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THE WRECK 165

' not forbear asking the question by way of paying her a slight attention; nor was Kamala displeased, futile though the inquiry was.

To keep up the conversation Ramesh continued: "Why are you doing all this by yourself, Kamala? You had better give me a job."

Now good workers have this failing that they tend to mistrust the capacity of others, so Kamala merely smiled and answered, "No, this is not a man's job."

"We're very forbearing, we men," said Ramesh, "we put up meekly with insults to our sex. If I were a woman there would be a scrap! After all, you don't hesitate to employ Uncle. Why do you think me so useless ?"

"I don't know, but I should laugh to see you sweep- ing the soot out of the kitchen ! You had better get out of this. I'm raising a fearful dust !"

To keep the ball rolling Ramesh went on, "Dust is no respecter of persons; it treats you and me in ex- actly the same way."

"I put up with it because I have to," said Kamala; "I don't see why you should when you don't have to."

Ramesh dropped his voice so that the servants should not overhear. "I want to share whatever you have to put up with, whether it's work or anything else."

This brought a faint blush to Kamala' s cheek and instead of answering she stepped aside and called to Umesh :

"Umesh, you had better give this place another bucketful of water; just look how thick the dust is. Here, give me the broom," and she began to sweep vigorously.

"What are you doing, Kamala?" exclaimed Ramesh, distressed to see her engaged in so menial a task.

"Why, Ramesh Babu," said a voice behind him, "what's the harm in honest work? You people with an English education prate about equality. If you

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