which was behind it. Binoy had habitually put up with this ascendancy only because of his exceeding love and his soft, complaisant nature. And so the masterful relationship had come to prevail over the friendship itself. Hitherto Binoy had not realised this, but now there was no denying it. And so he was in duty bound to marry Sasi!
“No, I’ve not yet written to my uncle,” was his reply to Mohim’s question.
“My mistake entirely!” said Mohim. "Why should you write any letter; that’s my duty. What’s his full name, “ Why arc you in such a hurry about it? ” replied Binoy. “Weddings can’t take place in the months of Amain and Kartik. In Aghrmi— but I forget, there’s a diiliculty about that month too. It’s an unlucky month in our family history, and we never have auspicious ceremonies in Aghran.”
Mohim put down his hookah in a corner against the wall and said: “ Look here, Binoy, if you are going to stick to all that sort of superstition, then is all this modern education of yours only so many phrases learnt by rote? In this wretched country it is difficult enough to find auspicious days in the calendar, and if, on top of that, every household is going to consult its own private family records, how is business coin*/ to be carried on at all? ” b ® “ Then why do you accept even As win and Kartik as inauspicious? ” asked Binoy.
t j" ■ 1 i " Cried Mobim- “ Not a bit of it. But what can I do— m this country of ours you need not honour God, but if you don’t honour all the rules about the months of Bhadra, and Kartik, and about Thursdays and Saturdays, and all the special phases of the moon, you’ll not be allowed in the house! And I must confess that, though I say I don’t accept all this, in practice if I don’t go by the calendar I feel un¬ comfortable, — our atmosphere breeds fear just as it breeds malaria, so I can’t shake off that kind of feeling.”
“ Similarly, in my family,” said Binoy, “ they can’t throw off their fear of tho month of Aghran! At least my aunt would never consent.”
Thus did he manage, somehow, to put off the matter for the time, while Mohim, at a loss what move to try next, mad© his retreat.
Gora could divine from the tone of Binoy ’s remarks that his friend was beginning to hesitate. Binoy had not been , coming for some days, and he suspected that he must bo GORA XIX 95 visiting at Parcsh Babu’s more frequently than ever. And, now that he had tried to put off the question of his marriage’ Gora began to have serious misgivings, so, leaving his writing, he turned and said: “ Binoy, when once you have given your word to my brother, why plunge him into all these needless uncertainties? ” Binoy, with a sudden impatience, blurted out: “ Did I give my word, or was it snatched from mo?"
Gora was taken by surprise at this sign of sudden revolt, and, with hardening mind, he asked incisively: “ Who was it snatched this from you? ” “ I? Why, I hardly spoke half-a-dozen words to you on the subject — and you call that extorting a promise! ” As a matter of fact Binoy had no very convincing proof of his accusation — what Gora said was true — very few words had been exchanged— aud in what he had said there had not been 8uflicicnt insistence to deserve being called pressure. And yet it was also true in a sense that Gora had robbed Binoy of his consent. The less the outward proof the more importunate becomes the accuser, so Binoy, with a note of unreasonable excitement in his voice, said: “Many words are not required to extort a promise! ” “ Take back your word! ” shouted Gora, getting up from the table. “ Your promise is not of such immense value that I should want to beg or rob it of you! ” — “ Dada,” lie then roared out to Mohim, who was in the next room, and who came- in at once in a great flurry. " Dada,” cried Gora, “ didn’t I tell you at the very beginning that Binoy’s marriage with Sasii was impossible? — that I didn’t approve of it? ” “ Of course you did. No one else could have said such a. thing. Any other uncle would have shown some keenness about his niece’s marriage 1 ” “ What made you use me as a cat’s-paw to obtain Binoy’a consent? ” flung out Gora.
" No other reason except that I thought it the best way of gaining his consent,” answered Mohim ruefully.
Gora turned red in the face. “ Please leave me out of all- this!” he cried. “I’m not a professional matchmaker; I’ve other work to do.” And with these words he left the room.
Before the unfortunate Mohim could pursue the matter any further, Binoy also had reached the street, and Mohim’s only resource was his hookah, which he now took up from the- corner where he had placed it.
GORA CHAP.
Binoy had had many quarrels with Gora, but such a volcanic upheaval as the present one had never occurred before, and at first he was aghast at the result of his own work. When he got back home, darts seemed to be piercing his conscience. He had no appetite for eating, or for sleep, as he thought of what a blow he had dealt Gora in that one brief moment. He felt specially repentant to think of the extra¬ ordinary and unreasonable way in which he had put all the blame on Gora. “ I’ve done wrong, wrong, wrong,” he kept on saying to himself.
Later in the day, just as Anandamoyi was sitting down to her sewing after her midday meal, Binoy turned up and caine and sat beside her. She had heard something of what had happened from Mohim, but when she had seen Gora's faco at meal-time she knew that a storm had raged.
“ Mother,” said Binoy, “ I’ve done wrong. What I said to Gora this morning about my marriage with Sasi was nonsense! ” “ What of that, Binoy? That kind of thing is bound to happen whenever you try to suppress some pain in the mind. And it’s just as well that it should have happened. In a short time both of you will have forgotten all about this quarrel.”
“ But, mother, I want you to know that I have no objection to marrying Sasi.”
“ Don’t make matters worse, my child, by trying to patch up your quarrel in a hurry. Marriage is for life, while a quarrel is only for the time.”
Binoy, however, was not able to accept this advice. Ho felt he could not go straight to Gora with his proposal, so he went to Mohim and let him know that there was now no obstacle in the way of the marriage, that it could take place in four months’ time, and that he himself would see to it that his uncle made no objection.
“ Shall we have the betrothal ceremony at once? ” urged Mobim.
“All right, that you can settle after consulting Gora,” replied Binoy.
“ What! consult with Gora again! ” complained Mohim irritably.
“ Yes, yes, that is absolutely essential! ” “ Well, if it must be done, I suppose it must, but - ” With which Mohim stopped his mouth with the pan which he stuffed into it.
XX GOKA 97 Mohirn said nothing that day, but next morning he went to Gora’s room, fearing that he would have a hard fight to obtain his consent over again. But the moment he mentioned how Binoy had come the previous afternoon and had spoken of his willingness to marry Sasi, and had even told him to ask Gora’s advice about the betrothal, Gora at once expressed his approval and said: “ Good! Let’s have the betrothal by all means! ” “ You’re quite complaisant now, I see, but for the Lord’s sake don’t raise some new objection next time.”
“ It was not my objection, but my request, which raised the trouble,” said Gora.
"Well, then,” said Mohim, “my humble petition is, that you neither object nor make any request. I’ll be quite satisfied with what I can do myself. How could I know that your request was going to have such a contrary effect? All that I want to know is, do you really wish the marriage to take place? ” “ Then let the wish be enough, and don’t meddle any further in the matter.”
CHAPTER XX Gob a now came to the conclusion that it would be difficult to keep a hold on Binoy from a distance, so that a watch must be kept where the field of danger was. The best way to keep Binoy within bounds, he felt, would be to keep up a frequent intercourse with Paresh Babu himself. So, the very day after the quarrel, he went in the afternoon to Binoy's lodgings.
That Gora would come so soon was more than Binoy had expected, and he was as astonished as he was happy. He was still more surprised when Gora introduced the topic of Paresh Babu’s daughters without any sign of hostility towards them. It was not necessary to try very hard to arouse Binoy's interest in this subject, and the two friends went on discussing the topic from every point of view till far into the night.
Even when walking home that night Gora could not keep the subject out of his head, nor was he able to dismiss it from his thoughts so long as he was awake. Never before in his life had such a disturbance invaded his mind — in fact, the subject of women had never been included in his cogitations.
GORA cnAP.
Binoy had now proved to him that they were a part of the world problem, which must be dealt with by solution or compromise, but which could not be ignored.
So next day, when Binoy said to Gora, “ Come along with me to Paresh Babu’s, he has often inquired after you,” Gora agreed without the least demur. Not only did he consent, but there was no longer the same indifference in his mind. At first he had been utterly incurious about Suchuritu and Paresh Babu’s daughters, then a contemptuous hostility towards them had arisen in his mind, but now lie actually felt an eagerness to know them better. He was anxious to discover what the attraction was that exercised such an influence over Binoy’s heart.
It was evening when they reached the house, and in the parlour upstairs Haran was reading one of his English articles to Paresh Babu by the light of a table-lamp. Paresh Babu was, however, only a means to an end, for Ilaran’s real object was to impress Sucharita. She was listening in silence at the foot of tho table, shading her eyes from the glare of the lamp with a palm-leaf fan. With her naturally obedient nature she was trying her best to attend, but every now and then her mind would wander.
When the servant announced the arrival of Gora and Binoy, she started, and was preparing to leave the room when Paresh Babu stopped her, saying: ^ Where are you going, Radha? It is only our Binoy and Gour who have come.”
Sucharita sat down in some confusion, though relieved that the reading of Ilaran’s tedious article had been interrupted. She was certainly excited at the prospect of seeing Gora again, but she felt both shy and uneasy at the idea of his coming while Haran was there. It is difficult to say whether it was fear lest they should quarrel again, or something else.
The very name of Gora had set Haran on edge. He barely returned Gora’s salutation and then sat silent, looking glum. As for Gora, the moment he saw Haran all his fighting instincts were aroused.
Mistress Baroda had gone visiting with her three daughters, and it had been arranged that Paresh Babu should call for them in tho evening to bring them home. It was already time for Paresh Babu to go when Gora and Binoy’s arrival delayed him; and when he could no longer put off going, he whispered to Haran and Sucharita that he would be back as soon as possible, and left them to entertain the guests.
The entertainment began soon enough, for in less than no GORA 99 xx time a regular pitched battle had begun. The subject under discussion was this. There was a certain District Magistrate named Brownlow, stationed near Calcutta, with whom Parcsh Babu had been friendly when at Dacca. lie and Ins wife had shown great regard for Paresh Babu because he did not keep his wife and daughters secluded in the zenana. Every year the sahib used to celebrate his birthday by holdm" an agricultural fair. Mistress Baroda had been lately calling on Mrs. Brownlow, and had as usual been expatiating on her daughters’ cleverness in English literature and poetry, where¬ upon tho ineni-suhib had enthusiastically suggested that as tho Lieutenant-Governor was bringing his wife to the fair this vear, it would be nice if Parcsh Babu’s girls could act a short English play before them. This suggestion had met with Baroda’s delighted approval, and to-day she had taken her daughters to. a friend’s house for a rehearsal. When asked whether it would be possible for him to attend the fair, Gora replied with unnecessary violence — “No!” Whereupon a heated controversy ensued about the English and the Bengalis, and the difficulties in tho way of social intercourse between them in India.,, Haran said: “ It is the fault of our own people. We have so many bad customs and superstitions that we arc not W° To which Gora replied: “ If that is really true, then, how¬ ever unworthy wc may be, we ought to be ashamed of going about slavering for tile society of English people.”
“ But,” returned Haran, “ those who arc really worthy arc received with the highest regard by the English— as for instance our friends here.”
“ This kind of regard for some persons which only accentuates tho humiliation of tho rest of their countrymen, is nothing but an insult in my eyes,” said Gora.
Huran's anger soon got the better of him, and Gora, by egging him on, quickly had him at his mercy.
' While the discussion was going on in this way, Suchanta was gazing at Gora from behind the shelter of her fan, — -the words which she heard making no impression ou her mind. If she had been conscious that she was staring at Gora she would doubtless have felt ashamed, but she was utterly oblivious of herself. Gora sat opposite to her, leaning over the table with his powerful arms stretched out before him. The light of the lamp fell on his broad white brow, while he now laughed contemptuously and then frowned angrily. But GORA CnAP.
GORA CnAP.
in all the play of his features there was a dignity which showed that he was not indulging in any play of words, but that his opinions had long years of thought and practice behind them. It was not merely his voice that spoke, but the expression of his face and every movement of his body seemed to show deep conviction. Sucharita wondered as she watched him. It seemed as if for the first time in her life she was looking at a real man, who could not bo confounded with the ordinary run of.men. Beside him Haran Babu appeared so ineffective that his features, his gestures, and even his dress began to look ludicrous. She had so often discussed Gora with Binoy that she had come to think of him merely as the leader of a special party with decided opinions of his own, and at best, it seemed to her, he might bo of some kind of service to the country. Now, as she looked on his face, she could sec, beyond all party opinion or ulterior benefit, the man Gora. For the first time in her life she now saw what a man was, and what his soul was, and in the joy of this rare experience she completely forgot her own existence.
Sucharita’s absorbed expression had not escaped Haran, who had, in consequence, been unable to put all his force into his arguments. At length he got up from his seat impatiently and, calliug her as if she were a close relative, said: “ Sucharita, will you come into the other room? I want to speak to you.”
Sucharita shrank as though she had been struck, for although Haran was on terms familiar enough to call her like that, and at any other time she would have thought nothing of it, yet to-day, in the presence of Gora and Binoy, it seemed like an insult, especially as Gora cast a swift glance at her in such a way as seemed to make Haran’s offence the more un¬ pardonable. At first she pretended not to have heard him, but when Haran, with some show of irritation, repeated: “ Don’t you hear me, Sucharita? I have something to say to you. I must ask you to come into the next room,” sho replied, without looking at him: “ Wait till father comes back, and then you can tell me.”
At this juncture Binoy got up, saying: “lam afraid we are in the way; it’s time for us to be going,” to which Sucharita hurriedly replied: “ No, Binoy Babu, you mustn’t go away so soon. Father asked you to wait for him. He will be here immediately,” and there was a note of anxious pleading in her voice, as though there had been a proposal to hand over a deer to its hunter.
Haran now strode out of the room saying: “ I can’t wait XX GORA now, I must be going.” Once outside, he began to repent of his rashness, but he could think of no excuse for returning.
After his departure Sucharita felt hot with shame and sat with bent head, not knowing what to do or say.
It was then that Gora got an opportunity for studying her features.. Where was the ieast trace of the immodest forward¬ ness which he had always associated with educated girls? f° doubt her expression was one of bright intelligence, but how beautifully softened it was by her modest shyness. Her brow was pure aud stainless like a glimpse of autumn sky: her lips were silent, but how like a tender bud with the soft curves of the unspoken word. Gora had never before looked closely at a modern woman’s dress, having contemned it without seeing it, but to-day the new-fashioned sari which enfolded Sucharita’s figure seemed to him admirable.
One of her hands rested on the table, and, as it pcoped out of the puckered sleeve of her bodice, it seemed to Uora’s eyes like the gracious message of a responsive heart. In the quiet evening lamp-light which surrounded Sucharita, the whole room with its shadows, the pictures on its walls and all the neatness of its furniture, seemed to form one complete image in which stood out, not its material appurtenances, but the home into which it had been transformed by the deft touches of a woman’s care, which all in a moment had been revealed to Gora.
Gradually, as he watched her, she became intensely real and concrete to him, from the stray locks of hair over her temples to the border of her sari. At one and the same time lie could see Sucharita in her completeness and Sucharita in her every detail.
For a short time they all felt the awkward silence, then Binoy looked towards Sucharita and reverted to some subject he had been discussing with her a few days before. He said: " As I was tclliug you the other day, I once believed there was no hope either for our country or for our society — that we should always be regarded as minors, and the English would ever remain our guardians. And this is still the opinion of the majority of our countrymen. In such frame of mind, people either remain immersed in their selfish interests or grow indifferent to their fate. I, at one time, seriously thought of securing a Government post through the influence of Gora’s father. But Gora brought me to my senses by his protests.”
Gora, seeing a slight trace of surprise on Sucharita’s face GORA CHAP.
at this remark, said: “ Don’t think that anger against the Government had anything to do with what I said. Those who are in Government service generally come to acquire a pride in the Government’s power, as if it were their own, and thus tend to form a class apart from their other countrymen. I see this more clearly every day. A relative of mine was once a Deputy Magistrate. He has retired now, but when he was in service the District Magistrate used to censure him, saying: ‘ Babu, why arc so many people acquitted in your court? ’ and he would answer: 4 There is a good reason for that, sahib. Those whom you send to gaol arc merely like cats and dogs to you, but those whom I have to send are my brothers.’ In those days there were plenty of our countrymen able to say such noble words, and Englishmen who would listen to them were not lacking either. But nowadays the shackles of service are becoming an ornament and the Deputy Magistrates of the present time arc gradually coming to look upon their fellow-countrymen as little better than dogs. And experience shows us that the higher they rise in the service the more they deteriorate. If you are raised up on another man’s shoulders you needs must look down on your own people, and the moment you regard them as inferior you arc bound to do them injustice. That cannot lead to any good.” And as he spoke Gora thumped the table so that the lamp shook.
“ Gora,” said Binoy, smiling, “that table is not Govern¬ ment property, and the lamp belongs to Paresh Babu.”
Gora roared with laughter at this remark, filling the whole house with his merriment, and Sucharita was surprised and also delighted to find that Gora could laugh with the heartiness of a boy at a joke against himself. She had not apparently realised that those who have great ideas can also laugh heartily.
Gora talked on many topics that evening, and although Sucharita remained silent, her face showed such obvious approval that his heart was filled with enthusiasm. At length he said, specially addressing Sucharita: 11 1 want you to remember one thing. If we have the mistaken notion that because the English arc strong wc can never become strong unless we become exactly like them, then that impossibility will never be achieved, for by mere imitation we shall eventu¬ ally be neither one thing nor the other. To you I make only this request: come inside India, accent all her good and her evil: it there be deformity then try aod cure it from within, but see it with your own eyes, understand it, think over it, GORA xx GORA xx •turn your face towards it, become one with it. You will never understand if you stand opposed and, imbued to the bono with Christian ideas, view it from outside. Then you will only try to wound and never be of any service.”
Gora called this his request, but it was rather a command. ’There was such tremendous force in his words that there was no waiting for the other’s consent.
Sucharita listened with bowed head, her heart palpitating to find Gora addressing her specially, with such great eager¬ ness. She put aside all her shyness and said with simple modesty: “ I have never before thought about my country so greatly and so truly. But one question 1 would ask you: what is the relation between country and religion? Docs not religion transcend country? ” This question in her soft voice sounded very sweet to Gora’a ■ears, and the expression in Sucharita’s eyes as she addressed him made it even sweeter, lie replied: “ That which tran¬ scends country, which is greater than country, can only reveal itself through one’s country. God has manifested His one, eternal nature in just such a variety of forms. But those who say that Truth is oue, and therefore that only one form of religion is true, accept only this truth, namely that Truth is one, but omit to acknowledge the truth that Truth is limitless. The limitless One manifests itself in the limitless Many. I can assure you that through the open sky of India you will be able to sec the sun — therefore there is no need to cross the ocean and sit at the window of a Christian church.”
“ You mean to say that for India there is a special path leading to God. What is this speciality? ” asked Sucharita.
“ The speciality is this,” replied Gora. “ It is recognised that the Supreme Being who is without definition is manifest within limits, — the endless current of minute and protracted, subtle and gross, is of Him. He is at one and the same time with endless attributes and without attribute; of infinite forms and formless. In other countries they have tried to •confine God within some one definition. In India no doubt there have also been attempts to realise God in one or other of Ilis special aspects, but these have never been looked upon as final, nor auv of them conceived to be the only one. No Indian devotee has ever failed to acknowledge that God. in His infinity transcends the particular aspect which may be true for the worshipper personally.”
“ That may be true of the wise devotee, but what of the others 1 ” asked Sucharita.
GORA CHAP.
“ I always admit that in every country the ignorant will distort the truth,” replied Gora.
“ But has not such distortion gone further in our country than elsewhere? ” persisted Sucharita.
“ That may be so,” answered Gora. “ It is just because India has desired to acknowledge, fully, both the opposite- aspects of subtle and gross, — inner and outer, spirit and body, — that those who cannot grasp the subtle aspect have the oppor¬ tunity to seize upon the gross, and, their ignorance working om it, results in these extraordinary distortions. All the same,, it would never do for us to cut ourselves oil from the great, the varied, the wonderful way in which India has tried to¬ talise in body, mind and action, and from every point of view, the One who is true, both in forms and in formlessness, in material as well as in spiritual manifestation, alike to outer sense and inner perception; — or to commit the folly of accept¬ ing instead, as the only religion, the combination of Theism, and Atheism, dry, narrow, and unsubstantial, evolved by eighteenth-century Europe.”
Sucharita remained lost in thought awhile, and, finding her silent, Gora went on: “ Please don’t think me to be a bigoted person, least of all one of those who have suddenly turned orthodox, — my words are not meant in their sense. My mind is in an ecstasy with the deep and grand unity which I have discovered running through all of India’s various manifesta¬ tions and her manifold strivings, and this prevents me from shrinking to stand in the dust with the poorest and most ignorant of my countrymen. This message of India some may understand, some may not, — that makes no difference in my feeling that I am one with all India, that all her people are mine; and I have no doubt that through all of them the spirit of India is secretly but constantly working.”
Gora’s words, spoken out in his powerful voice, seemed to vibrate through the walls and furniture of the room. These were not words which Sucharita could be expected fully to understand, but the first tide of impending realisation seta in strongly, and the realisation that life is not confined within the bonds of family or sect overwhelmed her with a painful force.
No more was said, for from the staircase came the sound of running feet and of girlish laughter. Parcsh Babu had returned with his daughters, and Sudhir was playing one of his usual pranks on the girls.
On entering the room and seeing Gora, Lolita and Satish XX GORA recovered tlioir gravity and remained there, but Labonya went out precipitately, while Satish sidled up to Binoy’s chair and began whispering to him, and Lolita drew a chair up behind Sucharita and sat down half hidden.
Paresh Babu then entered, saying: “ I am rather late in getting back. Panu Babu has gone, I suppose? ” Sucliarita making no answer, Binoy said: “ Yes, he wasn’t able to wait.” And Gora got up and, making a respectful bow to Paresh Babu, said: “ We too must be going.”
“ I’ve not had much chance of a talk with you this evening,” said Paresh Babu. “ I hope you’ll call now and then, when you find the time.”
Just as Gora and Binoy were going out of the room, Mistress Baroda came in. They both bowed to her, and she cried: “ What! going already? ” “ Yes,” replied Gora abruptly, whereupon Baroda turned to Binoy, saying: “ But, Binoy Babu, I cannot let you go; you must stay to dinner with us. Besides, I have something to speak to you about.”
Satish jumped with delight at this invitation and, seizing Binoy’s hand, said: “ Yes, yes, don’t let Binoy Babu go, mother; he must sleep with me here to-night.”
Finding that Binoy hesitated to give his answer, Baroda turned to Gora with: “ Must you take Binoy Babu away? Do you need him specially? ” “ No, no, not at all,” replied Gora hastily. “ Binoy, you stay; I’m off.” And he went quickly out.
When Mistress Baroda asked Gora’s consent to his staying, Binoy could not help casting a furtive glance at Lolita, who turned her face away with a smile. Binoy could hardly resent these little railleries in which Lolita indulged, and yet they pricked him like thorns. When he had sat down again Lolita said: “ Binoy Babu, you would have been wiser to have made your escape to-day.”
“ Why 1” asked Binoy..
“ Mother has a scheme for putting you into an awkward position,” explained Lolita. “ We are one actor short for the nlay at the Magistrate’s fair, and mother has fixed on you to fill up the gap."
" Good heavens! ” exclaimed Binoy. “ I’d never be able to do that.”
“ I told mother th«t at the start,” said Lolita, liughing. “ I said that your friend would never allow you to take a part in this play.” ' GORA CHAP.
Binoy winced at the thrust as he said: “ We needn’t discuss my friend’s opinion. But Fve never done any acting in my life — why pitch on me? ” “ What about us? ” complained Lolita. “ Do you suppose we have been acting all our lives? ” At this point Mistress Baroda returned and Lolita said: “ Mother, it is useless to invite Binoy Babu to join in our plav, unless you can induce his friend to agree - ” " It’s not a matter for my friend’s consent at all,” inter¬ rupted Binoy in distress. “ I simply have not tho ability to act."
“ Don’t you worry about that,” cried Baroda. “ We’ll soon be able to put you in the way. Do you mean to say these girls can do it and you can’t? What nonsense I ” And there was no further way of escape left to Binoy.
CHAPTER XXI