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SUNITY

leave me, There is some misunderstanding, but I shall set it right. Sunity loves you, and she will do anything for our happiness.”’

“‘Sunity loves me!’’ echoed Suruchi, scornfully. ‘‘There you are, again ! I said you do not listen 1o me. A word of complaint from me, and you say it is some misunderstanding on my part! That is what hurts me, so I have decided that you must choose between us.”’

Just at this moment, the music of the cvening puja arose. It was Sunity, who prayed for all, and the sound of her conch-shell, and the ringing of bells, told Uthanpad that his elder wife had finished her devotions and would soon be with them.

‘‘Sunity will be here, in a moment,”’ he began gently, but could say no more, as Suruchi pettishly interrupted, with, ‘‘So much the better. We can settle the question immediately.”

After worshipping the god Vishnu, Sunity always came to do puja to her husband and brought with her a thalla of fower-garlands, which she herself had made. She now entered, and, finding the room dark, smilingly asked Suruchi, ‘Dear Sister, the arati is over; why is there no light in this room?’’

Suruchi answered, irritably: ‘‘I didn’t want the light.’’

The elder Maharani allowed the impatience of her sister-wife to pass unnoticed. She was so used to Suruchi’s sharp ways. Glancing at their husband with eyes of worshipping love, she placed the golden tray upon the floor and was about to kneel down at his feet, when the younger Maharani asked Uthanpad, disdainfully: ‘‘Why don’t you tell her, now?”

The Maharajah did not answer.

‘Will you, or will you not ?’? demanded Surnchi, her eyes flashing angrily.

Uthanpad remained silent, and Sunity looked from him to her co-wife, with her face full of wondering concern.

“Shall I speak, then?’ asked Suruchi, and the impatience of her desire to do so was very evident in her voice.

Still the Maharajah was dumb, and Sunity, looking at his troubled face, turned to the younger wife and asked :

NINE IDEAL INDIAN WOMEN 27