Page:The Globe of Gold.djvu/6

130 Udbhab. "You!"

Taranga. "You mock at me!" and, with the slipper in her hand, she struck Udbhab. He, greatly incensed, but unwilling to strike a woman, looked towards his master, saying, "See, Sir, the impudence of this woman, she is striking me with a shoe!"

But the master, pulling his veil a little more over his face, with a merry smile, said, sweetly, "Yes, he is striking you; but do not be angry. He is the master, and may do so."

Whereat Udbhab, yet more incensed, replied, "How is she my master? She is a servant, I also am a servant. How can you talk like this? I am your servant; how can I be hers? I don't serve on those terms."

Again, smiling merrily, the master said, in the same gentle voice, "What curious fancies we see in old men! My servant! how can you be that?"

Speechless with amazement, Udbhab thought, "Have we got into a lunatic neighbourhood to-day?" And in his surprise he let go Rama, and remained standing.

At this moment, Gobordhan Ghosh, keeper of the household cows, came up—he was Taranga's husband. He was astonished at Taranga's condition and behaviour, also she took no notice of him: while, on the other hand, the master of the house, seeing Gobordhan, again drew the veil off his face and stood aside. Looking sideways at Gobordhan, he whispered, "Don't mix yourself up in that."

Gobordhan, witnessing Taranga's conduct, became enraged; the master's words did not reach his ear. He went to seize Taranga by the hair, "Vile woman!" he exclaimed; "have you no shame?" Seeing him coming, Taranga said, "Gobordhan! are you also out of your senses? go and feed the cows!"

At this Gobordhan seized her by the hair, and began to abuse her roundly, whereupon Nil Ratan Babu exclaimed, "Heavens! that ill-fated wretch is murdering the master."

Taranga, also becoming furious, said, "Do you dare to touch the person of your master?" and began to strike Gobordhan.

Then the uproar became general. At the sound of it the neighbours, Ram Mukherji, Gobind Chatterji, &c., came up to see what was going on. Ram Mukherji, seeing a golden ball lying about, took it up and gave it to Gobind Chatterji, saying, "See, Sir, what is this?"