Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/133

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THE LADY FROM BENARES
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Having said this, he walked to a cup-board and took out a bottle encased in a wire netting. He poured out some of its coloured contents in a tumbler and drank it off. During the next quarter of an hour he repeated this process two or three times.

Wonderful were the effects of the coloured liquid! His vexation departed mail speed. He became very lively and began talking to his wife in an exceedingly amiable manner.

In the meantime, the lady from Benares came and stood outside the room. Girindra Nath suddenly went out and pronamed her reverently, saying—"It was so good of you to have come, madam."

The lady spoke not. Girindra then stood up and said in his suavest manner—

"May I ask, where you live?"

"I am living at Benares now."

"Where were you going to?"

"I was going down home,—but unfortunately I lost my ticket—"

Girindra interrupted her by saying—

"Yes, yes, I have heard all that. Pray make yourself quite at home, madam. You could proceed by the same train tomorrow afternoon."

"It is very kind of you, my son. But is'nt there a train leaving at midnight?"