Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/219

Rh a beauty, but desired a dark ugly girl for a wife."

Upen Babu's wife was astonished. "I never heard of a fancy so unnatural"—she said. "Why does he show such a strange humour?"

The mother then gave to her friend the reasons Bhabatosh had explained to herself. After some reflection Upen Babu's wife said—"I will ask you to do one little thing, sister. Write to Bhabatosh to come this Saturdav. Tell him you have found a girl that you think will suit and ask him to come and see her. When he is here, send him to our house on Sunday afternoon. I will arrange everything."

The mother consented, as she thought—"Upendra Babu's wife fancies that if Bhabatosh only sees Pulina, he will be unable to resist marrying her and that would be no marvel, for the girl is indeed lovely."

Bhabatosh came home on the Saturday. The next afternoon he set out in a bullock carriage, his hair in glorious disorder, (because the ancient Hindu sages did not dress their hair), for the village where the Banerjis lived.

On arrival he heard that Upen Babu was away on business. A young man received him courteously and took him to the reception room. This youth was a nephew of Upendra Babu. After