Mahfil, vol. 1, no, 2 19 . , V U-L • JL , had a distaste for books, but now he was always sunk in perusing huge tomes. Talk with whom you would, here courtesy and etiquette seemed to be deified. Mr Brahmin began to read Vedic incantations even in the wee hours and Mr, Mauiwi did no work other than his namaz and talawat. People thought that one month of such bother could somehow be put up with, and after it was all over, who wo' -^ worx\y about it anyway? But that old judge of men, seated in a blind wasbegCMAxig. to see that the swan hiding among these ducks was not to be found, One day the New Fashion Set decided to play a game of field hockey among themselves, At this suggestion all those players who were practiced in hockey showed up. After all, this was a ' * . skill, too. Why should they hide it? It was possible this might be the deciding factor. So it was decided - the field was layed out, the game was begun and the ball was chased around like an office apprentice, In the dominion of Deogarh this game was a completely extraordinary thing. Literate gentlemen played such solemn games as chess or cardso Running and jumping sports were considered children^ games, The game was proceeding with great enthusiasmr When the attacking players got the ball and flew down the field, it seemed as though a growing wave was rushing forwards But the players from the other side stopped this wave as though they were an iron wallc, This see-saw battle went on until evening. The players wer^ soaked with sweat. The heat of their blood shone from their eyee-and faces. They were panting and breathless, but the outcome could not be decided, It got dark, A little distance from this field was a canal»• There was no bridge over it, so travellers had to go into the canal to cross. Now the game was finished and the players were sitting around catching their breath when a peasant with a cart loaded with grain went down into the canal. But there was mud in the canal, and furthermore the ascent was so steep that the cart could not climb up itc Sometimes the man cursed his oxen, sometimes he pushed a wheel with his hands, but the burden was too great and the oxen were weak. The cart did not move, and even when it did get up a little ways, it would roll right back to the bottomo Again and again the peasant strained, and again and again he became enraged at the oxen and beat them; bisrb the cart did not rise even a little. The poor fellow looked here and there in despair but no helpful glance came his way. He could not even leave his cart alone to go anywhere. He was in real trouble. In the meantime the players, with sticks in their hands were wandering by from over the field. The peasant looked their direction with frightened eyes 9 but did not have the courage to ask for help from anyone. The players saw him, to be sure, but with closed eyes in which no sympathy was to be found. They possessed selfishness and arrogance, but not even a speck of generosity or brotherly love» But in this crowd there was a young man in whose heart were compassion and courage• His legs were all bruised from the