Bishamber knew his thoughts and bending down his head whispered: "Phatik, I have sent for your mother."
The day went by. The doctor said in a troubled voice that the boy's condition was very critical.
Phatik began to cry out: "By the mark—three fathoms. By the mark—four fathoms. By the mark——." He had heard the sailor on the river-steamer calling out the mark on the plumb-line. Now he was himself plumbing an unfathomable sea.
Later in the day Phatik's mother burst into the room, like a whirlwind, and began to toss from side to side and moan and cry in a loud voice.
Bishamber tried to calm her agitation, but she flung herself on the bed, and cried: "Phatik, my darling, my darling."
Phatik stopped his restless movements for a moment. His hands ceased beating up and down. He said: "Eh?"
The mother cried again: "Phatik, my darling, my darling."
Phatik very slowly turned his head and without seeing anybody said: "Mother, the holidays have come."
WORDS TO BE STUDIED
proposal. From the Latin word "ponere", to place. Compare position, post, depose, impose, component, composition, repose.
