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THE WRECK

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tears no longer. She hid her face on Saila's shoulder and wept freely, while Saila held her in a firm em- brace, making no attempt at consoling speeches.

At last Kamala withdrew from Saila's encircling arm, wiped her eyes, and began to laugh boisterously.

"Come, come, that's enough," said Saila, "you're the most secretive girl I ever met; but you needn't think I don't know what it's all about; I'm not so green as that! Shall I tell you what it is? Since Ra- mesh Babu went to Allahabad he hasn't written you a single letter and you're vexed about it, though you're too proud to say so. But you must remember that he has a lot to do there and he'll be back in a couple of days. You mustn't mind if he doesn't find an oppor- tunity to write when he's only away for that short time. Silly girl But do you know, dear, though I'm giving you this good advice, had it happened to me I should have done the same! Women do cry over foolish things. Once you have had your cry out and start smiling again you'll forget about it."

She drew Kamala to her breast and went on, "You feel now that you'll never be able to forgive Ramesh Babu, don't you? Tell me the truth now."

"Yes, that's the truth," said Kamala.

Saila tapped her on the cheek."I thought so; of course it was that! All right, we'll see. Only don't take it to heart."

That very morning Saila despatched a letter to her father in Allahabad. "Kamala is in great distress," she wrote, "because she has not heard from Ramesh Babu. One can well imagine what it must mean for the poor child when he brings her to a strange place and then goes off whenever he likes, leaving her behind and never writing to her. Can't he get his business in Allahabad over? Plenty of people have business to do and yet find time for writing."

Uncle hunted up Ramesh, read him an extract from

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