the hungry stones and other stories-第22部分
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The fourth； Sasankalekha； of tender age and therefore of no account； said： 〃 I will make you a string of beads； brother； with which to tell the names of your gods…the sahibs。〃 Her sisters reproved her； saying： 〃Run away； you saucy girl。〃
Feelings of shame and irritation assailed by turns the mind of Nabendu Sekhar。 Still he could not forego the company of his sisters…in…law； especially as the eldest one was beautiful。 Her honey was no less than her gall； and Nabendu's mind tasted at once the sweetness of the one and the bitterness of the other。 The butterfly； with its bruised wings； buzzes round the flower in blind fury； unable to depart。
The society of his sisters…in…Law so much infatuated him that at last Nabendu began to disavow his craving for European favours。 When he went to salaam the Burra Sahib； he used to pretend that he was going to listen to a speech by Mr。 Surendranath Banerjea。 When he went to the railway station to pay respects to the Chota Sahib； returning from Darjeeling； he would tell his sisters…in…law that he expected his youngest uncle。
It was a sore trial to the unhappy man placed between the cross…fires of his Sahibs and his sisters…in…law。 The sisters…in…law； however； secretly vowed that they would not rest till the Sahibs had been put to rout。
About this time it was rumoured that Nabendu's name would be included in the forthcoming list of Birthday honours； and that he would mount the first step of the ladder to Paradise by becoming a Rai Bahadur。 The poor fellow had not the courage to break the joyful news to his sisters…in…law。 One evening； however； when the autumn moon was flooding the earth with its mischievous beams； Nabendu's heart was so full that he could not contain himself any longer； and he told his wife。 The next day； Mrs。 Nabendu betook herself to her eldest sister's house in a palanquin； and in a voice choked with tears bewailed her lot。
〃He isn't going to grow a tail；〃 said Labanya； 〃by becoming a Rai Bahadur； is he？ Why should you feel so very humiliated？ 〃
〃Oh； no； sister dear；〃 replied Arunlekha； 〃I am prepared to be anythingbut not a Rai…Baha…durni。'' The fact was that in her circle of acquaintances there was one Bhutnath Babu； who was a Rai Bahadur； and that explained her intense aversion to that title。
Labanya said to her sister in soothing tones： 〃 Don't be upset about it； dear； I will see what I can do to prevent it〃
Babu Nilratan； the husband of Labanya； was a pleader at Buxar。 When the autumn was over； Nabendu received an invitation from Labanya to pay them a visit； and he started for Buxar greatly pleased。
The early winter of the western province endowed Labanyalekha with new health and beauty； and brought a glowing colour to her pale cheeks； She looked like the flower…laden kasa reeds on a clear autumn day； growing by the lonely bank of a rivulet。 To Nabendu's enchanted eyes she appeared like a malati plant in full blossom； showering dew…drops brilliant with the morning light。
Nabendu had never felt better in his life。 The exhilaration of his own health and the genial company of his pretty sister…in…law made him think himself light enough to tread on air。 The Ganges in front of the garden seemed to him to be flowing ceaselessly to regions unknown； as though it gave shape to his own wild fantasies。
As he returned in the early morning from his walk on the bank of the river； the mellow rays of the winter sun gave his whole frame that pleasing sensation of warmth which lovers feel in each other's arms。 Coming home； he would now and then find his sister…in…Law amusing herself by cooking some dishes。 He would offer his help； and display his want of skill and ignorance at every step。 But Nabendu did not appear to be at all anxious to improve himself by practice and attention。 On the contrary he thoroughly enjoyed the rebukes he received from his sister…in…law。 He was at great pains to prove every day that he was inefficient and helpless as a new…born babe in mixing spices； handling the saucepan； and regulating the heat so as to prevent things getting burnt…and he was duly rewarded with pitiful smiles and scoldings。
In the middle of the day he ate a great deal of the good food set before him； incited by his keen appetite and the coaxing of his sister…in…law。 Later on； he would sit down to a game of cardsat which he betrayed the same lack of ability。 He would cheat； pry into his adversary's hand； quarrelbut never did he win a single rubber； and worse still； he would not acknowledge defeat。 This brought him abuse every day； and still he remained incorrigible。
There was； however； one matter in which his reform was complete。 For the time at least； he had forgotten that to win the smiles of Sahibs was the final goal of life。 He was beginning to understand how happy and worthy we might feel by winning the affection and esteem of those near and dear to us。
Besides； Nabendu was now moving in a new atmosphere。 Labanya's husband； Babu Nilratan； a leader of the bar； was reproached by many； because he refused to pay his respects to European officials。 To all such reproaches Nilratan would reply： 〃No； thank you； if they are not polite enough to return my call； then the politeness I offer them is a loss that can never be made up for。 The sands of the desert may be very white and shiny； but I would much rather sow my seeds in black soil； where I can expect a return。〃
And Nabendu began to adopt similar ideas； all regardless of the future。 His chance of Rai Bahadurship throve on the soil carefully prepared by his late father and also by himself in days gone by； nor was any fresh watering required。 Had he not at great expense laid out a splendid race…course in a town； which was a fashionable resort of Europeans？
When the time of Congress drew near； Nilratan received a request from head…quarters to collect subscriptions。 Nabendu； free from anxiety； was merrily engaged in a game of cards with his sister…in。 law； when Nilratan Babu came upon him with a subscription…book in his hand； and said： 〃Your signature； please。〃
》From old habit Nabendu looked horrified。 Labanya； assuming an air of great concern and anxiety； said： 〃Never do that。 It would ruin your racecourse beyond repair。〃
Nabendu blurted out： 〃Do you suppose I pass sleepless nights through fear of that？〃
〃We won't publish your name in the papers；〃 said Nilratan reassuringly。
Labanya； looking grave and anxious； said： 〃Still； it wouldn't be safe。 Things spread so； from mouth to mouth—〃
Nabendu replied with vehemence： 〃My name wouldn't suffer by appearing in the newspapers。〃 So saying； he snatched the subscription list from Nilratan's hand； and signed away a thousand rupees。 Secretly he hoped that the papers would not publish the news。
Labanya struck her forehead with her palm and gasped out： Whathave youdone？〃
〃Nothing wrong；〃 said Nabendu boastfully。
〃But—but；〃 drawled Labanya； 〃the Guard sahib of Sealdah Station； the shop…assistant at Whiteaway's； the syce…sahib of Hart Bros。these gentlemen might be angry with you； and decline to come to your Poojah dinner to drink your champagne； you know。 Just think； they mightn't pat you on the back； when you meet them again！〃
〃It wouldn't break my heart；〃 Nabendu snapped out。
A few days passed。 One morning Nabendu was sipping his tea； and glancing at a newspaper。 Suddenly a letter signed 〃X〃 caught his eye。 The writer thanked him profusely for his donation； and declared that the increase of strength the Congress had acquired by having such a man within its fold； was inestimable。
Alas； father Purnendu Sekhar！ Was it to increase the strength of the Congress； that you brought this wretch into the world？
Put the cloud of misfortune had its silver lining。 That he was not a mere cypher was clear from the fact that the Anglo…Indian community on the one side and the Congress on the other were each waiting patiently； eager to hook him； and land him on their own side。 So Nabendu； beaming with pleasure took the paper to his sister…in…law； and showed her the letter。 Looking as though she knew nothing about it； Labanya exclaimed in surprise： 〃Oh； what a pity！ Everything has come out！ Who bore you such ill…will？ Oh； how cruel of him； how wicked of him！〃
Nabendu laughed out； saying： 〃 Nownow—don't call him names； Labanya。 I forgive him with all my heart； and bless him too。〃
A couple of days after this； an anti…Congress Anglo…Indian paper reached Nabendu through the post。 There was a letter in it； signed 〃One who knows；〃 and contradicting the above report。 〃Those who have the pleasure of Babu Nabendu Sekhar's personal acquaintance；〃 the writer went on； 〃cannot for a moment believe this absurd libel to be true。 For him to turn a Congresswalla is as impossible as it is for the leopard to change his spots。 He is a man of genuine worth； and neither a disappointed candidate for Government employ nor a briefless barrister。 He is not one of those who； after a brief sojourn in England； return aping our dress and manners； audaciously try to thrust themselves on Anglo…Indian society； and finally go back in dejection。 So there is absolutely no reason why Balm Nabendu Sekhar；〃 etc。； etc。
Ah； father Purnendu Sekhar！ What a reputation you had made with the Europeans before you died！
This letter also was paraded before his sister…in…law； for did it not assert that he was no mean； contemptible scallywag； but a man of real worth？
Labanya exclaimed again in feigned surprise： 〃Which of your friends wrote it now？ Oh； comeis it the Ticket Collector； or the hide merchant； or is it the drum…major of the Fort？ 〃
〃You ought to send in a contradiction； I think；〃 said Nilratan。
〃Is it necessary？〃 said Nabendu loftily。 Must I contradict every little thing they choose to say against me？ 〃
Labanya filled the room with a deluge of laughter。 Nabendu felt a little disconcerted at this； and said： 〃Why？ What's the matter？〃 She went on laughing； unable to check herself； and her youthful slender form waved to and fro。 This torrent of merriment had the effect of overthrowing Nabendu completely； and he said in pitiable accents： 〃Do you imagine that I am afraid to contradict it？〃
〃Oh； dear； no；〃 said Labanya； 〃I was thinking that you haven't yet ceased trying to save
