Page:Shantiniketan; the Bolpur School of Rabindranath Tagore.djvu/98

78 In one of the rooms the doorkeeper stopped and said, “Brahmachari, wait a little in this room, while I go to call the queen. She will make her obeisance to you in the next room.” Saying which, the doorkeeper went towards the cow, while Utonka sat down and waited.

As he was waiting it seemed to Utonka that there was on all sides a calm and blessed peace pervading the atmosphere. He saw the queen's attendants moving about in the courtyard from place to place with lamps in their hands and dressed in red silk. By the light of the lamps their faces appeared bright and beautiful, full of joy and peace. At last the doorkeeper came and called him. Utonka, following slowly, entered a room in the middle of which a clear bright light was burning. A soft scent came from the sweet-smelling oil. On all sides incense was rising—but in the room itself there was nothing; it was absolutely empty.

When he entered, Utonka could see no one, but the doorkeeper pointed to a seat inlaid with mother-of-pearl for him to sit on. As he took his seat he asked the doorkeeper, “Has the queen not come yet?”

The doorkeeper replied with evident astonishment, “Why there she is sitting on that