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THE WRECK

regard sweeping as degrading work why do you allow a servant to do it? I haven't your education, but if you ask me my opinion it's this : when I see a virtuous woman handling a broom every fibre of it sparkles in my eyes like a sunbeam ! (To Kamala) I've nearly finished with your wilderness, dear; you'll have to show me now where the vegetable-beds are to be."

"Just wait a minute please, Uncle; I haven't finished with this room yet," and Kamala resumed her labours.

When the room was swept clean she undid the veil which was fastened round her waist, pulled it over her head, and sallied forth to engage in a serious conver- sation with Uncle about the best situation for the vegetable-plots.

The day soon passed, but the house was not yet sufficiently dean to satisfy Kamala's exacting stand- ards. The traces of long neglect were not easily re- moved and some of the rooms were obviously still un- inhabitable without further cleansing and airing, so to Ramesh's great disappointment he and Kamala had perforce to spend another night at Uncle's. He had looked forward all day to the evening hour in their own little home and had pictured Kamala smiling shyly at his side in the lamplight as he unburdened his heart to her. With three or four more days' delay in prospect he could not postpone any longer his enrol- ment at the provincial bar and accordingly he departed for Allahabad next day.


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