Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/101

Rh with some amount of authority. So it follows that it would take three Bengalees to match an Englishman—or perhaps more than three."

"Do you know Ajay,"—said the Doctor, a little piqued—"that you insult your own nation by advancing this argument? An Englishman, like a Bengalee, is nothing but an individual. May be he is a member of the ruling race—may be he is the District Magistrate himself—but do you think that these considerations would lend additional strength to his muscles?"

"Not to his muscles certainly,—father; but wouldn't it help to strengthen his mind?"

The Doctor Babu felt the force of this argument. Aloud, he said,—"To a certain extent, no doubt, you are right, Ajay. But I can never bring myself to believe that one Bengalee wouldn't be a match for another man, to whatever nationality he may belong. In such cases, wouldn't there be strong influences acting on the mind of a Bengalee also? When one of us stands up determined to save his self-respect from being sullied, to protest against oppression and tyranny, to protect his mother, his sister from insult offered by any one—I am sure these considerations would lend additional strength to his honest arms."

About this time the house servant made his appearance and announced that supper was