Page:The Wreck.djvu/201

THE WRECK

197

Rajballabh formed a sudden resolve to marry a certain widow ot his acquaintance, and nothing would alter his determination. His invariable answer to protests was : "My present wife is not my true consort, for she does not share my faith; it would be positively wrong to abstain from marrying a woman who, in conduct and religion, in heart and mind, will be one with me."

In spite of a general chorus of disapproval Raj- ballabh insisted on marrying the widow according to Hindu rites.

Nalinaksha's mother prepared to leave her husband and migrate to Benares. Nalinaksha was then in pri- vate practice at Rangpur. He at once threw up his practice and announced to his mother his intention of accompanying her to the holy city.

"My son," said the old lady with tears in her eyes, "our ideas are at variance. Why should you put your- self to unnecessary discomfort?"

"There will be no variance," replied Nalinaksha, who felt keenly the stigma cast on his mother by his father's betrayal and had determined to make her hap- piness his prime object. He accompanied her to Benares accordingly. At an early opportunity she in- quired if he did not intend to marry.

Nalinaksha was in a quandary. "Why should I, mother?" he asked. "Fm very well as I am."

The mother's intuition divined the cause of his hes- itation. In cutting himself off from his former circle he had renounced much, but he was not prepared to go the length of marrying outside the Brahmo connec- tion.

Anxious not to stand in his way, she replied, "My dear boy, you can't take a vow of celibacy on my ac- count. Marry whomsoever you please; you need not fear any opposition from me."

Nalinaksha thought the matter over for a day or two, then announced his decision.

Digitized by Google