the wind howled。
The mistress； Saradasankar's wife； was playing cards with her widowed sister。 A servant was in the kitchen； the sick child was sleeping in the bedroom。 Kadambini； escaping every one's notice； entered this room。 I do not know why she had come to her father…in…law's house； she herself did not know； she felt only that she wanted to see her child again。 She had no thought where to go next； or what to do。
In the lighted room she saw the child sleeping； his fists clenched； his body wasted with fever。 At sight of him； her heart became parched and thirsty。 If only she could press that tortured body to her breast！ Immediately the thought followed： 〃I do not exist。 Who would see it？ His mother loves company； loves gossip and cards。 All the time that she left me in charge； she was herself free from anxiety； nor was she troubled about him in the least。 Who will look after him now as I did？〃
The child turned on his side； and cried； half…asleep： 〃Auntie； give me water。〃 Her darling had not yet forgotten his auntie！ In a fever of excitement； she poured out some water； and； taking him to her breast； she gave it him。
As long as he was asleep； the child felt no strangeness in taking water from the accustomed hand。 But when Kadambini satisfied her long…starved longing； and kissed him and began rocking him asleep again； he awoke and embraced her。 〃Did you die； Auntie？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； darling。〃
〃And you have come back？ Do not die again。〃
Before she could answer disaster overtook her。 One of the maidservants coming in with a cup of sago dropped it； and fell down。 At the crash the mistress left her cards； and entered the room。 She stood like a pillar of wood； unable to flee or speak。 Seeing all this； the child； too； became terrified； and burst out weeping： 〃 Go away； Auntie；〃 he said； 〃go away！〃
Now at last Kadambini understood that she had not died。 The old room； the old things； the same child； the same love； all returned to their living state； without change or difference between her and them。 In her friend's house she had felt that her childhood's companion was dead。 In her child's room she knew that the boy's 〃Auntie〃 was not dead at all。 In anguished tones she said： 〃Sister； why do you dread me？ See； I am as you knew me。〃
Her sister…in…law could endure no longer； and fell into a faint。 Saradasankar himself entered the zenana。 With folded hands； he said piteously： 〃Is this right？ Satis is my only son。 Why do you show yourself to him？ Are we not your own kin？ Since you went； he has wasted away daily； his fever has been incessant； day and night he cries： ‘Auntie； Auntie。' You have left the world； break these bonds of maya （Illusory affection binding a soul to the world）。 We will perform all funeral honours。〃
Kadambini could bear no more。 She said： 〃Oh； I am not dead； I am not dead。 Oh； how can I persuade you that I am not dead？ I am living； living！〃 She lifted a brass pot from the ground and dashed it against her forehead。 The blood ran from her brow。 〃Look！〃 she cried； 〃I am living！〃 Saradasankar stood like an image； the child screamed with fear； the two fainting women lay still。
Then Kadambini； shouting 〃I am not dead； I am not dead；〃 went down the steps to the zenana well； and plunged in。 From the upper storey Saradasankar heard the splash。
All night the rain poured； it poured next day at dawn； was pouring still at noon。 By dying； Kadambini had given proof that she was not dead。
〃WE CROWN THEE KING〃
When Nabendu Sekhar was wedded to Arunlekha； the God of marriage smiled from behind the sacrificial fire。 Alas！ what is sport for the gods is not always a joke to us poor mortals。
Purnendu Sekhar； the father of Nabendu； was a man well known amongst the English officials of the Government。 In the voyage of life he had arrived at the desert shores of Rai Bahadurship by diligently plying his oats of salaams。 He held in reserve enough for further advancement； but at the age of fifty…five； his tender gaze still fixed on the misty peals of Raja…hood； he suddenly found himself transported to a region where earthly honours and decorations are naught； and his salaam…wearied neck found everlasting repose on the funeral pyre。
According to modern science； force is not destroyed； but is merely converted to another form； and applied to another point。 So Purnendu's salaam…force； constant handmaid of the fickle Goddess of Fortune； descended from the shoulder of the father to that of his worthy son； and the youthful head of Nabendu Sekhar began to move up and down； at the doors of high…placed Englishmen； like a pumpkin swayed by the wind。
The traditions of the family into which he had married were entirely different。 Its eldest son； Pramathanath； had won for himself the love of his kinsfolk and the regard of all who knew him。 His kinsmen and his neighbours looked up to him as their ideal in all things。
Pramathanath was a Bachelor of Arts； and in addition was gifted with common sense。 But he held no high official position； he had no handsome salary； nor did he exert any influence with his pen。 There was no one in power to lend him a helping hand； because he desired to keep away from Englishmen； as much as they desired to keep away from him。 So it happened that he shone only within the sphere of his family and his friends； and excited no admiration beyond it。
Yet this Pramathanath had once sojourned in England for some three years。 The kindly treatment he received during his stay there overpowered him so much that he forgot the sorrow and the humiliation of his own country； and came back dressed in European clothes。 This rather grieved his brothers and his sisters at first； but after a few days they began to think that European clothes suited nobody better； and gradually they came to share his pride and dignity。
On his return from England； Pramathanath resolved that he would show the world how to associate with Anglo…Indians on terms of equality。 Those of our countrymen who think that no such association is possible； unless we bend our knees to them； showed their utter lack of self…respect； and were also unjust to the English…so thought Pramathanath。
He brought with him letters of introduction from many distinguished Englishmen at home； and these gave him some recognition in Anglo…Indian society。 He and his wife occasionally enjoyed English hospitality at tea； dinner； sports and other entertainments。 Such good luck intoxicated
him； and began to produce a tingling sensation in every vein of his body。
About this time； at the opening of a new railway line； many of the town； proud recipients of official favour； were invited by the Lieutenant…Governor to take the first trip。 Pramathanath was among them。 On the return journey； a European Sergeant of the Police expelled some Indian gentlemen from a railway…carriage with great insolence。 Pramathanath； dressed in his European clothes； was there。 He； too； was getting out； when the Sergeant said： 〃 You needn't move； sir。 Keep your seat； please。〃
At first Pramathanath felt flattered at the special respect thus shown to him。 When； however； the train went on； the dull rays of the setting sun； at the west of the fields； now ploughed up and stripped of green； seemed in his eyes to spread a glow of shame over the whole country。 Sitting near the window of his lonely compartment； he seemed to catch a glimpse of the down…cast eyes of his Motherland； hidden behind the trees。 As Pramathanath sat there； lost in reverie； burning tears flowed down his cheeks； and his heart burst with indignation。
He now remembered the story of a donkey who was drawing the chariot of an idol along the street。 The wayfarers bowed down to the idol； and touched the dusty ground with their foreheads。 The foolish donkey imagined that all this reverence was being shown to him。 〃The only difference；〃 said Pramathanath to himself； 〃 between the donkey and myself is this： I understand to…day that the respect I receive is not given to me but to the burden on my back。〃
Arriving home； Pramathanath called together all the children of the household； and lighting a big bonfire； threw all his European clothes into it one by one。 The children danced round and round it； and the higher the flames shot up； the greater was their merriment。 After that； Pramathanath gave up his sip of tea and bits of toast in Anglo…Indian houses； and once again sat inaccessible within the castle of his house； while his insulted friends went about from the door of one Englishman to that of another； bending their turbaned heads as before。
By an irony of fate； poor Nabendu Sekhar married the second daughter of this house。 His sisters…in…law were well educated and handsome。 Nabendu considered he had made a lucky bargain。 But he lost no time in trying to impress on the family that it was a rare bargain on their side also。 As if by mistake； he would often hand to his sisters…in…law sundry letters that his late father had received from Europeans。 And when the cherry lips of those young ladies smiled sarcastically； and the point of a shining dagger peeped out of its sheath of red velvet； the unfortunate man saw his folly； and regretted it。
Labanyalekha； the eldest sister； surpassed the rest in beauty and cleverness。 Finding an auspicious day； she put on the mantel…shelf of Nabendu's bedroom two pairs of English boots； daubed with vermilion； and arranged flowers； sandal…paste； incense and a couple of burning candles before them in true ceremonial fashion。 When Nabendu came in； the two sisters…in…law stood on either side of him； and said with mock solemnity： 〃Bow down to your gods； and may you prosper through their blessings。〃
The third sister Kiranlekha spent many days in embroidering with red silk one hundred common English names such as Jones； Smith； Brown； Thomson； etc。； on a chadar。 When it was ready； she presented this namavoli （A namavoli is a sheet of cloth printed all over with the names of Hindu gods and goddesses and worn by pious Hindus when engaged in devotional exercises。） to Nabendu Sekhar with great ceremony。
The fourth； Sasankalekha； of tender age and therefore of no account； said： 〃 I will make you a string of beads； brother； with which to tell the names of your gods…the sahibs。〃 Her sisters re