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CHAPTER XXIX

At Kamala's age doubts, fears, and anxiety find no abiding-place in the heart. Time no longer hung heavy on her hands and she had no inclination to brood over Ramesh's attitude towards her.

The autumn sunshine displayed the country-side in its most varied aspects, with the golden river as a setting to the whole. Kamala delighted in her role of mistress of a little household, and each day, as it went by, was like a fresh page in some book of artless poems.

She faced the day's work every morning with re- newed ardour. Umesh did not miss the steamer again, and he always returned from foraging expeditions with a full basket, and its contents never failed to excite wonder among the members of the little party.

"My goodness, look at the gourds ! Where on earth did you get the beans? Look, Uncle, he has brought sour beets ! I never knew one could get such things in these up-country places." Such were the exclama- tions that might be heard any morning over the basket.

Only when Ramesh was present was there a jarring note, for he always suspected pilfering. Kamala would exclaim, "Why, I counted the money out to him my- self !" and Ramesh would reply, "That only gives him a twofold opportunity ; he can steal both the money and the vegetables !" Then he would summon Umesh and bid him give an account of his expenditure.

Of course the boy's figures could never be made to agree. If one went by his own statements the amount that he had spent always exceeded the amount

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