ix
One afternoon, when I happened to be specially busy, word came to my office room that Bimala had sent for me. I was startled.
'Who did you say had sent for me?' I asked the messenger.
'The Rani Mother.'
'The Bara Rani?'
'No, sir, the Chota Rani Mother.'
The Chota Rani! It seemed a century since I had been sent for by her. I kept them all waiting there, and went off into the inner apartments. When I stepped into our room I had another shock of surprise to find Bimala there with a distinct suggestion of being dressed up. The room, which from persistent neglect had latterly acquired an air of having grown absent-minded, had regained something of its old order this afternoon. I stood there silently, looking enquiringly at Bimala.
She flushed a little and the fingers of her right hand toyed for a time with the bangles on her left arm. Then she abruptly broke the silence. 'Look here! Is it right that ours should be the only market in all Bengal which allows foreign goods?'
'What, then, would be the right thing to do?' I asked.
'Order them to be cleared out!'
'But the goods are not mine.'
'Is not the market yours?'
'It is much more theirs who use it for trade.'
