_Saree_, a long winding-sheet, which forms the drapery worn by women. _Shastras_, sacred writings. _Sudra_, the server; of the fourth or Serving Class. _Takht-posh_, a wooden plank on four legs used as a bedstead. _Veishya_, originally of the third or agricultural, now often of the professional caste. BETWEEN THE TWILIGHTS I THE STORY OF WISDOM She comes with the Spring--a two days’ guest in an Indian household. Nor has frequency bred either carelessness or coolness of reception. Early on the morning of her arrival you will see the women hastening from the Bathing Ghat, their garments clinging about their supple limbs, their long hair drying in the wind. They bear full water-pots, for nought but Gunga-Mai to-day suffices--no slothful backsliding to nearby pump. In the house of my friend, it was Parvati, the oldest serving-woman who undertook to make ready the guest chamber. I watched her as she crossed the courtyard--a handful of the precious liquid for Dharti-Mai the Earth Mother, and the rest--a generous swob, for the black marble veranda. Soon had she helpers, and to spare--the most practised among them made the white chalk marks of good luck--tridents, fishes, flames of fire; and the tidiest made the little inclosure--white cotton “railings,” the posts being balls of Ganges mud, in which were buried swiftly-flying arrows--threat for daring devil. But the centre of interest was naturally the Altar. This was just a plain raised platform of wood, carrying bravely its variety of offering. Great mountains of yellow and white flowers, with fruits, chiefly the cocoanut, fruit of healing, old Sanskrit manuscripts, lettered palm-leaves, thumbed and blotted copybooks and tattered “primers”--the prayers of children--the pointed reed, and ink-horns, glass ink-pots and steel pens from the “Europe” shop across the way; a school edition of “The Vicar of Wakefield,” Ganot’s Physics, quaint combs and mirrors, powder-boxes, and perfumes, “the tears of scented grass,” or that more subtle “scent of red rose leaves.” Why not? Is she not woman, even though a Goddess and learned? The “Europe” products, I notice, carry milk in place of ink. “Sanctify to us this Western Education”--is that what it means in this country, where deepest feeling finds outlet other than through doors of speech? So her worshippers made ready, not in private chapel but here where the life of the days pulsed and languished through the years; here, where friend or passing stranger might alike turn to greet her; for Wisdom is one, though her hosts be many. Moreover, She who is called Wisdom loves the voices of little children, and nothing is hushed, or ordered otherwise for her coming. The most unregenerate rogue romps at her feet, the most thriftless housewife, the most rebellious daughter-in-law has access to her Altar, and through the day one after another will come