and had made them quite damp with moisture—the house was full of filth and dirt. Rats, bats and cockroaches were found to parade within the house, in gangs. After many long and weary days, Chandra Shekhar again entered into that house with Shaibalini and cast a deep sigh. He looked around and noticed the spot where he had burnt into ashes his valuable treasure of old books. He then called out,
"Shaibalini!"
Shaibalini did not make any reply; she sat at the entrance of the house and was gazing at the stalwart Karabi, as if, it resembled a phantom, which she had seen, in a dream, in by-gone days. She did not say a word in reply to Chandra Shekhar's numerous questions—she was looking about, with her eyes unusually expanded and with a meaningless smile on her lips—she once laughed aloud and pointed out something with her finger.
In the meanwhile, the news spread in the neighbourhood, that Chandra Shekhar had returned with Shaibalini. Many were coming to see them—Sundari came first of all.
Sundari did not know that Shaibalini had
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