All on a sudden, a fear came into Chandra Shekhar's mind. He thought, "If on my return I do not find Shaibalini! Why should I not? If she is ill! every one gets ill some time or other—she will be all right again. Why do I feel so uneasy at the very thought of her illness? Who does not get ill at times? If Shaibalini has been attacked with a serious illness!" Chandra Shekhar began to walk faster. He again thought, "If Shaibalini is ill, God will bring her round—I will propitiate the stars with the help of the sastras. If she does not recover!" Tears came into Chandra Shekhar's eyes. He asked within himself, "Will God deprive me of the jewel, he has been pleased to give me at this advanced stage of my life? It may not be impossible—am I so much in His grace that He will confer upon me weal only and never woe? It might be that some great misery is in store for me. If on my return home, I see that Shaibalini is not there—if I hear that Shaibalini has succumbed to a serious illness! Oh, that will kill me." Chandra Shekhar now began to walk still faster. Reaching the village, he marked that his neighbours were looking at his face very gravely—he could not understand what those looks
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