tears of joy. She had been intending to upbraid Matilall for his conduct, but now all was forgotten: the two girls, holding their brother's hands, fell at their father's feet and wept. When the infant boy saw his father, it was as though he had found a treasure: he kept his arms tight round his neck, and for long refused to slacken his embrace: the women of the household too offered loud prayers for the welfare of their master, as though with pán and betel in hand, they were praying for the welfare of a bridegroom. Baburam Babu was for some time like a man in a trance, unable to utter a word. Matilall reflected to himself: "The sinking of the boat has been a piece of good luck for me: it has saved me from a good scolding from my mother." As soon as the Brahmans in the outer apartments of the house saw Baburam Babu, they greeted him with vociferous blessings, saying in the Sanskrit tongue:— "Supreme over all is the might of the gods," and adding: "How could any calamity befall you, sir, with your own merits on the one hand, and on the other the divine rites that have been performed on your behalf? If such can befall, then are we no Brahmans."
Thakchacha rose up in great wrath when he heard this language, and said: "Sir, if it is by the influence of these men that calamity has been averted from you, is all my trouble on your behalf to go for nothing? do my prayers count for nothing?" The Brahmans at once humbly acquiesced saying: "Ah sir, just as the divine Krishna was once Arjuna's charioteer, so you have been the master's! all has happened by the might of your intelligence: you are a special incarnation: calamity flies far away from anyplace where you are, as from any place where we are."
Bancharam Babu had been all this time like a serpent
