Page:From the five rivers (IA fromfiverivers00steerich).pdf/39

GUNESH CHUND. 27 the peasant farmer's unfailing inheritance, not to be reft from him by tyrants or strangers. Some camel- drivers, newly arrived, were cooking their food at a blazing wood-fire in the open, whence the flames tbrew long shadows, distorted out of all human semblance, into the far corners of the court-yard, where a circle of kneeling camels browsed upon a pile of green branches. Familiar sights and sounds to Gunesh's eyes and ears, yet to-night, with that strange burden near his heart, seeming out of place and unexpected. Meanwhile Veru, with empty arms and nervous fingers twisting and turning themselves on each other restlessly, was straining her eyes into the darkness, and wondering with greater and greater insistence what kept her husband. Her mother-in- law had not returned. She almost wished she had, for the solitude and silence seemed unending. At last, unable to endure the suspense any longer, she drew her veil tightly, to avoid recognition, and stole like a shadow along the darkest side of the street to meet Gunesh. But he, also weary of waiting, returned from an unsuccessful pursuit of the doctor by another route. Thus no reply came to his whispered call to Veru, as he stepped over the threshold. What had happened? He repeated the call louder. "Veru! -- Mother! Is there no one in the house?" His mother's voice answered him from behind,