Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/260

248 "Yes, I have many. Whenever he finishes a new one he sends it to me to read."

I thought—"This is not at all right. So great an intimacy!" Aloud I said—"You are, then, his principal reader?"

"At least, I am his first reader. I fancy no one admires his writings more than I do."

"May I not hear his name?"

Nirmala reflected a little, and then said—"Gouri Kanta Ray"—and as she spoke, her cheeks became crimson.

I felt sorry for Satish.

Then we began to discuss Gouri Kanta's published writings, and I said that we had received his newly-published novel "Nandarani" for review.

During several days after this I discussed Gouri Kanta's writings very freely with Nirmala. She simply worshipped him. An inexplicable feeling of hostility arose in my mind against this man.

 

Satish had not yet asked for the hand of Nirmala from her parents. When he should do so, it was pretty certain he would be accepted as a husband for her. It was my firm belief that Dr. Sen was as anxious to become his father-in-law as Satish was to become Dr. Sen's son-in-law.