When Kamala reached home she found Annada Babu and Hemamalini sitting with Kshemankari.
"Here is Haridasi !" said Kshemankari, as soon as she saw her. "Will you take your friend to your own room, dear ? I'm giving Annada Babu tea here."
No sooner had Hemamalini entered Kamala's room than she clasped her round the neck and cried, "Kamala !"
"How did you know that was my name ?" asked Kamala, without showing much surprise.
"Some one told me the whole of your history. I can't explain how it was, but as soon as I heard it I was sure that you were Kamala."
"I don't want any one to know my name," said Kamala ; "my real name has become a reproach to me."
"Yes, but it will enable you to establish your rights."
Kamala shook her head. "I don't look at it that way. I've no rights to establish and I don't want to establish any."
"But what reasons have you for keeping your husband in the dark ? Why not submit yourself entirely to him, for better or worse ? You oughtn't to hide anything from him."
All at once the color left Kamala's face. She gazed helplessly at Hemamalini, searching for an answer and finding none ; then she subsided on to the bed.
"Heaven only knows why I feel so ashamed when I have done nothing wrong ! Why should I be punished when I am quite innocent ? How can I tell him my whole story ?"
Hemamalini took her by the hand. "It's not a question of punishment but of absolution. You're in bondage to deceit and will never be free while you keep anything concealed from your husband. Trust in Providence and burst your bonds."
"It's the fear of loosing all that takes the strength out of me, but I understand what you mean. I must not fear what the future may hold for me but must tell him all. He must not be kept in dark any longer," and she clasped her hands firmly together.
"What do you wish, then ?" asked Hemamalini soothingly. "Would you have some one else tell him ?"
Kamala shook her head emphatically. "No, no, he must not hear it from any one else. I'll tell him about it myself ; you mustn't suppose that I'm unable."
"That will be the best," said Hemamalini. "I don't know whether we shall meet again ; I came here to tell you that we are going away."
"Where are you going ?"
"To Calcutta. Now I mustn't keep you any longer ; you have your morning's work before you. I had better be off, dear. Don't forget your sister."
"You'll write to me, won't you ?" said Kamala, seizing her hand.
Hemamalini promised her to do so.
"You must write and advise me what to do ; I know your letters will give me courage."
Hemamalini smiled. "Oh, that's all right. You'll have a better counsellor than I could be."
Though Kamala had unbosomed herself to her without restraint, Hemamalini went off wrapped in her own close reserve. She wore an air of supreme melancholy and resignation that was like a permanent twilight on her features.
Hemamalini's words and her sweet placid eyes haunted Kamala throughout that day though she knew nothing of Hemamalini's history except the one fact that her engagement to Nalinaksha had been broken off.
When Kamala was engaged in making garlands of roses sitting with Kshemankari, Nalinaksha entered the room. Kamala hurriedly wrapped the flowers and the garlands in the slack of her dress and veiled herself.
"Hem and her father have just left ; did you see them," asked his mother.
"Yes, I gave them a lift home."
"Say what you like, lad," his mother continued, "there are not many girls like Hem."
He merely smiled and said nothing.
"Smiling, are you ?" his mother went on. "I had you engaged to Hem and you went the length of giving her my blessing ; then you got some bee in your bonnet and upset the whole arrangement. Aren't you at all sorry about it ?"
Nalinaksha seemed to start, and he threw a glance at Kamala and perceived that she was gazing earnestly at him. As their eyes met Kamala desired to be reduced to nothingness and her eyes sought the floor.
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