Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/227

Rh At the appointed time he went home and in due course entered the wedding booth. The assembly, the lights, the noise raised his spirits after the previous ten days. In the hour of battle, even the most timid soldier loses his fears.

The wedding began, but his heart was callous;—neither fear nor anxiety, hope nor despair possessed him.

Gradually the time came for uplifting of the bride's veil. To ensure good fortune, a cloth was thrown over the heads of groom and bride. On glancing at the bride's face, Bhabatosh was filled with astonishment. She was not the ogress of the last ten days. She was not the hideous Jagadamba of his dreams, but the lovely maiden who had served him with spices in a silver dish.

On the night of the "Flower Decoration" Bhabatosh strove to make his newly-wedded wife converse. For a little while he was without success. Then Bhabatosh had recourse to a stratagem. He thought, perhaps if she heard her own people found fault with, she might defend them. So he said—"Why did your mother play me this trick?"

"Had you not said that because I was good-looking, you would not marry me? It served you right."