"They will burn down my house, sir, children and all!" "Very well, I will take charge of your children," said my master. "You may go on with any trade you like. They shan't touch you." That very day I bought up Panchu's holding and entered into formal possession. Then the trouble began. Panchu had inherited the holding of his grandfather as his sole surviving heir. Everybody knew this. But at this juncture an aunt turned up from somewhere, with her boxes and bundles, her rosary, and a widowed niece. She ensconced herself in Panchu's home and laid claim to a life interest in all he had. Panchu was dumbfounded. "My aunt died long ago," he protested. In reply he was told that he was thinking of his uncle's first wife, but that the former had lost no time in taking to himself a second. "But my uncle died before my aunt," exclaimed Panchu, still more mystified. "Where was the time for him to marry again?" This was not denied. But Panchu was reminded that it had never been asserted that the second wife had come after the death of the first, but the former had been married by his uncle during the latter's lifetime. Not relishing the idea of living with a co-wife she had remained in her father's house till her husband's death, after which she had got religion and retired to holy Brindaban, whence she was now coming. These facts were well known to the officers of Harish Kundu, as well as to some of his tenants. And if the __zamindar's__ summons should be peremptory enough, even some of those who had partaken of the marriage feast would be forthcoming! 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." "Let them trade in Indian goods, then." "Nothing would please me better. But suppose they do not?" "Nonsense! How dare they be so insolent? Are you not ..."