Rashbehari Babu left landed property yielding an annual income of Rs. 1,200, besides Rs. 10,000 deposited in a Calcutta bank, and a substantial house.  His estate was worth not less than Rs. 40,000—­a lucky windfall for the penniless brothers.  It is needless to add that the testator’s sradh was celebrated with great pomp, which over, Samarendra applied for and obtained probate of the will.  A sudden change from dependence to comparative wealth is trying to the best-balanced character.  Samarendra’s head was turned by the accession of fortune; he began to give himself airs in dealing with acquaintances, and was not over-kind to his mother, who bore her sufferings patiently.

A landed proprietor holds service in contempt.  Samarendra at once resigned his post and settled down at Ratnapur, where Rashbehari Babu had owned a house and the bulk of his estate was situated.  Soon afterwards he yielded to the repeated advice of his mother by marrying the daughter of a caste-fellow, endowed with goods on a par with her husband’s new position.

His brother Nagendra passed the Entrance Examination, but failed to secure a First Arts certificate.  This rebuff so disheartened him that he gave up all idea of continuing the University course and returned to Ratnapur with the intention of living in idleness on his property.  In vain did Samarendra point out the advantages of a degree.  Nagendra declared that such distinctions were beyond his reach.  Sudden wealth, in fact, was injurious to both of them.

Two uneventful years passed away.  Samarendra’s wife was the mother of an idolised boy and was herself adored by her mother-in-law, who never allowed her to do any manner of household work.  The result was that her temper changed for the worse.  When the old lady fell ill, the young one made horrible messes of her curry and rice.  If her husband ventured to remonstrate, she silenced him with abuse, and even emphasised her remarks with a broomstick.

Samarendra, in fact, was completely under his wife’s thumb.  Her word was law in the household; her mother-in-law a mere cypher, who found both husband and wife perpetually leagued against her.  Shortly after his arrival at Ratnapur, Nagendra espoused the daughter of Kanto Babu, a Zemindar residing in the neighbourhood.  At first Samarendra’s wife received the new-comer graciously enough; but finding that she was of a submissive disposition, she soon began to lord it over her sister-in-law.  Nagendra sympathised heartily with his young wife, but had such a horror of family quarrels that he was very loath to intervene on her behalf.  One evening, however, he ventured on a word of reproof, which was received with angry words and threats of his eldest brother’s vengeance.

Next day Samarendra called him into the parlour, and, after they were seated, said:  “I hear you have been rude to Barabau (the elder wife).  Is that so?”

Nagendra raised his hands in wonder.  “No, brother, it was she who showed disrespect to me, simply because I objected to her bullying my wife.”