to the papers。
So I pray with all my heart that my grandmother may be born a grandmother again； and not through some cursed fate take birth as her luckless grandson。
So with a throb of joy and delight； I asked Grannie： 〃What then？〃
Grannie went on： Then the princess took her little husband away in great distress； and built a large palace with seven wings； and began to cherish her husband with great care。
I jumped up and down in my bed and clutched at the bolster more tightly than ever and said： 〃What then？〃
Grannie continued ： The little boy went to school and learnt many lessons from his teachers； and as he grew up his class…fellows began to ask him： 〃Who is that beautiful lady who lives with you in the palace with the seven wings？ 〃 The Brahman's son was eager to know who she was。 He could only remember how one day he had been gathering sticks； and a great disturbance arose。 But all that was so long ago； that he had no clear recollection。
Four or five years passed in this way。 His companions always asked him： 〃Who is that beautiful lady in the palace with the seven wings？〃 And the Brahman's son would come back from school and sadly tell the princess： 〃My school companions always ask me who is that beautiful lady in the palace with the seven wings； and I can give them no reply。 Tell me； oh； tell me； who you are！〃
The princess said ： 〃Let it pass to…day。 I will tell you some other day。〃 And every day the Brahman's son would ask； 〃Who are you？ 〃 and the princess would reply： 〃Let it pass to…day。 I will tell you some other day。〃 In this manner four or five more years passed away。
At last the Brahman's son became very impatient； and said： 〃If you do not tell me to…day who you are； O beautiful lady； I will leave this palace with the seven wings。〃 Then the princess said： 〃I will certainly tell you to…morrow。〃
Next day the Brahman's son； as soon as he came home from school； said： 〃Now； tell me who you are。〃 The princess said： 〃To…night I will tell you after supper； when you are in bed。〃
The Brahman's son said ： 〃Very well 〃 ； and he began to count the hours in expectation of the night。 And the princess； on her side； spread white flowers over the golden bed； and lighted a gold lamp with fragrant oil； and adorned her hair； and dressed herself in a beautiful robe of blue； and began to count the hours in expectation of the night。
That evening when her husband； the Brahman's son； had finished his meal； too excited almost to eat； and had gone to the golden bed in the bed… chamber strewn with flowers； he said to himself： 〃To…night I shall surely know who this beautiful lady is in the palace with the seven wings。〃
The princess took for her the food that was left over by her husband； and slowly entered the bed…chamber。 She had to answer that night the question； which was the beautiful lady who lived in the palace with the seven wings。 And as she went up to the bed to tell him she found a serpent had crept out of the flowers and had bitten the Brahman's son。 Her boy…husband was lying on the bed of flowers； with face pale in death。
My heart suddenly ceased to throb； and I asked with choking voice： 〃What then？ 〃
Grannie said； 〃Then 。 。 。〃
But what is the use of going on any further with the story？ It would only lead on to what was more and more impossible。 The boy of seven did not know that； if there were some 〃What then？ 〃 after death； no grandmother of a grandmother could tell us all about it。
But the child's faith never admits defeat； and it would snatch at the mantle of death itself to turn him back。 It would be outrageous for him to think that such a story of one teacherless evening could so suddenly come to a stop。 Therefore the grandmother had to call back her story from the ever…shut chamber of the great End； but she does it so simply： it is merely by floating the dead body on a banana stem on the river； and having some incantations read by a magician。 But in that rainy night and in the dim light of a lamp death loses all its horror in the mind of the boy； and seems nothing more than a deep slumber of a single night。 When the story ends the tired eyelids are weighed down with sleep。 Thus it is that we send the little body of the child floating on the back of sleep over the still water of time； and then in the morning read a few verses of incantation to restore him to the world of life and light。
THE HOME…COMING
Phatik Chakravorti was ringleader among the boys of the village。 A new mischief got into his head。 There was a heavy log lying on the mud…flat of the river waiting to be shaped into a mast for a boat。 He decided that they should all work together to shift the log by main force from its place and roll it away。 The owner of the log would be angry and surprised； and they would all enjoy the fun。 Every one seconded the proposal； and it was carried unanimously。
But just as the fun was about to begin； Makhan； Phatik's younger brother； sauntered up； and sat down on the log in front of them all without a word。 The boys were puzzled for a moment。 He was pushed； rather timidly； by one of the boys and told to get up but he remained quite unconcerned。 He appeared like a young philosopher meditating on the futility of games。 Phatik was furious。 〃Makhan；〃 he cried； 〃if you don't get down this minute I'll thrash you！〃
Makhan only moved to a more comfortable position。
Now； if Phatik was to keep his regal dignity before the public； it was clear he ought to carry out his threat。 But his courage failed him at the crisis。 His fertile brain； however； rapidly seized upon a new manoeuvre which would discomfit his brother and afford his followers an added amusement。 He gave the word of command to roll the log and Makhan over together。 Makhan heard the order； and made it a point of honour to stick on。 But he overlooked the fact； like those who attempt earthly fame in other matters； that there was peril in it。
The boys began to heave at the log with all their might； calling out； 〃One； two； three； go；〃 At the word 〃go〃 the log went； and with it went Makhan's philosophy； glory and all。
All the other boys shouted themselves hoarse with delight。 But Phatik was a little frightened。 He knew what was coming。 And； sure enough； Makhan rose from Mother Earth blind as Fate and screaming like the Furies。 He rushed at Phatik and scratched his face and beat him and kicked him； and then went crying home。 The first act of the drama was over。
Phatik wiped his face； and sat down on the edge of a sunken barge on the river bank； and began to chew a piece of grass。 A boat came up to the landing； and a middle…aged man； with grey hair and dark moustache； stepped on shore。 He saw the boy sitting there doing nothing； and asked him where the Chakravortis lived。 Phatik went on chewing the grass； and said： 〃Over there；〃 but it was quite impossible to tell where he pointed。 The stranger asked him again。 He swung his legs to and fro on the side of the barge； and said； 〃Go and find out；〃 and continued to chew the grass as before。
But now a servant came down from the house； and told Phatik his mother wanted him。 Phatik refused to move。 But the servant was the master on this occasion。 He took Phatik up roughly； and carried him； kicking and struggling in impotent rage。
When Phatik came into the house； his mother saw him。 She called out angrily： 〃So you have been hitting Makhan again？〃
Phatik answered indignantly： 〃No； I haven't； who told you that？ 〃
His mother shouted： 〃Don't tell lies！ You have。〃
Phatik said suddenly： 〃I tell you； I haven't。 You ask Makhan！〃 But Makhan thought it best to stick to his previous statement。 He said： 〃Yes； mother。 Phatik did hit me。〃
Phatik's patience was already exhausted。 He could not hear this injustice。 He rushed at Makban； and hammered him with blows： 〃Take that〃 he cried； 〃and that； and that； for telling lies。〃
His mother took Makhan's side in a moment； and pulled Phatik away； beating him with her hands。 When Phatik pushed her aside； she shouted out： 〃What I you little villain！ would you hit your own mother？〃
It was just at this critical juncture that the grey…haired stranger arrived。 He asked what was the matter。 Phatik looked sheepish and ashamed。
But when his mother stepped back and looked at the stranger； her anger was changed to surprise。 For she recognised her brother； and cried： 〃Why； Dada！ Where have you come from？ 〃As she said these words； she bowed to the ground and touched his feet。 Her brother had gone away soon after she had married； and he had started business in Bombay。 His sister had lost her husband while he was In Bombay。 Bishamber had now come back to Calcutta； and had at once made enquiries about his sister。 He had then hastened to see her as soon as he found out where she was。
The next few days were full of rejoicing。 The brother asked after the education of the two boys。 He was told by his sister that Phatik was a perpetual nuisance。 He was lazy； disobedient； and wild。 But Makhan was as good as gold； as quiet as a lamb； and very fond of reading； Bishamber kindly offered to take Phatik off his sister's hands； and educate him with his own children in Calcutta。 The widowed mother readily agreed。 When his uncle asked Phatik If he would like to go to Calcutta with him； his joy knew no bounds； and he said； 〃Oh； yes； uncle！ 〃 In a way that made it quite clear that he meant it。
It was an immense relief to the mother to get rid of Phatik。 She had a prejudice against the boy； and no love was lost between the two brothers。 She was in daily fear that he would either drown Makhan some day in the river； or break his head in a fight； or run him into some danger or other。 At the same time she was somewhat distressed to see Phatik's extreme eagerness to get away。
Phatik； as soon as all was settled； kept asking his uncle every minute when they were to start。 He was on pins and needles all day long with excitement； and lay awake most of the night。 He bequeathed to Makhan； in perpetuity； his fishing…rod； his big kite and his marbles。 Indeed； at this time of departure his generosity towards Makhan was unbounded。
When they reached Calcutta； Phatik made the acquaintance