Page:Srikanta (Part 1).djvu/177

Rajlakshmi 'How many brothers and sisters have you?'

'I have no brothers, but four sisters.'

'And are they all married?'

'Yes, sir, Mother has got them married.'

'Is your own mother alive, Banku?'

'Yes, sir, she lives in our village.'

'Has your mother here ever been to your home in the village?'

'Yes, several times; she was there five or six months ago.'

'Isn't there any talk about it, any gossip, in your village?'

Banku sat quiet for a little while and then said, 'What if there is? I'm not going to leave Mother because they've boycotted us. How many of them have got such a mother?'

The question came to my lips, 'How did you learn to love your mother so?' but I remained silent.

'Do you think, sir,' Banku went on, 'that there is anything wrong in being fond of music? And that is the only charge they can bring against Mother. She never indulges in scandal and gossip. Besides, she pays the expenses of education for the sons of some of her worst enemies. In winter she gives clothing to a lot of people, and distributes blankets. Is there wrong in all this, sir?'

'On the contrary,' I said, 'it shows great kindness.'

'Exactly, sir,' Banku agreed, with fresh enthusiasm.