Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/248

236 there no earlier train?" Satish, also sighing like an actor, said—"No." I sang—

Although I have never been in love with a woman myself, I am pretty familiar with the affair. To have suggested even a day's delay to Satish would have been like trying to preach the tiger into vegetarianism; so I resolved to go. HastlyHastily [sic] collecting my things we set out by the four o'clock train.

 

While the train slowed into Darjeeling Railway Station, I perceived Dr. Sen with his wife and daughter standing on the platform. At the sight of a Bengali maiden wearing shoes and stockings, and standing openly on a public platform, my gall rose. I have seen many Brahmo ladies in my time, and I even know one or two of them, so that these fashions are not altogether new to me. Nevertheless, to meet thus Satish's future wife and future mother-in-law was a fresh blow to me. I am much in favour of the education of women, but doing away with the zenana custom is a thing I cannot endure the thought of. I have just published an article in my paper on the subject, and was at that very moment framing in my brain