Saila found it hard to restrain her own when Kamala broke out. "Don't talk that way, Kamala, as though you were going away altogether. I can't believe that you were really happy here. It's different now that you'll have a house of your own to be really happy in. We'll drop in to see you now and then, and when our backs are turned you'll say, 'Tank Heaven, they have gone at last !' "
When the time came for Kamala to start and she had said her good-byes, Saila remarked ; "I'll come and see you to-morrow at midday," but Kamala neither accepted nor declined this offer.
She found Umesh at the bungalow on her arrival. "So, you've here !" she exclaimed. "I thought you were going to the play."
"So I was but as you were coming here-"
"Never mind about me ; go off and see the performance. Bishan's here. Hurry up or you'll be late."
"It doesn't start for some time yet," said Umesh.
"Never mind. There's always lots going on at a wedding ; go along and see all the fun," insisted Kamala.
He was on the point of setting out when Kamala called to him : "Look here, if Uncle comes you should--" but having got thus far she could not think how to finish the sentence. Umesh stared at her open-mouthed. After a pause she went on. "Remember, you have a good friend in Uncle. If you happen to want anything go to him and ask for it with my love and he'll give it you. Now mind and don't forget to give him my love."
"All right," said Umesh, and he started off, quite at a loss to understand the significance of this injunction.
"Where are you going, madam?" Bishan had occasion to ask in the course of the afternoon.
"I'm going to bathe in the Ganges."
"Shall I go with you ?"
"No, stay and watch the house," and she presented him with a rupee for no apparent reason and sallied forth in the direction of the river.
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