Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/221

Rh The girl looking suddenly at the speaker and showing the tip of her tongue, said—"What?"

"What is your name?"

"My name is Jagadamba" (a name as out of date as Griselda or Lavinia.)

Thereupon the young host and the maid-servant cast angry looks at the girl, who immediately added—"My name is Pulina" (a name as modern as the other was ancient.)

The youth said—"Formerly her name was Jagadamba, but now she is called Pulina."

Bhabatosh thought—"The change is not for the better. Pulina! Jagadamba sounds far better; it is a Puranic name used by the ancient priests. If I marry her, that name shall be re-instated." He then asked aloud—"Do you read?"

As before, the girl put out the tip of her tongue and said—"What?"

"Do you read?"

"I don't read at all. My brother—"

The maid-servant and the youth again shooting angry glances at her, the girl desisted. Bhabatosh was even more pleased. This was just the very thing. There was every chance of his making of her a real Hindu house-mistress. She was not