Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/135

" That can never be ; he who stops in this room is all but the master of everything. His will is law here." " Very well, you may go. If I do not find any room here, I shall stay under a tree." So saying she sent Gobardhan away and entered the room. He then spread the black dearskin seat Jiva- nanda possessed and sat on it. She then enlivened the flame of the lamp and sat down to read one of Jivananda's books. Jivananda arrived shortly afterwards. Santi was dressed like a man but Jivananda knew her at once and said, " Mow is it, Santi ! " Santi slowly put aside the book, looked up to Jivananda and said, " Who is Santi, sir/ 3 Jivananda was non-plussed and said " Who is Santi ! Why, are you not Santi ? " Santi scornfully answered, " I am Nobinananda Goswami." Jivananda laughed aloud and said, "It is a nice un , to be sure. Well now, Nobinananda, what have you come here for ? " " It is the custom with gentlemen," said Santi grave- ly, " to call a person 'sir,' and the like on first ac- quaintance. I too am not speaking with discourtesy to you. Why do you then fail to show me the com- monest courtesy ? " " As your Honour pleases," said Jivananda and, throwing the skirt of his cloth round his neck, he con- tinued with folded hands : " and now your seivant's