Page:Tales of Bengal (Sita and Santa Chattopadhyay).djvu/116

Tales of Bengal whatever? My mother and grandmother laughed at their clamour and said, "Very well, let the new bride serve a bit. It is quite proper for a new bride to appear before menfolk."

The bride was brought in. She was glittering all over with jewels and silks. A large silver ladle was handed to her, which she at once dropped in her nervousness. She was all a-tremble. My mother became anxious and said, "It would never do to send her alone before so many people. She will drop down of sheer nervousness. Somebody must go along with her."

But who was to go? All the daughters-in-law of the house drew back, veiling themselves copiously. Kamalini, on being requested, cried out in dismay, "Oh dear, I could not do that for anything!"

Nobody moved. The clamour among the guests became uproarious. My grandmother jestingly said to mother "Why not send me along with the new bride? The two brides of Bimal may very well serve together."

My mother laughed and answered, "That would be the best arrangement, if it only could be done. But we are getting late," Suddenly her eyes fell upon me and she called to me, "Come here, dear, you go with the bride. Take firm hold of her, do not let her fall down."

And take firm hold of yourself too, dear, see that you do not fall down yourself!" whispered Kamalini from behind.

I had been feeling nervous, but I pulled myself together in anger at her sarcasm, and went out with the bride. The young men were seated in a long row, talking and laughing aloud. A sudden silence fell upon them as we appeared. The new bride served with the silver ladle and I moved along with her. My legs were trembling with nervousness, and my face seemed to be on fire. But yet, in the midst of that overwhelming sense of shyness, I could not help Rh