Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/155

Rh lads were not slow to profit. The good news spread through the village, and the friends awaited joyously the return of Binod.

The next afternoon Binod's carriage entered the village, and he stepped out from it, cash-box in hand. The coachman and the house servant together took down the luggage. Entering the house, Binod saluted with deference his brother and his sister-in-law, took the children on his lap, petting them with awkward caresses. Then calling to his sister-in-law, he placed his cash-box in her hands, saying—"Kindly keep this most carefully in your iron chest, sister-in-law."

The sister-in-law noticed that the box was very heavy. Much pleased, she said, as she put it away—"Where have you been so long, brother-in-law?"

"I was at Motihari."

"And you have remembered us at last?"

"How could I leave my work to come, sister?"

"What pay are you getting?"

"120 rupees a month."

"Are you married?"

"Married? Why should I marry?"

The sister-in-law began some jesting remark, when Bijai Babu, coming in, reminded his wife that the traveller must be hungry, and begged her