Page:Tales of Bengal (Sita and Santa Chattopadhyay).djvu/126

Tales of Bengal wristlets and necklet of diamond, vanished into air. Oh dear, it was already dark, and the lamps have not yet been lighted. I have been dreaming with my eyes open. I have forgotten too about the children's supper. Ranu, too, has come back from her friend's house.

I got up from the floor and asked with a smile, "Now, darling, how many persons lost their senses over the entrancing beauty of Lakshmi?"

"There, now, Rangadi, you have begun again. Who is to faint at my sight, pray? I don't think there is anyone idiotic enough for that. Now, take back your sari; I have folded it so carefully that not the faintest sign appears of its having been worn. Let us go and put it back in that box."

We went and stood before the box. "See here, Rangadi," cried Ranu, while putting back the sari, "the smell of camphor has nearly disappeared. It was but a little while ago that we opened the box. How fast it went! The camphor beads have gone long ago, the fragrance, too, now follows in their wake, but see, the box of marble is still the same."

"My darling," I answered, "fragrance stays with us only for a brief while, then it becomes one with the air. But the stone knows no change, it remains for ever."

Rh