was so. When told that it was the work of the Benares lady, he said—"A thought strikes me. Do you think, if we asked her, she would stay over till the day after to-morrow and help you to cook the dinner?"
"You had better ask her yourself"—said Maloti, greatly pleased.
"But I shouldn't go and speak to her in this condition—should I?"
"You silly!"—said Maloti in a tone of soft rebuke. "Didn't you speak to her as you came in just now."
"Did I?"—gasped Girindra. Then in a moment his recollection seemed to revive—and he kept on saying—"Yes I did—of course I did."
Maloti communicated her husband's request to the Benares lady, who cheerfully assented.
IV
It was Sunday—the day fixed for Girindra Nath to leave for Tari Ghat. The Benares lady said—"I have changed my mind and do not want to go down to Bengal now. I will go back to Benares."
Maloti proposed to her that she might go over with them to Tari Ghat and spend a few days there and then go on to Benares, which was only three or four stations off.
