Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/93

Rh arrange that I may not be detained beyond the usual period of a month's notice?"

The Sahib's face fell. What! The Bengalee—-the Bengalee, with whom Government service was the be-all and end-all of existence—coolly flinging away the high position of a Deputy Magistrate!—Well, the Sahib was not prepared for this. Surely, the times were strange.

Nagendra Babu looked at his watch and standing up, said—"I mustn't detain you longer, Sir. Good morning."

Absent-mindedly, the Magistrate stood up and giving Nagendra Babu his hand, said—"Good morning."

A month passed. To-day, Nagendra Babu sat on the ejlash for the last time. At close of day a large gathering of students was noticed outside his Court. Many of them carried flags inscribed with "Bande Mataram." An open victoria, minus horses, was kept ready underneath a banian tree.

As soon as Nagendra Babu came out of the Court, the boys garlanded him. They begged him to get into the victoria and expressed their desire to drag the carriage themselves through the main streets of the town. Nagendra Babu thanked the boys for their good-will but firmly declined to be made the subject of a demonstration. The boys