He bought a go-cart, a yellow satin waistcoat, and a gold-
embroidered cap. He melted down the ornaments of his dead wife, and
made gold bangles and anklets. He refused to let the little child play
with any one of the neighbourhood, and became himself its sole companion
day and night. As the baby grew up to boyhood, he was so petted and
spoilt and clad in such finery that the village children would call him
"Your Lordship," and jeer at him; and older people regarded Raicharan as
unaccountably crazy about the child.
At last the time came for the boy to go to school. Raicharan sold his
small piece of land, and went to Calcutta. There he got employment with
great difficulty as a servant, and sent Phailna to school. He spared no
pains to give him the best education, the best clothes, the best food.
Meanwhile he lived himself on a mere handful of rice, and would say in
secret: "Ah! my little Master, my dear little Master, you loved me so
much that you came back to my house. You shall never suffer from any
neglect of mine."
Twelve years passed away in this manner.
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