He was promoted from a horse into a groom.] He was no longer asked by the baby to be a “ horse ” in his games, but to look after this toy carriage, as a groom would.
with all sorts of curious noises.] He began to imitate the sounds of birds.
destined to be a judge.] The baby could see through Raicharan ’s attempts to deceive, as a judge would see through false evidence.
wavelets.] The little waves seemed like so many thousand little children running away in fun or mischief.
there was no one there.] These words are repeated again and again to give the sense of utter loss and desolation.
overwhelming resentment.] His own baby seemed to have been given to him in order to tempt him to forget his little Master. Raicharan was angry to think that any one could imagine such forgetfulness to be possible.
The little Master could not cast off the spell.] Could not keep away from the servant who loved him so much. He fancies his little Master has come back to life again in this new little baby, drawn as it were by some enchantment of love.
accumulated.] Gathered together: referring to the idea of karma.
personal appearance.] He spent a long time in arranging his clothes and making himself look handsome.
country manners.] Country people have habits and ways of speaking which seem absurd to town people.
a kind of condescension.] As if he were superior and Raicharan were beneath him.
mendicant quack.] A beggar dealing in herbs and medicines and charms.
hungry, eager eyes.] As if she could never gaze long enough upon him.
the magistrate in him.] The magistrate’s way of looking at things.
