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           After seeing Kamala, Ramesh struggled for a while to find his voice.
           "God bless you, Kamala," he said. "Forgive me for any wrongs that I have done you, knowingly or in ignorance."
           Kamala supported herself against the wall unable to utter a word in reply.
           After a short pause Ramesh went on, "If there is any message that you would like me to convey to any one, or if there is any misunderstanding that I can clear up, please command me."
          Kamala clasped her hands. "I beg you not to say a word to any one."
          "For a long time I never told any one about you," said Ramesh. "I kept silent even when silence spelt misery for myself. It was only few a days ago, when I believed you to be out of harm's reach, that I told your story, and even then it was only to the members of one family. That will not, I think, damage your cause ; in fact, it should assist it. Uncle apparently knows all. Then there is Annada Babu, whose daughter --"
          "You mean Hemamalini, of course," broke in Uncle. "Have they heard the story ?"
          "Yes," said Ramesh, "and if there is anything else that you would like me to tell them I shall do so. For myself I desire nothing more ; I have lost large slice out of my life and a good deal else besides. Now all that I desire is to be free ; I wish to pay off all my outstanding debts and obtain my release."
         Uncle grasped affectionately by hand. "No, Ramesh Babu, there's nothing else required of you. You have had such a suffering to endure and I pray that from now on your life may be free, happy, and untroubled."
         "I shall leave you now," said Ramesh, turning to Kamala. She did not open her mouth, but again made him a low obeisance.
         Ramesh walked out on to the road like one in a dream, saying to himself, "I'm glad I met Kamala ; this encounter makes a good close to the episode. Though I cannot tell for certain what led her to leave the bungalow at Ghazipur, this much is clear now that I'm quite superfluous. No one needs me except myself ; I'll go out into the world and lead my own life. There's no necessity to turn and look back." 

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            A day before Kamala visited Uncle's house again, her proceedings in Nalinaksha's house made her to visit Sailaja and share her jubilation and happiness with Saila. On the day of her visit of Uncle's house next morning she took Saila aside as soon as she found an opportunity and clung to her in a fond embrace.
          "What makes you look so happy to-day, dear ?" asked Saila, caressing her.
          "I don't know, didi ; I feel somehow as if all my troubles were over."
          "Come now, you must tell me all about it. We were together yesterday till evening, what happened after that ?" asked Sailaja.
          "Nothing to speak of, really, but I feel that he is now mine indeed. He, for the first time, spoke to me as I was making his bed yesterday, after arranging roses in his room. As he appeared all of a sudden I was ready to sink into the floor in utter confusion. He was about to make exit to relieve me from my embarrassment, he stood for a moment undecided, then slowly returned and said, 'Please get up. You must not be shy with me !' When I rose this morning life seemed to have acquired a meaning for me. I felt happier and my work seemed lighter than I can describe. I want nothing more than that, didi. I cannot believe that Providence will be so kind as to make all my life equally happy," expressed Kamala.
         "I think myself that your luck has returned and that you won't be cheated out of it. You'll get with interest all that happiness that is due to you," said Saila.
          "No, you mustn't say that, didi. I've got all the interest already. I've no fault to find with my luck. There is nothing more that I want," said Kamala.
           Uncle came in at this point.
           "You must come out now for a minute, dear," he said to Kamala ; "Ramesh Babu's here."
           Uncle had been having a preliminary discussion with Ramesh himself.
          "I know the real facts of your relations with Kamala," he had said, "and my advice to you is to start life afresh and to leave her out of the question altogether. If there is any problem still to be solved arising out of your association with her leave it to Providence to settle ; don't attempt it yourself."
          Ramesh had replied, Before I put Kamala out of my life, I must relate to Nalinaksha the whole story ; otherwise I can never start again with a clear conscience. It may or may not be necessary to discuss Kamala's affairs again in this life. Even it should prove unnecessary I can never clear my conscience till I tell all that there is to be told."
         "Very well," said Uncle, "just wait here. I'll be back in a minute."
          Ramesh was gazing out of a window at the passers-by with an expression of apathy, he heard a step, and looking round saw a girl  in the act of making a deep obeisance to him. When she raised her head he sprang up in amazement, crying, "Kamala !"
         It was indeed Kamala who stood before him, silent and motionless.
         "Thank Heaven, Ramesh Babu," said Uncle, who had come in with her, "Kamala's misfortunes are at an end and there is clear sky before her. You saved her when she was in great peril and in so doing brought wretchedness on yourself. Now that the time has come for you to part company she cannot pass over in silence all that she owes to you. She has come to-day to bid you farewell and to receive your blessing."

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            Chakrabartti came to know that Ramesh Babu was waiting downstairs for Nalinaksha. He asked Ramesh to go for a walk with him to have a private talk with Ramesh.
           "Where did you turn up from, Uncle ?" asked Ramesh in surprise.
           "It's on your own account that I'm here," said Uncle, "and I'm very glad I met you. Come on, we haven't much time ; we must get this matter settled," and he drew Ramesh out on to the road. "What brought you to this house, Ramesh Babu ?" he asked as soon as they were well on their way.
           "I've come here to tell Nalinaksha to tell him all about Kamala. I keep thinking that she may be alive after all," answered Ramesh.
           "Well, suppose she is alive and Nalinaksha should happen to meet her, do you think it would be a good thing for him to hear the story from your lips ? He has an old mother and it might go hard with Kamala if she were to hear the truth."
           "I don't know how it would affect their position in society," said Ramesh, "but I want Nalinaksha to know that not a shadow of blame attaches to Kamala. If she is really dead, my avowal will enable him to revere her memory."
           "I can't understand you modern people's line of thought," said Uncle. "If Kamala is really dead, I don't see the point of bothering him with her memory ; after all he was only her husband for one night. Do you see that house there ? That's where I live. If you'll come there to-morrow morning I'll tell you everything. Till then I ask you not to see Nalinaksha Babu."
           Ramesh assented, and Uncle returned and said to Kamala, "I want you to come to our house to-morrow morning, dear. I've decided that you must explain the position to Ramesh Babu yourself."
          Kamala made no reply, but dropped her eyes.
         "I'm convinced that it's the only thing to do," Uncle went on. "These up-to-date young men don't go by the old standards. Don't shrink from it, dear. You mustn't let any one else usurp your rights ; this is your duty and no one else's. Nothing that any of us could do would have the same effect."
          Still Kamala did not raise her eyes.
          "We've cleared the ground fairly thoroughly," he continued ; "you mustn't hesitate to sweep away the few obstacles that remain."
          At that moment Nalinaksha appeared there ; Kamala stood at the door and his eyes met hers, but this time he did not, as on former occasions, immediately avert his eyes and hasten away. It was only for a moment that he gazed at Kamala, but even that momentary glance seemed to take in something of Kamala's face instead of, as before, dismissing it as a thing only to be looked at furtively, without right or title.
         Next instant he noticed Sailaja, and he was on the point of retiring when Uncle intervened. "Don't run away, Nalinaksha Babu ; we look on you as one of ourselves. This is my daughter Saila, whose little girl you treated when she was sick."
         Sailaja bowed to Nalinaksha.
        "How is the little girl ?" he asked, returning her salutation.
        "She is quite well now," said Saila.
        "You never give me a chance to get my fill of your society," Chakrabartti went on. "now that you have come in you had better stay."
         Uncle made him sit down, then looked round to find that Kamala had slipped out. Her surprise and joy at the look in Nalinaksha's eyes had been too much for her and she had retired to compose herself.
         Kshemankari now entered the room. "I must trouble you to get up now," she said to Chakrabartti.
         Chakrabartti excused himself, went out for a while and returned to the sitting-room after duly regaling himself. "Just wait here a minute," he announced to Nalinaksha and his mother. "I'm coming back."
         He went out again and came back in a minute or two, leading Kamala by the hand, Sailaja bringing up the rear.
         "Nalinaksha Babu," began Chakrabartti, "you mustn't treat our Haridasi as a stranger. I'm leaving the poor girl in your house and I want you and your mother to regard her in every respect as one of yourselves. All she will require of you will be full opportunities to serve you both.She'll never knowingly commit any fault, that I can assure you."
          "My good sir," said Kshemankari, "you have no cause to worry. We've already made Haridasi a daughter of the house. We've never to this day had to make the least effort to find occupation for her. I've kept the entire responsibility of kitchen and storeroom on her. Somehow or other I'm pushed into the background. I used to keep the keys myself, but Haridasi has contrived to filch them away too. Are you threatening to take to take her away with you ?"
           "She wouldn't stir even if I told her, so you can set your mind at rest," retorted Chakrabartti. "You people have cast such a spell over her that she has forgotten the existence of every one else. Poor girl, she has had a hard time and she has found peace with you at last. May Heaven keep her in that peace and may she always find favor in your eyes ; that's my parting blessing to her !" and his eyes moistened.
           Nalinaksha had been listening in fascinated silence.

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            Saiaja found the fears of Kamal about revealing her identity, at this stage of Nalinaksha's marriage to take place with Hemamalini, were not unfounded as Kamala was afraid of loosing her place in the house where she intended to spend her life. But it still seemed to Sailaja intolerable to sit still and let Nalinaksha marry Hemamalini.
         "Is that marriage that you suppose really to take place ?" asked Chakrabartti.
         "Of course, dad ! Nalinaksha's mother has given the bride her blessings." said Saila.
         "Well, bless the Lord, that blessing won't operate. Kamala dear, you have nothing to fear. The right has conquered," declared Chakrabartti.
          Kamala was not sure what he meant and she stared at Uncle with wide-open eyes.
          "The engagement has been broken off," he explained. "Not only did Nalinaksha not agree to it, but his mother has come to her senses."
          Sailaja was enraptured. "We're saved, dad !" she cried. "I couldn't sleep last night after hearing of the engagement. But anyhow, is Kamala to go on living like a stranger in the house that is hers by right ? When are we to straighten out this tangle ?"
          "Don't be in hurry, Saila. Everything will come right in good time," said her father.
          "But things are all right as they are ! I don't want anything changed. I'm perfectly happy and you'll make me worse off if you try to make me happier. Uncle dear, I beg you not to tell anyone. Just leave me in a corner of this house and forget about me. I'm as happy as I could be," and tears began to flow from Kamala's eyes.
           "What's this, dear ? Don't cry ! I quite understand what you mean. Of course we are not disturbing your peace. Fate is working on her own lines and she is taking her time ; we should be foolish to interfere and upset everything. Don't afraid ! I'm old enough to know when to leave things alone," consoled Chakrabartti, in all solicitude for her.
           At this point Umesh entered the room, grinning as usual from ear to ear.
           "Well, what is it, Umesh ?" asked Uncle.
           "Ramesh Babu is downstairs inquiring for the Doctor Babu," said Umesh.
           The color fled from Kamala's face. Uncle jumped up exclaiming, "Don't be alarmed, dear. I'll see to it." He went down stairs and grasped Ramesh by hand.

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           After hearing Chakrabartti's faith in her son it caused Kshemankari's heart to glow with maternal pride.
         Chakrabartti continued further : "I want to tell you frankly what is in my mind. I've heard that Nalinaksha Babu is going to be married, and that his bride is of age and has more education than is usual among our people. So I thought perhaps Haridasi---"
        "I see that, of course. You might certainly have cause for anxiety in that case. But that marriage will never take place," expressed Kshemankari.
        "Has the engagement been broken off," asked Chakrabartti in surprise.
        "There was never one to break off. Nalin didn't want it at all ; it was only I who urged him to marry, but I've given up pressing him. It's no good trying to force people against their inclination. It may be that I'll die without seeing him married at all. We can't foresee God's purposes," replied the old lady.
        Chakrabartti tried to console the old lady to help her overcome her pessimism about her son's marriage, saying, "You mustn't talk like that. What are your friends for ? A match maker is entitled to a dinner and a present, and the bait tempts me. for one !"
        Kshemankari was pleased by the timely gesture of Chakrabartti, and said, "Bless your good heart ! You see, I was greatly distressed to think that it was my fault that he has not entered the holy state. So I went off in too great a hurry and made proposals on his behalf without taking a good look round first. I've had to give up hope of bringing off this particular match, so now you people had better see what you can do ; but don't waste time over it, for I haven't much longer to live."
         Having understood the desperate belief of the old lady on him, Chakrabarthy took the opportunity to achieve his goal, and said, "I can't have you saying that. I know just the kind of daughter-in-law that will suit you ; not too young, but one who will be attentive and submissive to you ; we shan't select one who doesn't answer that description. Well, you mustn't worry yourself about it any more. God willing, it's as good as settled. Now, if you'll allow me, I'll just give Haridasi a little good advice about her behavior here, and I'll send Saila in to you ; she has been talking about you ever since she first met you."
        "You three had better a talk together," said Kshemankari and went inside to attend a work.
        Chakrabartti sought out Sailaja and Kamala, and found that tears were sparkling in Kamala's eyes. He said nothing but sat beside his daughter.
        "Dad," said Saila, "I've just been saying to Kamala that the time has come to tell Nalinaksha Babu the whole story and this foolish Haridasi of yours is quarreling with me about it."
        "No, didi," exclaimed Kamala, "I implore you not to mention such a thing. It's quite impossible."
        "How silly you are !" said Saila. "You would sit still and say nothing while Nalinaksha Babu married Hemamalini. Ever since your wedding-day you've been through the most terrible experiences ; they've nearly been death of you, and now you want to endure another ordeal."
        "My story mustn't be told to any one, didi," said Kamala. "I can bear anything but the shame of it. I'm all right as I am. I'm quite happy now, but if you let out the whole story I shouldn't be able to hold up my head in this house another minute ; I should never be able to survive the disgrace."

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              After reading the letter of Ramesh Babu, Nalinaksha remained in silence for a while, took leave of Annada Babu and went away with the letter. While leaving the house he saw Hemamalini standing motionless, with her face so set and calm, when a storm must be raging in her breast. He could not bring himself to speak to her as he knew that it would not be easy to obtain an answer from her. Nalinaksha went out passing close to her before reaching the carriage, in case she had any communication to make ; but she disappeared indoors.
             Nalinaksha had not been long gone when Jogendra appeared.
             "All alone, Jogen !" remarked his father.
             "Whom were you expecting, then ?" asked Jogendra.
             "Why, Ramesh," said Annada Babu.
             "One reception of the kind that you gave him is enough where gentlemen are concerned ! I don't know what he has done unless he has gained everlasting bliss by throwing himself into the Ganges at Benares. I haven't seen him again, but he left a slip of paper with 'I'm off, yours, Ramesh' written on it. I never could fathom this kind of melodrama. I'll have to be off too ; my present job suits me very well," said Jogendra with a feeling of shame and disgust.
           "But about Hem ? We'll have to decide --" began Annada Babu.
           "What more can I do ? I should only go on making decisions and you two would continue to upset them. I don't care for that game any longer. Please don't mix me up in it any more. Things I can't understand don't agree with me. Hem's extraordinary faculty for suddenly turning incomprehensible makes me feel powerless. I'll be leaving by the morning train tomorrow," remarked Jogendra and left the room abruptly.
          A day or two later Sailaja and her father visited Nalinaksha's house. Saila and Kamala sat in a side room talking in whispers while Chakrabartti conversed with Kshemankari.
         "My leave is up. I have to go back to Ghazipur to-morrow. If Haridasi annoys you in any way or if you --" started Chakrabartti.
         "There you go again ! My dear sir, what can you be thinking of ? Is this a plot to get your niece back again ?"  asked the old lady.
          "No, I'm not that sort ; I don't take back a gift ; if it's at all inconvenient to you  that I should think of taking her with us," replied Chakrabartti.
          "You're not straight-forward with me at all. Nothing could be more convenient than to have perfect little house-wife like Haridasi with one ; you know that as well as I do," added Kshemankari.
          "Well, well, we'll say no more about it, but I'm more worried that Nalinaksha Babu may consider her an incubus. She is proud, that lass of ours ; and if Nalinaksha drops the least hint that he is annoyed with her she'll take it very much to her heart.
        "My word ! Nalin annoyed ! He is incapable of it, I assure you. It would not go against the grain for my Nalin to regard her as one of the family. Don't worry any more about it, my dear sir," assured Kshemankari.
       "I'm very glad to hear you say so. Still I should like to have a special talk with Nalinaksha Babu before I go. If Heaven has endowed Nalinaksha Babu the kind of virtue, piety and manliness, then I want to convey to him that he should not proceed by keeping Haridasi at a distance through false modesty ; he should accept her and regard her without constraint as a real member of the family," expressed Chakrabartti.

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             When Hemamalini returned from Kshemankari's house she found a large thick envelope addressed to her on her table. By the hand-writing she found that it was from Ramesh. Her heart beat fast as she saw it , took it to her room and started reading the contents.
            Ramesh had given the whole story of his connection with Kamala, keeping nothing back. In conclusion he had written : "Circumstances have severed the tie with which Heaven linked your life with mine. You have given your heart to another. For that I do not blame you at all, but neither must you blame me. Although Kamala and I never lived for a single day together as man and wife, still I ought to confess to you to you that as time went on I became more and more drawn to her. Precisely what the state of my feelings is now I do not myself know. If you had not cast me off my heart would have found its sure haven in your love. It was with that hope that in my distracted state I hastened to you. But when you so obviously avoided me because you no longer cared for me, and when I heard that you had consented to marry another, then all my doubts and distraction returned."
           "I found that I could not forget Kamala altogether. But whether I forgot or not, no one in the world except myself will suffer for it. Why, indeed, should I suffer either ? I can never forget the only two women who have ever found a place in my heart, and to cherish their memory all my life will be an inestimable boon to me."
           "The momentary glimpse that I had of you this morning so affected me that I returned to my quarters confirming myself as an unfortunate wretch ; but I shall never do that again. It is with composed and indeed a cheerful mind that I bid you farewell ; and I take my leave of you with a full heart. Thanks to you both and thanks to Providence I feel no misery at this hour of parting. I wish you all happiness and prosperity. Do not think harshly of me, for I have given you no cause to do so."
          After reading the letter Hemamalini rushed to her father's room and said, "Dad, I've had a letter from Ramesh Babu. Please take it and read it, and let I have it back" ; and handing the letter she left the room.
         Annada Babu read it through twice and returned it to Hemamalini. His final comment was :"Not a bad thing anyway ! Nalinaksha is a much better match than Ramesh. It's is just as well that Ramesh has left the field clear."
        Next minute Nalinaksha was shown in. Annada Babu was little surprised to see him and wondered what business had brought him, inasmuch as they had parted only a few hours before, after a long conversation. He opined that Nalinaksha must be really in love with Hemamalini.
        He was just planning to bring the young people together and then to retire on some pretext or other when Nalinaksha came straight to the point.
         "Annada Babu, there is a proposal that I should marry your daughter. Before we go further I want to tell you something which you ought to know."
         "Very well ; in that case you ought to tell it."
         "You did not know that I am married already !"
         "Yes, I knew, but--"
          "I'm surprised to hear that you knew it already. Any how the point is that you suppose my first wife to dead ; but there is no certainty about that. In fact I believe myself that she is alive," expressed Nalinaksha.
          "I pray Heaven that may be true. Hem ! Hem !" called out Annada Babu.
           Hemamalini entered the room.
        "There is something in that letter that Ramesh wrote to you. You hand it over to Nalinaksha."  asked Annada Babu. Hemamalini brought it and handed it to Nalinaksha.
          Nalinaksha read the letter through. Amazement deprived him of the power of speech and he could offer no comment.   

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              Hemamalini , hearing the pitiable condition of Kamala, smiled and said, "when you know me well you'll find that I'm very stupid too. I don't know anything except a few things I've learned from the books ; and so if I come to live in this house I want you always to stay with me. I'm terrified at the idea of managing a household by myself.
           "Leave it all to me," said Kamala, simply as a child. "I've been doing that sort of work ever since I was quite small. I'm not afraid of anything like that. You and I will do the housekeeping together like two sisters. You'll make him happy and I'll look after you both."
          "Tell me, dear," said Hemamalini next : "you  can never have seen your husband properly ; can you recall what he was like ?"
           Kamala did not give a direct answer to this question. "I didn't know I should have to remember him, didi.  When I came to live in my uncle's house my cousin Saila didi and I became close friends. I saw myself how she devoted herself to her husband and it opened my eyes. I never saw my husband at all, so to speak, but somehow or other I came to worship him with all my heart. God gave me a reward for my devotion, for I have now a clear picture of my husband in my mind. He never really found a wife in me, but it seems to me now that I have found my husband."
          "This tale of Kamala's devotion found a response in Hemamalini's heart. "I understand exactly what you mean," she said, after a short silence. "To get a thing in that way is real getting. Any other kind is merely physical and does not last."
          She gazed at Hemamalini for a minute or two, then she said, "It must be true when you say it, didi. I don't let myself grieve over it ; I'm perfectly happy. What I have got is my reward."
          Hemamalini took Kamala's hand in her own. "My master says that when loss and gain are alike to one that is a real gain. Really and truly, dear, if I get as much out of absolute self-devotion as you do I'll be lucky indeed."
        Kamala opened her eyes at this. "What do you mean, didi ? You'll have everything ; surely you won't want for anything ?"
        "I can be quite content," said Hemamalini, "with getting what I ought to get. To get more than that spells weariness and sorrow. You must be surprised to hear me say this sort of thing, but I feel that God is inspiring me. Do you know, dear, I had a load on my heart to-day, but since I met you it has gone and I feel that I have gained strength."

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          Kshemankari excused herself on the score of ascertaining how far advanced the preparations for the meal were. Her intention was to handover Hemamalini to Kamala so that she herself might have a private talk  with the old gentleman.
         She found the food ready cooked and simmering on a slow fire, while Kamala sat in a corner of the kitchen meditating. She sprang to her feet startled seeing the sudden appearance of Kshemankari, with an embarrassed smile.
         "Well, dear, you seem very intent on your cooking," said the old lady.
         "Every thing is ready, mother," replied Kamala.
        "Well, why are you sitting alone quietly, dear ? Annada Babu is an old man and you needn't be shy of him. Hem is here and I think you might take her off to your room for a chat. I don't like to bore her by making her talk to an old lady like me."
        Hemamalini's apparent coldness had only to intensify Kshemankari's affection for Kamala.
       "But I shan't be able to talk to her," pleaded Kamala ; "she has learnt such a lot and I know nothing at all."
       "What do you mean ?" said Kshemankari ; "you're as good as any one. Any one can learn things from books, but it's not given to many to be such a sweet little woman as you are. Come along now, dear. You'll have to dress first, though. I'll give you something nice to wear to-day."
        Kshemankari was resolved to contrast Hemamalini's faded beauty with the fresh charm of this unlettered girl ; she wanted to lower the former's pride in every respect.
       Unmindful of Kamala's objection, Kshemankari decked her out with a cunning hand. She made her don a cream-colored silk robe and she dressed her hair in the latest mode. She kept turning Kamala's face this way and that to study the effect. Finally she kissed her on the cheek and exclaimed in delight. "You're beautiful enough for a king's palace."
      Kamala interjected from time to time ; "Mother, they're sitting all by themselves ; it's getting late."
      "Never mind if it's late," was Kshemankari's rejoinder. "I shan't go till I've finished with you."
      Kshemankari dragged Kamala with her saying, "come with me , dear ; you mustn't be shy. When that college-trained beauty sees you she'll be put to shame. You can hold up your head with any of them." Nalinaksha had arrived by this time and was chatting with them.
      Seeing him, Kamala swung round and attempted to fly, but Kshemankari held her fast.
      "There's nothing to be shy of, dear," she said, "we're all friends here."
       Kshemankari prided herself on the girl's beauty and on the distinction with which she wore her borrowed feathers, and she wished to give the others a surprise. The other in her had been aroused by Hemamalini's supposed indifference to her Nalinaksha, and she plumed herself on the idea that he would draw comparisons unfavorable to his betrothed.
       Kamala's appearance was indeed a surprise to the rest of the party. When Hemamalini met her at Kshemankari's bedside Kamala was wearing no finery ; she had crouched in the background, looking shy and insignificant, and had vanished before Hemamalini could take note of her appearance. Now after a moment of bewilderment she took the shrinking Kamala by the hand and seated her beside herself.
      Kshemankari felt that victory was with her ; no one could see her charge without admitting in his heart of hearts that such beauty was a rare gift of the gods. She said to Kamala, "Take Hem to your room now, dear, and you can have a talk there. I'll attend to the breakfast-room."
      Kamala wondered what Hemamalini would think of her, and it was a trying moment. She knew that Hemamalini would enter this house as Nalinaksha's bride at a distant date in the positdion of its mistress. She refused to entertain the thought that she herself was lady of the house by right and didn't want to harbor the slightest suspicion of jealousy and she would claim any rights whatever. Her limbs trembled and she left the room.
      "I have heard all about you from mother," said Hemamalini gently. "You must look on me as a sister, dear. Have you any sisters of your own ?"
       "None of my own, only a cousin ; daughter of my father's brother," answered Kamala, taking courage from the friendliness of Hemamalini's tone.
       "I have no sister either, dear," said the other, "and my mother died when I was a child. Many a time I've thought, 'I've no mother ; if only I had a sister to confide in !' I have that longing both when I'm very happy and when I'm sad. Ever since I was quite small I've had to keep all my thoughts bottled up, and now it has become so habitual with me that I can't unburden myself to any one. People consider me very conceited, but I hope you won't think that, dear. It's just that I can't speak from the heart."
        Kamala's reserve was now entirely broken down. "Is it possible that you could like me, didi ?" she asked. "I'm so stupid."   

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,

           Hemamalini fled from Ramesh's presence into her room, closed the door, and sat down to compose herself. She experienced shame after the initial excitement of seeing Ramesh subsided. "Why was I unable to meet Ramesh Babu without loosing my composure ?" she pondered. "Why when the unexpected happened, did I make such a sorry exhibition of myself ? It takes away all confidence in my power to control emotion. I must never exhibit such instability again" ; and set out for another encounter with Ramesh Babu, saying to herself, "I will not run away this time ; I will control my feelings."
          She slipped on the bangles that Kshemankari had gifted her, nerved herself for the fray, and marched out into the garden with her head erect. She met her father there and asked, "isn't Ramesh Babu here ? Isn't Jogen here ?"
        "No, they've both gone," answered Annada Babu.
       Hemamalini was relieved of the test of her self-controlling of her emotions that she would have been subjected to. She reminded her father of their visit to Kshemankari's house for the breakfast. When she finished her bath and dressed, asked her father if the carriage was ready, Annada Babu experienced uneasiness of eagerness of meeting the hosts and sat on the verandah rubbing his head.
         It was only half-past ten when they reached Nalinaksha's house and the doctor had not returned from his rounds, so it fell to Kshemankari to entertain her guests.
        The old lady, to her surprise, couldn't see the cheerfulness and gaiety on the girl's face. Kshemankari had a sensitive nature and Hemamalini's cheerless expression damped her spirits. "Most girls," she thought, "would consider themselves very lucky to get Nalin, but apparently over-education has turned this one's head and thinks herself too good for him ; the fault is mine ; I arranged for Nalin to marry a girl who is no longer a child and I made no attempt to discover her real character. The pity is that I had so little time to make her acquaintance ; but alas ! the call has already sounded for me to wind up my worldly affairs." These reflections distracted Kshemankari and found it difficult to carry on conversation with Annada Babu and she did not desire her guests to carry away the impression that her son was overjoyed at the prospect of the match. "After all," she said, "they are both of age and can exercise their own judgement ; it wouldn't do for us to press them."
         In their visit of Kshemankari,  Hemamalini had started feeling of terror to tread in the life stretched out before her mental vision and turned to complete lassitude. As the elders continued to exchange courtesies she became a prey to doubts of her own constancy ; and the result was that two different emotions contended within her when Kshemankari showed signs of cooling from the marriage project. On the one hand, a speedy consummation of the marriage would give her the early release that she desired from her present state of distraction and vacillation and for that reason she longed to see a definite compact made about her engagement ; and yet the hint of an abandonment of the scheme was a momentary relief to her.
          After making her momentous pronouncement Kshemankari glanced at Hemamalini's face and noted the effect of her words. It seemed to her that at last the girl's expression was calmer, and in that instant her heart hardened against Hemamalini. "I was prepared to sell my Nalin very cheaply," she thought, and rejoiced that he was late in putting in an appearance.

  

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              On the day before, Kshemankari had said to Kamala, "I've invited Hemamalini and her father to come to breakfast to-marrow, dear. We ought to feed Annada Babu so well that he'll be impressed  and never be afraid of his daughter not getting enough to eat here. However, you're such a good cook that I know you'll do me credit. My son has appreciation of your cooking to the extent that he couldn't find words to express, he said to me yesterday. You're not looking cheerful to-day, dear ; are you quite well ?"
          "I'm all right, thank you, mother," said Kamala, with a forced smile.
         Kshemankari shook her head. "I'm afraid you're worrying about something. It's natural enough and you needn't be frightened to tell me. Don't treat me as a stranger, dear ; I look on you as my own daughter. You must really tell me if there's anything in the life here that doesn't suit you or if you want to see any of your own folk."
         "I don't want anything except to work for you, mother !' exclaimed Kamala eagerly.
         "Perhaps you had better go to your uncle's and stay there for a few days, then you come back here when you feel inclined," Kshemankari went on.
         "Mother !" cried Kamala in dismay, "so long as I can stay with you I shan't want to see anybody else in the world. If I do anything wrong, please punish me as you think fit, but don't send me away even for one day !"
         Kshemankari stroked the girl's cheek as she replied, "That's one of the things that make me think you were my mother in some former life, dear. Otherwise how is it that we took to each other so at first sight ? Now be off and go to bed early. You haven't known what it is to rest all day."
        Kamala went to her bedroom, locked the door, extinguished the light, and sat down on the floor in the darkness to think. Her thoughts shaped themselves in to this form : "I cannot continue to watch over him when Heaven has deprived me of any right to do so. I must prepare myself to give him up altogether. Nothing is left but the small opportunities I have to serve him from time to time, and these shall do everything in my power to retain. God grant me strength to perform these duties with a smiling face, and never even to aspire to anything more ! It cost me dear to achieve even this much. If I cannot do cheerfully what there is to do, if I go about my work looking dismal, then I must give up everything."
        At last she made the following resolution :
        "From to-morrow I shall entertain no more regrets ; I shall never look unhappy, I shall never allow myself to sight for the unattainable. I shall be content to serve all the days of my life. I shall never, never, never ask for anything more," and she retired to bed, and fell asleep after turning over from one side to the other for some time.
          In the next morning when she rose she folded her hands and concentrated all her will-power on the resolution, "I shall never, never, never ask for anything more ; I shall serve you till death." She took Umesh to accompany her to the river in the bitter cold of dawn.
          "Why did you go off so early ?" asked Kshemankari, "You should have waited and come with me."
          "I couldn't wait to-day, mother," said Kamala, "there's too much to do. I have to slice the vegetables and I must send Umesh off early to the market to fetch the things that we still need."
          "You have considered everything, dear. Our guest will find his breakfast ready as soon as he arrives."
          Nalinaksha came out at this point and Kamala at once pulled her veil over her wet locks and went indoors.
         "I forgot to tell you yesterday, Nalin, that Annada Babu is coming to-day to give you his blessings," revealed Kshemankari.
          "To give me his blessing ? Why has he become so gracious all of a sudden ? I see him every day," remarked Nalinaksha.
           "I went round yesterday, presented Hemamalini with a pair of bangles, and gave her my blessing ; now it's Annada Babu's turn to give you his. Well, don't be late. They're coming here for breakfast" ; and old lady went off to her bath.
          Nalinaksha strolled away with his head bent, meditating.   

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            Looking at the carriage, "have you brought some one with you ?" asked Hemamalini.
            "I have indeed," laughed Jogendra ; "I've brought a Christmas present for dad."
            Ramesh now emerged from the carriage, but as soon as she set eyes on him Hemamalini turned on her heel and beat a hurried retreat.
           "Don't go, Hem ; I've something to tell you," called Jogendra after her. She took no notice, but hastened on as though she were flying for her life from some dreadful apparition.
           Ramesh halted for a minute or two in consternation, uncertain whether to follow her or to turn back.
          "Come on, Ramesh," called Jogendra, "dad is sitting out here" ; and he took Ramesh by the arm and led him up to Annada Babu.
           The latter had seen Ramesh arrive and could hardly believe his eyes ; he was reduced to rubbing his head and murmuring, "Here's another obstacle to this match !"
           Ramesh made a low bow to him.
        Annada Babu motioned him into a chair and addressed himself to Jogendra. "Well, Jogen, you've come just in time. I thought of telegraphing to you."
        "What about ?" asked Jogendra.
        "We have arranged a marriage between Hemamalini and Nalinaksha. His mother came to see her yesterday and gave her blessings."
         "Do you mean to say it is a definite engagement, dad ? Shoudn't I have been consulted ?" questioned Jogendra.
          "One never knows what you'll say, Jogendra. You know you were keen to bring this marriage about before I ever knew Nalinaksha,' replied Annada Babu.
          "I admit I was, but let that pass ; it's not too late yet. I have a lot to tell you. You must hear me first, then you can do whatever you think right," remarked Jogendra.
          Annada Babu was not inclined to pay much attention to what Jogen said and went on, "I'll hear you some day when I'm at leisure ; I've no time to-day. I have to go out now."
          "Where are you off to ?" asked Jogen.
          "Nalinaksha's mother has invited Hem and me to break fast at her place. You two had better breakfast here, then--" suggested Annada Babu.
          "No, no, don't trouble about us. Ramesh and I can go and feed at one of the hotels here. You'll be back by the evening, I suppose. We will come along then," replied Jogendra.
          Annada Babu could not bring himself to meet Ramesh's eye, much less to address any word of welcome to him.
         Ramesh on his part did not offer any remark, but sat in silence till it was time to take leave and departed.     

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          As soon as Nalinaksha left Kshemankari she called for "Haridasi", "put these flowers in water, dear," said Kshemankari, "arrange them in the rooms." She picked out one rose and pushed the rest of the bunch across to Kamala.
         Kamala put some of the flowers in a bowl and set it on Nalinaksha's desk. Others she put in a mug and placed them on a table in his bedroom.Then she opened a wardrobe, laid the rest of the flowers on his sandals, and bending her head, prostrated herself before them. Tears came to her eyes as she did so at the thought that these were all that she had in the world and that soon she would no longer be able even to worship his feet.
        Suddenly Kamala was startled by the sound of footsteps approaching the door. She hurriedly shut the door of the wardrobe and turned round to see ; Nalinaksha ! Flight was out of the question, and in her dismay she wished she could have melted into the shades of the oncoming night. When Nalinaksha perceived Kamala he left the room abruptly.
        Kamala at once seized the opportunity to make her own exit and Nalinaksha returned. Curious to know what the girl had been doing there and why she, on his appearance, had so hurriedly shut the door of the wardrobe, he opened it and saw his sandals covered with freshly plucked flowers. He closed the door again and crossed to the window. As he gazed out the sky, darkness fell and swallowed up the last rays of the dying sun.
       Now that Hemamalini had consented to marry Nalinaksha she endeavored to persuade herself that she was very fortunate ; she kept repeating over and over again : "I am no longer bound by my old engagement ; I am now perfectly free and no longer subject to eternal regrets for the past." She began to experience the joy of complete renunciation. She savored the peace that follows on the final close of one chapter in a human life.
        After her father went to bed Hemamalini took out her diary and sat up late recording her impressions :
       "I had severed all human ties, and was dead to the world. I could never have believed that God would deliver me and endow me with fresh life. I now prostrate myself before His feet and prepare myself to enter on new paths of duty. Fortune has granted me a boon far above my deserts. May Heaven lend me strength to cleave to it all my days. I am assured that he with whose life my unworthy life is to be linked will make my existence a full and rich one. My only prayer is that I in turn may bring the same measure of fullness and richness into his life."
         On the following afternoon Annada Babu and Hemamalini were preparing to start for Nalinaksha's house when a carriage drove up and one of Nalinaksha's servants alighted the carriage and announced that his mistress had arrived. Annada Babu hastened to meet kshemankari as she alighted from the carriage and greeted her with words, "We are indeed fortunate."
        "I came to give your daughter my blessings," said the old lady as she entered. Annada Babu ushered her into the sitting-room, and leading her to a sofa, requested her to wait while he called Hemamalini. As soon as Hemamalini heard of Kshemankari's arrival she hastened to make obeisance to her.
        "May your days be happy and long !" said Kshemankari. "Just hold out your hands, dear," and she fastened a pair of massive golden bracelets on Hemamalini's wrists ; the great bangles hung loosely on the girl's wasted arms.
         Hemamalini again prostrated herself before Kshemankari, who took her face between her two hands and kissed on the forehead. The blessing and the affection with which it was bestowed filled Hemamalini's cup of happiness to the brim.
         "Now, sir," said kshemankari to Annada Babu, addressing him by the title given to the father of a son's wife, "you must both come to breakfast with me to-morrow."
          Next morning, delighted at the Hemamalini's engagement with Nalinaksha, Annada Babu sat with his daughter taking tea in their garden and felt restored pristine freshness to his countenance. He was obsessed with the idea that it was already time prepare for the promised visit to Kshemankari's house.
         In the meantime a carriage with luggage on the roof drove up to the front gate and stopped there.
         "There's Jogen!" exclaimed Hemamalini, and hurried towards the gate. It was indeed Jogendra who stepped out ; he wore a very cheerful expression and greeted his sister with utmost cordiality.
         

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             Hemamalini asked Kshemankari how she was.
             "When a person comes to my age," said the old lady, "I ought to be satisfied with being alive at all, but I shan't be able to cheat old Time for ever. However, I'm glad that you raised the subject. I've been intending to speak to you for some time, but haven't had an opportunity. When my fever came on again last night I decided not to put it off any longer. I know, in this age of yours one can talk freely about the marriage affairs with girls of your age and education. As such I want to talk about this now and you're not to be shy with me. Now just tell me this, dear. Did your father mention to you the proposal that I made to him the other day ?"
          "Yes, he mentioned it," said Hemamalini with down cast eyes.
          "But apparently you did not agree to it, dear," Kshemankari went on ; "if you had, Annada Babu would have come straight to me and told me. You took Nalin for an ascetic sort of person who spends the whole day and night in religious observances and you felt you would never be able to marry him. I must face that question though he is my son. But you people go wrong if you imagine him incapable of love. I've known him all his life and you must take my word for it. He's capable of such strong affection that it frightens him and keeps his feelings under strict control. One can easily find him a person of warm heart and I can assure you, Hem, dear, you're not a child ; you're educated and you've gone to Nalin for advice. I should die perfectly satisfied if I could see you installed in this house. I want to see you married because I know very well that he'll never marry after I die. He'll just drift about helplessly. You respect Nalin, I know ; tell me, dear, what is it that you object to him ?"
          "There is nothing that I object to if you consider me a suitable wife for him, mother," replied Hemamalini, with downcast eyes.
          When Kshemankari heard this she drew Hemamalini to her and kissed on her forehead.
           "Haridasi, just take these flowers and--" The old lady looked round and saw that Haridasi was not there ; she had slipped away quietly while they were talking.
           Hemamalini cut short her visit and departed saying, "I must be off early to-day, mother. Dad's not well."
          After Hemamalini's departure Kshemankari sent for Nalinaksha and greeted him on his appearance with exclamation, "Nalin,I can't wait any longer !"
         "What for ?" asked Nalinaksha.
         "I talked it over with Hem just now," said his mother, "and she has given consent, so I'm not going to listen to any objections from you. You see how it is with me. I'll never be content till you two are definitely engaged. I lay half of the night thinking about it."
       "Very well, mother," said Nalinaksha, "don't worry about it any longer, but sleep soundly, I'll do as you wish."

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            After breakfast Nalinaksha retired for his usual spell of quiet reading. In the afternoon Kshemankari took Kamala in hand, dressed her hair for her and put vermilion on the parting ; then she turned her head this way and that to study the effect.
          "Ah !" sighed Kshemankari to herself, "if only I had a daughter-in -law like her !"
          That night the old lady had another attack of fever, greatly to Nalinaksha's distress. He attended to her and gave her suitable advises for the relief from the sufferings and retired in to the next room. Kamala seated herself at her bedside after Nalinaksha left the room and began to massage Kshemankari's feet.
          "You must have been my mother in some former existence, dear !" said the old lady, "otherwise what have I done to deserve you ? You know I'm so constituted that I cannot bear to be waited on by a stranger, but your touch seems to give me strength. I feel as if I had known you for years ; I can't look on you as a stranger at all. Now please do as I say ; you go straight off to bed. One of Nalin's virtue is that he can sit up all night and undergo all sorts of discomfort and never show any sign of what he has been through. He always takes things calmly. You may be thinking that I'm talking too much about Nalin, but he is my son, dear, and not many mothers have a son like him. Be off to bed, dear, I'll never be able to stop talking if you are with me here and I can't sleep."
        Next day Kamala took entire charge of the house work. Umesh was present there early in the morning ; Kamala took him to kshemakari and introduced him as Umesh, the servant of her uncle and had come to see Kamala. Umesh made a low bow to Kshemankari.
      The old lady was pleased to see him with due reverence showed by him, "Who gave you such a lovely waistcloth, Umesh ?" inquired laughingly.
      "Mother gave it to me," said Umesh,  indicating Kamala.
      Kshemankari looked at Kamala and smiled as she remarked, "It's my belief that Umesh got it as a present from his mother-in-law."
       So Umesh found favor with Kshemankari and became a member of the household.
       In the afternoon Kamala was sitting at Kshemankari's bedside massaging the old lady's feet when Hemamalini came into the room with a bunch of flowers and prostrated herself before Kshemankari.
        "Come in, Hem," said the old lady, sitting up, "come and sit down. Is Annada Babu quite well ?"
        "He was not very well yesterday ; that's why he couldn't come here. He's better to-day."
        Kshemankari now proceeded to introduce Kamala. "Do you know, dear," she said, "my mother died when I was a child. She has come to life again after all these years and I met her suddenly on the road yesterday. My mother's name was Harithbhagini and now she has taken the name of Haridasi. Did you ever see such a little beauty, though, Hem ! Just tell me now !"
        Kamala hung her head in shame and it was some time before she felt at ease in Hemamalini's presence.    

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              Kamala thought it a good opportunity to cook and expressed her hearts desire, "please let me cook to-day, mother."
             Kshemankari smiled. "The storeroom and the kitchen are housewife's kingdom. Very well, you do the cooking to-day, dear, and for two or three days more if you like ; I've no doubt that in course of time you'll find yourself doing the whole of the work. Then I'll have my time for my devotions. It's never ending responsibility and I'll be glad to be free of it for a few days. The housewife's throne is not embowered in roses !"
           Kamala made all preparations for cooking with her accustomed thoroughness.
           Nalinaksha came in and made,as usual, a point of seeing his mother before he did anything else, for her health was a matter of constant anxiety to him. As soon as he entered the house on this particular morning his ears and nostrils informed him that cooking was in progress. Assuming that hi mother was in the kitchen he went there and halted in the doorway.
          Startled by the sound of footsteps, Kamala turned round and found herself staring straight into Nalinaksha's face. She dropped her ladle and made an unsuccessful attempt to pull her veil into position, forgetting that it was tied round her waist. Before she could disentangle it and raise it to her face, Nalinaksha, who was no less surprised than she, had turned and gone.
          Kamala's hand trembled as she took up the ladle again.
          When Kshemankari finished her devotions and repaired to the kitchen, she found that cooking was over. Kamala had washed the room out and cleaned it thoroughly ; the kitchen was as tidy as it could be.
         "Well, dear, you're a true Brahman girl and no mistake !" exclaimed Kshemankari in delight.
         When Nalinaksha sat down to breakfast, his mother took her place opposite him and a certain very nervous little person stood listening outside the door. She could not summon up courage to peep in and she was frightened almost out of her wits at the thought that her cooking might be a failure.
         "What is the cooking like to-day, Nalin ?" asked Kshemankari.
          His mother was normally not in the habit of questioning him about his food, but this time there was a real note of eagerness in her voice. She did not know that Nalinaksha was already aware of the installation of a mysterious stranger in the kitchen. As his mother's strength declined with age he had done his best to persuade her to engage a cook, but he had never been able to win her consent. He had accordingly been delighted to see a new face in the kitchen, and though he had taken no particular note of the quality of the viands he answered enthusiastically, "It's splendid, mother !"
        Unable to sustain the role of eavesdropper after hearing this compliment to her cooking, Kamala fled into another room and clasped her arms over her heaving breast.   

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            One day Kshemakari sent for her son and said to him, "Nalin, you're not to charge any fees to our friend Chakrabartti !"
           Uncle laughed. "He obeys his mother's order before he receives it. He hasn't charged me any thing at all. The generous recognise a poor man when they see him."
          The father and daughter went on maturing their plans for a few more days, then one morning Uncle said to Kamala, "Come on, lass, we must go and bathe ; it's the Dasaswamedh festival."
         "You'll have to come too, didi," said Kamala to Saila.
         "Can't come, dear," said Saila, "Umi's not very well."
         Uncle brought Kamala back from the bathing ghat by a different route from the one which they had  taken on the outward journey.
         On the way they overtook an old lady returning from her bath dressed in silk and carrying a jar of Ganges water. Uncle placed Kamala in her path and announced, "This is the doctor babu's mother, dear, ; make your bow to her." Kamala was startled at his words, but she at once prostrated herself before Kshemankari and reverently touched the dust of her feet.
        "Dear me, who's this ?" cried Kshemankari. "What a beauty ! a perfect little Lakshmi," and drew aside Kamala's veil and scanned her downcast face. "What is your name, dear ?" she asked.
        Before Kamala could reply Uncle interrupted ; "Her name is Haridasi and she is daughter of a cousin of mine. She has no parents and is dependent on me."
        "Come along, sir !" said Kshemankari, "you had better both come home with me."
         Kshemankari took them to her house and called for Nalinaksha, but as it happened he was out. Uncle ensconced himself in a chair and Kamala took a less exalted seat.
         Uncle opened the conversation. "I must tell you that this niece of mine has been very unfortunate. The day after her marriage her husband turned ascetic and took to the road, and she has never seen him since. She wants to lead a religious life in some holy place ; religion is her only comfort now. But I don't live here and I cannot throw up my post at Ghazipur. I need it to support my family, so I couldn't settle down here with her. That's why I'm asking a favor of you. It would take a load off my mind if she could stay here and be a daughter to you. If at any time you feel disinclined to keep her, then send her to me at Ghazipur ; but I assure you that by the time she has been a couple of days with you, you will realize what a treasure she is, and you won't want to part with her for a moment."
           Kshemankari heartily accepted Haridasi saying, "now you've given her to me and you need have no anxiety about her. You must have heard people talk about my son Nalinaksha ; he's a very good lad ; there's no one living here except us two."
         "Every one has heard of Nalinaksha," said Uncle, "I've heard that his wife was drowned soon after they were married  and I'm heartily glad to know that he's living with you now as an ascetic."
          "It was God's will," said Kshemankari, "but please don't talk of it. The thought of it makes me shiver."
          "If you'll allow me," said Uncle, "I'll leave Haridasi with you now, but I'll visit her now and then. There's her big sister too ; she will also come and pay her respects to you."
           As soon as Uncle left Kshemakari drew Kamala to her affectionately, pressing a finger caressingly on Kamala's chin, she said, "you're quite a child and what a clod to go leaving a girl like you ! Fate never intended such beauty as yours to run to waste. You'll have no companions of your own age here. Will you mind living alone with me ?"
          "No, mother," said Kamala, "I consider it a divine ordinance for me to work for you !"
          "I'm wondering what work I'll give you to do," Kshemankari went on, "well, I'll give you some lessons. Can you read /"
           "Yes, I can read," said Kamala.
           "I'm glad of that," said Kshemankari. "I can't see now without glasses and you'll be able to read to me."
           "I've learnt cooking and housework," Kamala volunteered.
           "Well, so far, I've always cooked for Nalin myself, and when I'm ill he prefers cooking for himself to eating anything prepared by another person. From now on, thanks to you, I shan't let him cook his own food, and if I can't manage for myself I'll be very glad to have you cook simple things for me. Come along, dear, I'll show you my store room and kitchen," and she took Kamala behind the scenes of her little home.    

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              Kamala had with her the letter that Ramesh had written to Hemamalini. Next morning Sailaja had a private interview with her father and handed him the letter.
            Uncle read it through very slowly ; then he replaced it in the envelope, and said to his daughter, "Well, what's to be done now ?"
           "Umi has had a cold and a cough for some days now, dad," said Saila ; "I should like to call in Dr. Nalinaksha. One hears so much about him and his mother in Benares, but one never sees him."
            The doctor came to see the patient, and Saila showed great keenness to see the doctor.
            "Come along, Kamala," she cried. But Kamala, who in Nabinkali's house had hardly been able to control her eagerness to see him, was now too shy even to rise to her feet.
            "Kamala, you villain," cried Saila, "I can't wast any more time over you ; there's nothing much wrong with Umi and the doctor won't be here long. I shan't see him at all if I stay here any longer trying to persuade you to come" ; and she fairly dragged Kamala as far as the door.
            Nalinaksha sounded Umi's lungs thoroughly front and back, wrote out a prescription, and departed.
           "You are in luck now, Kamala," said Saila, "in spite of all your misfortunes. You'll just have to wait patiently for a day or two now, dear. We're arranging things for you. Meanwhile we'll be constantly requiring the doctor for Umi, so you won't be done out of him altogether !"
          One day Uncle went himself to the doctor, carefully choosing a time when Nalinaksha was not at home. A servant announced that his master was out. "Well," said Uncle, "your mistress is in. Tell her that I'm here, will you ? Just say that an old Brahman would like to see her."
         He was duly ushered into Kshemankari's prsence and introduced himself as follows :
         "One hears a great deal about you in Benares, mother, so I've come to acquire merit by seeing you. I have no other reason for intruding on you. A little granddaughter of mine is sick and I came for your son, but he is out. I felt that I couldn't but pay my respects to you before I go."
         "Nalin will be back soon," said Kshemankari ; "won't you sit down and wait a little ? It's getting late ; let me offer you something to eat."
         "I might have known," said Uncle, "that you couldn't send me away empty. Folks recognize me at sight as one who is fond of good eating, and they humor my little weakness."
          Kshemankari was delighted to regale Uncle. "You must come and take your midday meal here to-morrow," she said. "I wasn't expecting you to-day, so I haven't much for you."
          "Well, you mustn't forget the old man when the time comes," said Uncle. "I live quite near. Say the word and I'll take your servant with me and point out my house to him."
           After a few visits of this description Uncle became a persona grata at Nalinaksha's house.    

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          Akshay called on Chakrabartti in the course of the day, but nothing was said to him about Kamala's return, for Uncle knew by this time that Ramesh had no particular love for Akshay.
          None of the household asked why Kamala had taken to flight or where she had gone, and in fact every one behaved as though she had accompanied the family on its visit to Benares.
         Sailaja made Kamala sleep well with her that night. She put one arm round Kamala's neck, drew her to her breast, and stroked her softly with the other hand. The caressing touch was a mute invitation to Kamala to relate her sorrowful secret.
        "What did you all think, didi ?" asked Kamala ; "weren't you angry with me ?"
        "We were not so foolish to be angry with you," retorted Saila. "We knew that you would never do such a dreadful thing so long as any other course was open to you. It was only the thought of the awful trouble Heaven had brought upon you that made us sad. To think that the punishment should fall on one who could never conceivably have been the sinner !"
        "Would you like to hear the whole story, didi ?" asked Kamala.
        "Of course I should, dear," said Saila tenderly.
        "I don't know why I couldn't tell it you before ; I had no time then to think things out. It came as such a sudden shock that I felt I could never look any of you in the face again. I have no mother or sister, didi, but you are both mother and sister to me and that's why I'm ready to tell you the story ; otherwise I should never tell it to a soul."
        They both sat up ; Kamala related the whole tale of her life from her marriage onward. When Kamala mentioned that neither before her marriage nor on her wedding-night had she set eyes on the bridegroom, Sailaja interrupted :
        "Such a silly girl as you I've never seen ! I was younger than you when I was married. You needn't think I was too shy to look at my husband at all !"
         "It was not shyness, didi," Kamala went on. "You see, I was almost past the marrying age, then all of a sudden a marriage was arranged for me and the other girls teased me dreadfully. So just to show that I didn't consider myself extraordinarily lucky in getting a husband at my age I never even glanced at him. I actually went the length of thinking it immodest and unbecoming to take the least interest in him, even in my thoughts. I'm paying the penalty for that now."
         Kamala was silent for a few minutes, then she continued : "I've told you before how we were saved when the boats were swamped after the wedding ; but at the time when I told you I didn't know that the man who had rescued me, the man into whose hands I had fallen supposing to be my husband, was not my husband at all !"
        Sailaja started up in amazement ; she went at once to Kamala's side and put her arm round her neck, "Oh, you poor thing ; to think of it ! Now I understand it all. What an awful thing to happen !"
        "Yes, didi," said Kamala, "it was dreadful ! and to think that I might have been drowned and escaped it all !"
         "Didn't Ramesh Babu find out the truth either ?" asked Sailaja.
         "One day, some time after the marriage," Kamala went on, "he called me 'Susila', and I said to him, 'Why do you call me Susila when my name is Kamala ?' I now know that he must have realized his mistake then ; but I can't look any one in the face when I even think of those days, didi," ; and Kamala again relapsed into silence.
          Bit by bit Sailaja extracted the whole story from her.
         "It's terrible for you, dear, but I can't help thinking that you were fortunate in falling into Ramesh Babu's hands and no one else's. Say what you like, I'm sorry for that poor Ramesh Babu ! Now it's very late and you must sleep. You've been lying awake and crying so many nights that you look quite ill. To-morrow we'll decide what is to be done."

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             Utterly amazed, Kamala made Chakrabartti a profound reverence. It was a moment or two before he found his voice, and then he had no consciousness of what he said or where he laid his hookah.
           At last he took her by the chin and raised her shrinking face saying, "My little girl has come back to me. Come upstairs at once, dear" ; and he called, "Saila ! Saila! Come and see who's here !"
          Sailaja rushed out of her room on to the upper verandah and stood at the head of the stairs, while Kamala prostrated herself before her, touching her feet. Sailaja hastened to clasp the truant to her heart and kissed her on the forehead.
         The tears coursed down her cheeks as she ejaculated, "My dear ! My dear ! To go and leave us like that ! Didn't you know we'd be heartbroken ?"
        "Never mind about that, Saila," said Uncle ; "you had better see about some breakfast for her."
       At that moment Umi dashed out, waving her arms and shrieking in delight :
        "Auntie ! Auntie !"
        Kamala snatched her up in her arms, hugged her to her breast, and smothered her in kisses. The sight of Kamala's dischevelled looks and mean attire distressed Sailaja, and she drew her away to attend to her toilet, giving her a bath and her own best clothes to wear.
      "I don't suppose you slept well last night," she remarked. "Look how sunken your eyes are. You had better go to bed while I get ready your breakfast."
       "No thank you, didi. I'd rather go to the kitchen with you myself," and the two friends went off together to their cooking-pots.
        When Uncle had resolved to follow Akshay's advice and prepared to start for Benares, Sailaja had insisted that she must accompany him.
        "But Bipin hasn't got his holidays yet," protested Uncle.
        "That doesn't matter ; I'll go without him. Mother's here, and she'll make him quite comfortable" ; it was the first time that Sailaja had voluntarily undergone separation from her husband. She accompanied her father on the journey.
         Alighting at Benares they espied Umesh also descending from the train and both asked him what he meant by coming too. It appeared that his motive was same as their own, but Umesh was now an indispensable adjunct to the Ghazipur household and the lady of the house would be seriously annoyed at his disappearance. Father and daughter accordingly united their efforts to prevail on him to return and at last succeeded in doing so. The fact is, finding life at Ghazipur intolerable without Kamala, Umesh had seized his opportunity one morning when he had been sent to make purchases in the market. He had made off with the money entrusted to him and crossed the Ganges to the railway station. Uncle had been furious when he heard of his this escapade, but, as events turned out, the culprit hardly deserved his strictures.

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            On the eve of Mikunda Babu's departure for Meerut the whole household was prepared to accompany him and every thing was packed and ready. Nabinkali feared lest in the bustle of preparation for the journey her lady-cook might give a slip, and for some days accordingly she had never let Kamala out of her sight and had kept her busily employed packing the luggage.
          Kamala was reduced to the despairing hope that she might suddenly be attacked by a severe illness that Nabinkali would be forced to leave her behind. Nabinkali made Kamala sleep with her that night and took her to the station in her own carriage next morning. Mukunda Babu was to travel in second class, while Nabinkali and Kamala were installed in an intermediate-class ladies' compartment.
         The train duly left Benares and the train rolled on to the bridge over the river Ganges. Moghalserai was the next station at the other side of the bridge and it's a railway-junction where most of the trains make a halt for changing the trains.The Meerut train was on the point of starting when, to Kamala's astonishment, she heard a well-known voice exclaim, "Mother !" She turned her head towards the platform and saw Umesh ! Her face lit up with joy.
         "It's you, Umesh !" she cried.
          Umesh opened the door of the carriage and in an instant Kamala was beside him on the platform. He prostrated himself before her with a gesture of the utmost reverence ; touching the dust of her feet and placing it on his head. He was grinning from ear to ear with delight.
         Next moment the guard slammed the door of the Meerut train.
        "What are you doing ?" shrieked Nabinkali to Kamala. "The train is off ! Get in ! Get in !" But Kamala was deaf to her outcry.
        The engine whistled and the train puffed slowly out of the station.
        "Where have you come from, Umesh ?" asked Kamala.
        "From Ghazipur."
        "Are they all well there ? What's the news of Uncle ?"
        "He is quite well."
        "How is my sister Saila ?"
        "She's crying her eyes out for you, mother."
       Kamala's eyes incontinently  filled with tears.
       "How is Umi ?" she asked next. "Does she still remember her auntie ?"
       "They can never get her to take her milk unless she is wearing those bracelets that you gave her before you left. When she puts them on she flings her arms about and cries, 'Auntie's gone away ta-ta !' and it makes her mother weep to hear her," he informed.
        "What did you come here for ?" asked Kamala.
        "I got tired of Ghazipur, so I came away," answered Umesh.
        "Where are you going to ?" asked him.
        "I'm going with you, mother," told Umesh pleadingly.
         "But I haven't a farthing in the world," cleared Kamala.
         "That doesn't matter. I have money," assured Umesh.
         "Where did you get it ?"
         "I never spent those five rupees that you gave me," and he produced the coins in corroboration.
         "Come along then, Umesh. we'll go to Benares ; what do you say ? can you get tickets for both ?" asked Kamala.
         "Of course I can," and he was back in no time with the tickets.
          The train was standing in the station. He saw Kamala into her place and informed her that he would travel in the next compartment.
          "Where are we going to ?" asked Kamala when they left the train at Benares.
          "Don't you worry, mother ! I'll take you to the right place."
          "The right place indeed !" exclaimed Kamala. "What do you know of Benares ?"
          "I know all about it. Just see where I take you."
           He escorted Kamala to a hackney-carriage and himself mounted the box. In front of a certain house the carriage stopped, and Umesh announced, "You must get down here, mother."
          Kamala alighted and followed Umesh into the house, where he hailed some unseen personage ; "Hallo, grandpa are you in ?"
         From the side room came the answer, "is that you, Umesh ? Where have you turned up from ?"
        Next moment Uncle Chakrabartti appeared in person carrying a hookah, and Uncle's countenance became one huge smile.