Page:Tales of Bengal (Sita and Santa Chattopadhyay).djvu/112

Tales of Bengal magnificence of my third brother's wedding. It was truly unsurpassed there. After the great feast in the ancestral house, we started for the riverside villa in great state. A number of bullock carts started with the luggage, for my brother and his friends, elephants were procured, and last of all the ladies came in their closed carriages. A crowd of servants brought up the rear.

It was already dark when we reached our destination. We were unable to have any of the good outdoor walks we had planned beforehand, as my mother insisted upon our having supper and retiring early. I and Kamalini shared one room, my sisters-in-law occupied the adjacent rooms.

Quite early in the next morning I was suddenly roused by a good shake from my second sister-in-law. As I opened my eyes she cried out, "Now dear, do get up? Do you come here to sleep and eat? I heard that the garden had been much added to, many new beds have been planted and many fountains and marble seats have been made. Let us go and have a look at them."

Kamalini, who was already sitting up in her bed, now put in, while rubbing her still sleep-laden eyes: "But do you intend to start in the night? Why not go during the day? The garden won't run away, you know."

My sister-in-law gave me a good tug as she replied, "My dear madam, do you think the men would leave the garden in the daytime for your good pleasure and go and sit out in the fields? Not if I know them. If you want to see the garden you must come now, while they are still asleep."

Kamalini gave way, and we got up for our walk. It was still chilly, so I wrapped myself in a green shawl and went out.

The garden was a very large one, and in no way resembled the small enclosure heavily laden with flowering Rh