Page:From the five rivers (IA fromfiverivers00steerich).pdf/29

GUNESH CHUND. 17

the boys mine I would take them wherever I went, crow or no crow. They are so sweet.”

His mother stamped her foot. “Aye, aye! Sweet for sure. And will not the eldest make a fine lumberdar? Folk might almost deem him thy son,”

“I could wish none better,”

Foiled by his gentleness, she watched his tall figure go down the alley for a minute, and then began the attack in a more promising quarter.

“Here comes Kishnu, Veru. Did I not say she would be the first? The crowing cock loves early hours. She hath her three with her, and Gunesh, poor soul, must needs stop and fondle them. He loves those boys; and who can blame him? Sure, a man's heart cannot live in his breast always!”

“That is true; but when a man gives it to a wife she can keep it from straying,” retorted Veru. She was never without words, but they were empty diet, and she could not help looking ut Kishnu’s boys with hungry eyes.

“I scarce liked to bring Shivu here to-day,” quoth the latter, settling herself with a flounce among the voluminous skirts that hung half-way down her trousered legs. “ You see, he grows so big—almost too much of a man for these women’s doings."

She tittered, twisted her huge nose-ring to one

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