Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/190

178 "Let it be!"—he thought—"I shall speak of it tomorrow. I shall get through the night somehow."

After the meal a bed was prepared for him in the reception-room. Hrishi Kesh took leave for the night. The before mentioned serving lad slept at one side on a blanket.

A prey to evil thoughts, the Brahman could not sleep, but passed the night in harassing doubt as to whether the design that had brought him would or would not be accomplished. The serving lad's rest was interrupted by constant demands for the hookah.—When he was roused up for the fourth time to prepare it, he said—"There is no more tobacco left, Sir, it is all consumed." Seizing an opportunity when unobserved, he had thrust out the remnants of tobacco through the slits of the venetian shutters to escape further trouble.

  With the morning Sitanath arose, calling on the goddess Durga. His son's father-in-law came to join him and as they sat together, smoking, Sitanath resolved to speak. By way of preface he began thus:—

"My dear Sir, there is no way of escape from destiny. Who can upset the decrees of fate? I have four more daughters-in-law; but among them all there is not one to compare with her who was