Page:Shantiniketan; the Bolpur School of Rabindranath Tagore.djvu/90

70 those ear-rings within three days so that my wish may be fulfilled. You are a Brahmachari and should have no difficulty.”

Utonka was delighted, and having saluted her he determined to set off that very day to bring his offering.

When he had gone, the Guru’s wife sat still and began to think to herself: “I wonder if I have done right to send my child Utonka all alone such a long distance to bring this offering. But why should I be afraid? Let him see the glory of a virtuous woman before he enters the world. Why should one be afraid for a Brahmachari?” As she thought in this fashion, she remembered all Utonka’s deep devotion and goodness, and she began to feel sad.

By this time the other boys came back, bringing the rice and other food they had begged—but to-day, strange to say, there was none of the chatter and happy noise which there was on other days. The Guru’s wife seeing the boys looking so sad went up to them and asked them the cause. They all cried, “Utonka is going away.” Then she went off towards the kitchen consoling them as she went.