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THE WRECK

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a bit nervous. Look here, I shan't stay outside any longer. I'm going to sleep in the next cabin and I'll leave the door open between us."

"I'm not afraid," said Kamala haughtily. She stepped hastily into her cabin again and closed the door which Ramesh had opened; then she flung herself down on her bed and muffled her face in a shawL She was acutely conscious of the loneliness of her own person- ality, utterly bereft of human companionship. Her whole being rose in revolt. If she were neither to have a protector nor to be her own mistress, life would indeed be insupportable!

Time dragged; Ramesh was sound asleep in the neighbouring cabin. Kamala could be still no longer; and she rose slowly, went out and stood by the rail gaz- ing at the river-bank.

There was no sight or sound of any living creature. The moon was near its setting and the narrow paths through the crops were now invisible, but Kamala strained her eyes towards them "What numbers of women must have carried water up these paths, each bound to her own home !" she reflected. Home ! Her heart leapt at the thought. If only she had a little home somewhere! but where?

The banks of the river seemed to stretch unendingly into space. Overhead the huge vault of the sky ex- tended from pole to pole; earth and sky both alike use- less to her in their immensity ! To the human atom all this illimitable vastness was hopelessly inadequate, for what she desired was a little home.

Kamala was startled to find some one standing by her. "It's all right, mother, it's only I" — the voice was Umesh's.

"It's very late, why aren't you asleep?"

Then at last the tears streamed into her eyes; there was no damming them and they fell in big drops. Kamala turned away to hide her face from Umesh.

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