Page:Tales of Bengal (Sita and Santa Chattopadhyay).djvu/113

Rh plants in earthen jars which we used to call a garden in our town house. This garden extended far and wide, and I felt a bit afraid at first when I stepped into it. A wealth of flower appeared on every side, the pearly dewdrops of the early dawn still fresh upon them. As we passed under the avenue of trees our hairs, faces and mantles became profusely sprinkled as from the wet skirts of the wood nymphs, who had just left their baths. We had not advanced far when Kamalini suddenly threw herself down upon a bank of green grass by the side of a fountain of coloured water and said in a decided manner, "I cannot walk any more, you may go on, but I shall return to the house after I have rested a bit."

Our pleadings were in vain, so we two left her and moved on.

A small hillock of jet-black stones stood nearby. It was covered all over with flowering creepers and shrubs, and a tiny stream of sparkling water had sprung out of its heart and was flowing down its side. It had formed into a little rivulet at the base of the hillock and had at last merged itself into a miniature lake, all aglow with a host of red lotuses.

We went and stood by the side of the hillock. My sister-in-law sat down upon a rustic bench which stood close by and said, "Kamalini was right, after all. We should have gone back with her. My feet are aching all over and I am very tired. But look there, sister, what glorious lotuses! Of all flowers I think they are the most beautiful."

I had run into the habit of expressing an opinion upon every earthly subject, so I at once put in, "Whatever you may say, sister, I think jasmine the most beautiful. The lotus is, of course, superior in outward beauty; but as to sweetness of smell it must give way to jasmine."

"Oh, indeed! so outward beauty is no match for the Rh