Page:Shubala - a child-mother (IA shubalachildmoth00soraiala).pdf/10

2 return to the home of her parents, no joyful "Baper Bari" (Father's house) visiting: for such was the custom in this family.

At this point of her story the Rani got reminiscent, and told of how the English Manager of her husband's Estate would carry the four-year-old about on his shoulder, and let her sit on his office-table when he was at work.

"And that was a great kindness in my husband, and in my father-in-law," she added, "for should not a wife in her hushand's home have been in purdah, yes even at 4 years of age. Perhaps, for that they broke that rule was I widowed thus early. And yet, Miss Sahib, for love and friendship we have once again in the name of our Shubala forgotten the rules which should bind. No longer must we break the custom-rules of our race. The Miss Sahib knows the Hindu Shastras. For a child married after eleven years of age, both her dead father and I would