Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/132

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STORIES OF BENGALEE LIFE

Maloti understood her husband's meaning.[1]

"Oh, no,"一she said with conviction—"she is not what you suspect. She is perfectly respectable."

"As if you knew"—remarked Girindra sarcastically. "When is she leaving, pray?"

"I didn't ask her."

"The next train leaves at midnight."

"How can she go alone in the night?"

Girindra stood up saying—"Never mind that. I will see her to the station myself. The sooner we get rid of her the better"—and he walked out of the room.

Maloti sat there, looking dejected. Girindra returned a little later and seeing his wife in this condition, said—"what is the matter with you now?"

"It is so awkward for me. She hasn't said anything about leaving to-night. I can't turn her out, can I?"

"Don't you fret about that. If you can't, I will."

  1. When a Bengalee woman has the misfortune to make a faux pas, her people, in order to avoid scandal, often remove her from the family dwelling house and provide her with a house elsewhere, Benares being selected in most cases. It not infrequently happens that after some time these unfortunate women are left to shift for themselves.