Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/189

Rh Mahashoi been known to make an exchange in this direction, but now he had a particular reason for doing so. Offering the rupee he looked in his grand daughter's face. The nurse took the coin but as one dissatisfied, averted her face. The present of a rupee did not impress her favourably—she thought—"Mean creature!—A firstborn child and the mother dead too! Could he not have given gold!"

Gradually it became dark. Mukerji, washing his hands and feet, entered the house for the evening service. Scarcely had he seated himself on the prayer carpet when he heard the voice of his son's mother-in-law weeping and calling for her lost daughter. The bitter cry of the mother's heart seemed to make the twilight quiver. From the eyes of Hrishi Kesh also tears streamed abundantly. Sitanath remained cold and apathetic, saying only from time to time—"Ha! Narayan, what hast thou done?"

When the sobs of the mother ceased, Sitanath finished his devotions and then sat down to partake of a meal. But what was it that still troubled his inner thoughts? Of the purpose that had brought him such a distance by river he had not yet said a word. Since his arrival he had made many attempts to broach the subject but without success. At length he decided to let it rest for the night.