Shradh). It was determined that after the celebration of the ceremony, their dwelling place is to be removed; and I also heard that they will no more meet with that cruel Saheb; then why did he go there to-day?

Sadhu.  Our eldest Babu has no fault, nor has he any