the hungry stones and other stories-第8部分

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d　such　a　prejudice　against　him；　occupied　him　day　and　night。　　A　kind　of　physical　love　like　that　of　animals；　a　longing　to　be　in　the　presence　of　the　one　who　is　loved；　an　inexpressible　wistfulness　during　absence；　a　silent　cry　of　the　inmost　heart　for　the　mother；　like　the　lowing　of　a　calf　in　the　twilight；…this　love；　which　was　almost　an　animal　instinct；　agitated　the　shy；　nervous；　lean；　uncouth　and　ugly　boy。　　No　one　could　understand　it；　but　it　preyed　upon　his　mind　continually。

There　was　no　more　backward　boy　in　the　whole　school　than　Phatik。　He　gaped　and　remained　silent　when　the　teacher　asked　him　a　question；　and　like　an　overladen　ass　patiently　suffered　all　the　blows　that　came　down　on　his　back。　　When　other　boys　were　out　at　play；　he　stood　wistfully　by　the　window　and　gazed　at　the　roofs　of　the　distant　houses。　　And　if　by　chance　he　espied　children　playing　on　the　open　terrace　of　any　roof；　his　heart　would　ache　with　longing。

One　day　he　summoned　up　all　his　courage；　and　asked　his　uncle：　〃Uncle；　when　can　I　go　home？〃

His　uncle　answered；　〃Wait　till　the　holidays　come。〃But　the　holidays　would　not　come　till　November；　and　there　was　a　long　time　still　to　wait。

One　day　Phatik　lost　his　lesson…book。　　Even　with　the　help　of　books　he　had　found　it　very　difficult　indeed　to　prepare　his　lesson。　　Now　it　was　impossible。　　Day　after　day　the　teacher　would　cane　him　unmercifully。　　His　condition　became　so　abjectly　miserable　that　even　his　cousins　were　ashamed　to　own　him。　　They　began　to　jeer　and　insult　him　more　than　the　other　boys。　　He　went　to　his　aunt　at　last；　and　told　her　that　he　bad　lost　his　book。

His　aunt　pursed　her　lips　in　contempt；　and　said：　〃You　great　clumsy；　country　lout。　　How　can　I　afford；　with　all　my　family；　to　buy　you　new　books　five　times　a　month？〃

That　night；　on　his　way　back　from　school；　Phatik　had　a　bad　headache　with　a　fit　of　shivering。　　He　felt　he　was　going　to　have　an　attack　of　malarial　fever。　　His　one　great　fear　was　that　he　would　be　a　nuisance　to　his　aunt。

The　next　morning　Phatik　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　　All　searches　in　the　neighbourhood　proved　futile。　　The　rain　had　been　pouring　in　torrents　all　night；　and　those　who　went　out　in　search　of　the　boy　got　drenched　through　to　the　skin。　　At　last　Bisbamber　asked　help　from　the　police。

At　the　end　of　the　day　a　police　van　stopped　at　the　door　before　the　house。　It　was　still　raining　and　the　　streets　were　　all　　flooded。　　Two　constables　brought　out　Phatik　in　their　arms　and　placed　him　before　Bishamber。　　He　was　wet　through　from　head　to　foot；　muddy　all　over；　his　face　and　eyes　flushed　red　with　fever；　and　his　limbs　all　trembling。　Bishamber　carried　him　in　his　arms；　and　took　him　into　the　inner　apartments。　　When　his　wife　saw　him；　she　exclaimed；　〃What　a　heap　of　trouble　this　boy　has　given　us。　　Hadn't　you　better　send　him　home　？〃

Phatik　heard　her　words；　and　sobbed　out　loud：　〃Uncle；　I　was　just　going　home；　but　they　dragged　me　back　again；〃

The　fever　rose　very　high；　and　all　that　night　the　boy　was　delirious。　Bishamber　brought　in　a　doctor。　　Phatik　opened　his　eyes　flushed　with　fever；　and　looked　up　to　the　ceiling；　and　said　vacantly：　〃Uncle；　have　the　holidays　come　yet？　　May　I　go　home？〃

Bishamber　wiped　the　tears　from　his　own　eyes；　and　took　Phatik's　lean　and　burning　hands　in　his　own；　and　sat　by　him　through　the　night。　　The　boy　began　again　to　mutter。　　At　last　his　voice　became　excited：　〃Mother；〃　he　cried；　〃don't　beat　me　like　that！　　Mother！　　I　am　telling　the　truth！〃

The　next　day　Phatik　became　conscious　for　a　short　time。　　He　turned　his　eyes　about　the　room；　as　if　expecting　some　one　to　come。　　At　last；　with　an　air　of　disappointment；　his　head　sank　back　on　the　pillow。　　He　turned　his　face　to　the　wall　with　a　deep　sigh。

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。〃



MY　LORD；　THE　BABY

I

Raicharan　was　twelve　years　old　when　he　came　as　a　servant　to　his　master's　house。　　He　belonged　to　the　same　caste　as　his　master；　and　was　given　his　master's　little　son　to　nurse。　　As　time　went　on　the　boy　left　Raicharan's　arms　to　go　to　school。　　From　school　he　went　on　to　college；　and　after　college　he　entered　the　　judicial　　service。　　Always；　　until　he　　married；　Raicharan　was　his　sole　attendant。

But；　　when　　a　　mistress　　came　　into　　the　　house；　Raicharan　found　two　masters　instead　of　one。　　All　his　　former　influence　passed　to　the　new　mistress。　　This　was　compensated　　for　by　a　　fresh　arrival。　　Anukul　had　a　son　born　to　him；　and　Raicharan　by　his　unsparing　attentions　soon　got　a　complete　hold　over　the　child。　　He　used　to　toss　him　up　in　his　arms；　call　to　　him　　in　　absurd　baby　language；　put　his　　face　close　to　the　baby's　and　draw　it　away　again　with　a　grin。

Presently　the　child　was　able　to　crawl　and　cross　the　doorway。　　When　Raicharan　went　to　catch　him；　he　would　scream　with　mischievous　laughter　and　make　for　safety。　　Raicharan　was　amazed　at　the　profound　skill　and　exact　judgment　the　baby　showed　when　pursued。　　He　would　say　to　his　mistress　with　a　look　of　awe　and　mystery：　〃Your　son　will　be　a　judge　some　day。〃

New　wonders　came　in　their　turn。　　When　the　baby　began　to　toddle；　that　was　to　Raicharan　an　epoch　in　human　history。　　When　he　called　his　father　Ba…ba　and　　his　mother　　Ma…ma　　and　　Raicharan　Chan…na；　then　Raicharan's　ecstasy　knew　no　bounds。　　He　went　out　to　tell　the　news　to　all　the　world。

After　a　while　Raicharan　was　asked　to　show　his　ingenuity　in　other　ways。　He　had；　for　instance；　to　play　the　part　of　a　horse；　holding　the　reins　between　his　teeth　and　prancing　with　his　feet。　　He　had　also　to　wrestle　with　his　little　charge；　and　if　he　could　not；　by　a　wrestler's　trick；　fall　on　his　back　defeated　at　the　end；　a　great　outcry　was　certain。

About　this　time　Anukul　was　transferred　to　a　district　on　the　banks　of　the　Padma。　　On　his　way　through　Calcutta　he　bought　his　son　a　little　go…cart。　He　bought　him　also　a　yellow　satin　waistcoat；　a　gold…laced　cap；　and　some　gold　bracelets　and　anklets。　　Raicharan　was　wont　to　take　these　out；　and　put　them　on　his　little　charge　with　ceremonial　pride；　whenever　they　went　for　a　walk。

Then　came　the　rainy　season；　and　day　after　day　the　rain　poured　down　in　torrents。　　The　hungry　river；　like　an　enormous　serpent；　swallowed　down　terraces；　villages；　cornfields；　and　covered　with　its　flood　the　tall　grasses　and　wild　casuarinas　on　the　sand…banks。　　From　time　to　time　there　was　a　deep　thud；　as　the　river…banks　crumbled。　　The　unceasing　roar　of　the　rain　current　could　be　beard　from　far　away。　　Masses　of　foam；　carried　swiftly　past；　proved　to　the　eye　the　swiftness　of　the　stream。

One　afternoon　the　rain　cleared。　　It　was　cloudy；　but　cool　and　bright。　Raicharan's　little　despot　did　not　want　to　stay　in　on　such　a　fine　afternoon。　　His　lordship　climbed　into　the　go…cart。　　Raicharan；　between　the　shafts；　dragged　him　slowly　along　till　he　reached　the　rice…fields　on　the　banks　of　the　river。　　There　was　no　one　in　the　fields；　and　no　boat　on　the　stream。　　Across　the　water；　on　the　farther　side；　the　clouds　were　rifted　in　the　west。　　The　silent　ceremonial　of　the　setting　sun　was　revealed　in　all　its　glowing　splendour。　　In　the　midst　of　that　stillness　the　child；　all　of　a　sudden；　pointed　with　his　finger　in　front　of　him　and　cried：　〃Chan…nal　　Pitty　fow。〃

Close　by　on　a　mud…flat　stood　a　large　Kadamba　tree　in　full　flower。　　My　lord；　the　baby；　looked　at　it　with　greedy　eyes；　and　Raicharan　knew　his　meaning。　　Only　a　short　time　before　he　had　made；　out　of　these　very　flower　balls；　a　small　go…cart；　and　the　child　had　been　so　entirely　happy　dragging　it　about　with　a　string；　that　for　the　whole　day　Raicharan　was　not　made　to　put　on　the　reins　at　all。　　He　was　promoted　from　a　horse　into　a　groom。

But　Raicharan　had　no　wish　that　evening　to　go　splashing　knee…deep　through　the　mud　to　reach　the　flowers。　　So　he　quickly　pointed　his　finger　in　the　opposite　direction；　calling　out：　〃Oh；　look；　baby；　look！　　Look　at　the　bird。〃　　And　with　all　sorts　of　curious　noises　he　pushed　the　go…cart　rapidly　away　from　the　tree。

But　a　child；　destined　to　be　a　judge；　cannot　be　put　off　so　easily。　　And　besides；　there　was　at　the　time　nothing　to　attract　his　eyes。　　And　you　cannot　keep　up　for　ever　the　pretence　of　an　imaginary　bird。

The　little　Master's　mind　was　made　up；　and　Raicharan　was　at　his　wits'　end。　〃Very　well；　baby；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃you　sit　still　in　the　cart；　and　I'll　go　and　get　you　the　pretty　flower。　　Only　mind　you　don't　go　near　the　water。〃

As　he　said　this；　he　made　his　legs　bare　to　the　knee；　and　waded　through　the　oozing