[Translated from Bengali to English by DevabrataMukherjee]
[New York: The Macmillan Company, 1914
Copyright 1914, byMitchell Kennerley;
Copyright, 1914 by The Macmillan Company]
[Madhav's House]
Madhav. What a state I am in! Before he came, nothingmattered; I felt so free. But now that he has come, goodness knows from where,my heart is filled with his dear self, and my home will be no home to me when heleaves. Doctor, do you think he—
Physician. If there's life in his fate, then he will livelong. But what the medical scriptures say, it seems—
Madhav. Great heavens, what?
Physician. The scriptures have it: "Bile or palsey, cold orgout spring all alike."
Madhav. Oh, get along, don't fling your scriptures at me; youonly make me more anxious; tell me what I can do.
Physician [Taking snuff] The patient needs the mostscrupulous care.
Madhav. That's true; but tell me how.
Physician. I have already mentioned, on no account must he belet out of doors.
Madhav Poor child, it is very hard to keep him indoors all daylong.
Physician. What else can you do? The autumn sun and the dampare both very bad for the little fellow—for the scriptures have it:
"In wheezing, swoon or in nervous fret,
In jaundice or leaden eyes—"
Madhav. Never mind the scriptures, please. Eh, then we mustshut the poor thing up. Is there no other method?
Physician. None at all: for, "In the wind and in the sun—"
Madhav. What will your "in this and in that" do for me now?Why don't you let them alone and come straight to the point? What's to be donethen? Your system is very, very hard for the poor boy; and he is so quiet toowith all his pain and sickness. It tears my heart to see himwince, as he takes your medicine.
Physician. effect. That's why the sage Chyabana observes: "Inmedicine as in good advices, the least palatable ones are the truest." Ah, well!I must be trotting now. [Exit]
[Gaffer enters]
Madhav. Well, I'm jiggered, there's Gaffer now.
Gaffer. Why, why, I won't bite you.
Madhav. No, but you are a devil to send children off theirheads.
Gaffer. But you aren't a child, and you've no child in thehouse; why worry then?
Madhav. Oh, but I have brought a child into the house.
Gaffer. Indeed, how so?
Madhav. You remember how my wife was dying to adopt a child?
Gaffer. Yes, but that's an old story; you didn't like theidea.
Madhav. You know, brother, how hard all this getting money inhas been. That somebody else's child would sail in and waste allthis money earned with so much trouble—Oh, I hated the idea. But this boyclings to my heart in such