Page:Rajmohan's Wife.djvu/11

Rh touched her eyes they shed copious tears. After many such showers she was preparing for a full-dress outburst when her eyes suddenly fell on the ink-smeared face of the child who had emptied the ink-pot and was standing with a darkened countenance. The bizarre sight converted the tears of the narrator of household misery into laughter; humour swept away pathos.

When the ceremony of tears ended at last, the sun was really sinking down to rest. At this the speaker invited the young woman to come with her to fetch water. She had in fact come there with a view to making that invitation. The younger woman refused, and when her companion began to press her, said, "There are crocodiles in the Madhumati. They will drag me away."

Her companion laughed out loudly at this, which showed her that her objection was not admitted. Yet she added, "You should go now, Kanak. It's growing late."

Kanak pointed to the sun which was still above the trees and said, "It's still noon."

At this the younger woman became grave and said, "You know, Kanak Didi, I never fetch water."

"That is why I am asking you to," replied Kanak. "Why should you remain in a cage all the day. Do not all other housewives draw water?"

The younger woman said disdainfully, "That's a work for servant girls."

"Why, who fetches water for you? Where are your servants?"