Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/29

Rh to-morrow, you see. I am therefore decorating my house as a sign of welcome to him."

"But, Sir, nobody else is doing it. Why should you?"

"Why? What's the harm?"

"Every one is in mourning because of the Partition of Bengal. This is not an occasion for festivity."

"Everybody is in mourning, did you say? But why? I find everybody just as jolly as ever."

"Do you then think, Sir, that the Partition of Bengal is a matter for rejoicing?"

Subodh was flabbergasted at this remark. Only the other day, at a public meeting to protest against the Partition,—he had harangued the audience in language such as this:—"My brother Bengalees,—till we have avenged this Partition,—this cutting in twain the beloved body of our Mother Bengal with a cruel sword as it were, let us not indulge in any kind of luxury or festivity, &c., &c."

Subodh kept a stolid silence. The boys tried to persuade him to desist and allow them to strip off the decorations. At last he found his voice to say—"It would be foolish to do that after spending so much money over it."

The boys said—"Kindly tell us what you have spent and we will make good the amount to you.