Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/169

Rh fruit in a forest of thorns. She fell asleep with this atom of joy ever rising amid the confusion of her thoughts.

When, on the day but one after, Bou Didi came to arouse Binod as agreed upon, there was no one to be found. On the bed there lay a letter addressed to her husband:—

"Honoured Brother,—I have gone West with my wife. I have imposed upon you all. I am not employed at Motihari. I had a small post in the railway office at Allahabad, but that I lost through drinking. Then being destitute, I resolved upon helping myself by marriage. Lest I should be found out, I searched the Directory to see whether anyone of my name held a good post anywhere. I found that in Motihari a certain Binod Bihari Mitra had a good berth. Fixing his salary in my mind, I came home and got married.

"I have not a single copper. My cash box is filled with broken glass. My sister-in-law's bracelets are not yet made. Please have them made with the thousand rupees I obtained in the marriage. I have resolved to use the jewel money in business. If some day I am able to retrieve my character and condition, you will see me again; for the present I bid you a respectful farewell. Your unworthy servant, 2em