Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/53

Rh the real reason. Let us know please, are you in favour of Swadeshi or against it?"

"In favour, without question. Yesterday I brought from the bazar about fifty rupees worth of Swadeshi clothes to take to Faridsing,—you saw them."

"Aren't Swadeshi clothes available there?"

"Yes they are,—but the prices are rather high."

Satyendra, smiling sarcastically, said—"Don't you understand, Indu, he daren't patronise Swadeshi there lest the Sahibs should come to know of it."

Nagendra Babu said—"Well, well,—admitting that was the reason,—is there any harm in doing a virtuous act in secret?"

"There isn't. But take care, Nagendra Babu, that you don't sin openly to please your masters."

At this moment a chorus of voices was heard singing outside the house. Somebody said—"There's the Society of Mother-worshippers, come to collect donations for the Congress." They all came out of the house and saw about fifty young men and boys, with yellow puggries round their heads, singing a patriotic song to the accompaniment of mridang and kartal, calling upon the devoted to pay according to the means of each one for the worship of the Motherland. Some of them carried flags inscribed with "Bande Mataram" and one