punishment to fit the crime.] An amusing reference to the doctrine of karma, which states that each deed will have its due reward or punishment.
as me.] Strictly speaking it should be “ I ” not “ me ” but he is writing not too strictly.
I hope no child.] The author here amusingly pretends that the child’s way of getting out of his lessons was too shocking for young boys in the junior school to read about.
I will marry my daughter to him.] The verb to “ marry ” in English can be used in two senses:—
(1) To wed some one: to take in marriage.
(2) To get some one wedded: to give in marriage.
The latter sense is used here.
in the dawn of some indefinite time.] In some past existence long ago.
If my grandmother were an author.] Here Rabindranath returns to his mocking humour. A modern author, he says, would be obliged to explain all sorts of details in the story.
hue and cry.] This is a phrase used for the noise and bustle that is made when people are searching for a thief.
Her readers.] Referring back to the Grandmother.
in an underhand way.] Under the disguise of a fairy story.
grandmother again.] That is, in the old conditions when people were not too exacting about accuracy.
luckless grandson. A humorous way of referring to himself. The author had the misfortune to be born in the modern age of science.
Seven wings.] The word “ wings ” is here used, not for “ wings ” like those of birds, but for the sides of a large building, projecting out at an angle from the main building.
But what is the use....] The author here breaks off the story, as though it were useless to go on any further
