Answer any one of the following questions in 120-150 words:

(i) How did Quinquart outwit Robichon and qualify to win the hand of the captivating, Suzanne? Describe.

(ii) “Action is the end of thought,” says Romain Rolland. Why do people avoid action? What choice do all of us have of living? Give a reasoned answer.

(iii) Nature had made the two girls, Marian and Freda, totally different from each other and yet both of them were “lonely” in their own ways. Elucidate.

Quinquart turned the tables on Robichon and qualified to win the hand of the captivating, Suzanne. Both Robichon and Quinquart loved Miss Suzanne Brouette as she loved them, flirted with them and had passion for them. But when she was asked to choose one of them as her husband, she could not take a decision. She solved this crisis by asking them to prove their skills on the stage and be judged by the Paris audience. Robichon enacted Jacques’ role in front of the Paris audience and everyone was spell bound. Suzanne was almost Robichon’s. At this, Quinquart counteracts. He disguises as Marquis de Thevenin, a judge, and invites Robichon to dine with him. During the meeting the Marquis informs Robichon that he was going to die of the poisoned wine he had taken as a punishment for wrongly sentencing his son. Robichon believes this and is outwitted. Paris chooses Quinquart as the better actor and the judgment goes in favour of Quinquart.

(ii) “Action is the end of thought,” says Romain Rolland. Nehru once quoted Romain Rolland and said this. Being selfish, ignoring the problems of other people is not at all desirable. One can’t just afford to live in dreams, nature and avoid neighbours. The sufferings of others must be felt, we can’t escape from our duty towards others. “All thought which does not look towards action, is treachery.” Thoughts must lead to action as the action is the end of thought. If we are the servants of thought, we must be the servants of action. People fear the consequences of action and fear risk. Overcoming dangers give us the real joys of life. Danger seems terrible from a distance; it is not too bad if you have a close look at it.

(iii) Nature had made the two girls, Marian and Freda, totally different from each other and yet both of them were “lonely” in their own ways. Marian was a girl different from what her mother had dreamt of. She drew the picture of a golden girl child. But her child was deaf and dumb by birth. She was shy, hesitant, reserved and withdrawn. Though Marian was dear and intelligent, the narrator had expected a golden coloured, golden voiced child before Marian was born. She had expected a confident child. She didn’t understand their games and slangy conversations. It was by this time that a child from the neighbouring house came to play with Marian. Freda, was her name and she was a golden child. She said she too knew how to play school. She was perhaps a year or two older than Marian. Anne didn’t quite like this child for more than just a single reason. Freda was slim and fair-skinned. Her hair was like ripe corn in sunlight. Her eyes a sparkling, vivid blue and as if this were not enough, she had a voice as clear and careless as a mountain stream. Freda said she had come to play with Marian and said she had no one to play with. Anne tried to discourage her. She said Marian liked to play alone. In spite of her, the girl was not ready to leave Marian’s company. This showed determination and strength. She liked being addressed by name and not as a ‘child’. However, they were both lonely as Freda had no siblings and friends whereas Marian didn’t like to involve with other children. Freda came to Marian’s house and they both played ‘school’.