Page:Tales of Bengal (Sita and Santa Chattopadhyay).djvu/29

Rh three days the trick was found out. And didn't they make life miserable for my poor girl! I had to sell my own ornaments and give them two thousand rupees in cash before the uproar could be stopped."

"What if the girl is made to suffer?" observed Kalo's mother in a very normal tone. "Aren't women born to suffer? And you know, time heals all wounds. If I only can shake her off my shoulders, for the present, I shall be quite content."

The fear of some unknown danger roused the instincts of Kalo, who closed up to her mother and clutched her sari with her thin and long hands. The mother took her son upon her lap and pushed Kalo off, saying, "Ah you hurt me! Get up and bring the sweets for Nitu. How long can he, poor child, remain without eating? You may take one or two if you like too."

Kalo shuffled away in quest of the sweets, but she had to stand up to do this, and Tara-sundari made a face as if she was in front of some prehistoric saurian monster as she gasped forth, "Holy gods! Is she a girl or a moving palm tree! These village people are absolutely devoid of sense. Can't they starve their daughters a bit? They will treat the unmarried daughters to cream and sugar to show their maternal affection. Why do you walk so erect like a sepoy, my girl? Just stoop a little in future."

Kalo knew full well that she committed new crimes at every step, but she was not aware that she had sinned against the commandment which forbade girls to grow up. The poor girl was up till now engrossed in listening to the analysis of her personal charms and schemes for their improvement and she was hoping to eat some sweets which she had in her hand. But hearing this new revelation from Tara-sundari, she felt very much afraid lest she should suddenly grow even taller before those critical eyes by eating the sweets, and the poor girl only closed her fingers Rh