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THE WRECK

his daughter's letter, and then lectured him severely. Now the real truth was not that Kamala had been too little in Ramesh's thoughts but that the more he pondered the deeper his perplexity had grown. It was not indifference but indecision that had caused him to linger in Allahabad. Then on the top of all his bewilderment came this extract from Saila's letter.

The wording of the letter clearly indicated that Kamala missed him sorely though diffidence forbade her to write herself. Ramesh had come to the part- ing of the ways and he decided at once what course to take. Not his happiness alone but Kamala's love for him must be the guiding factor. Providence had not only linked their lives but had knit their hearts on that distant sand-bank.

So he bestirred himself and composed the follow- ing letter to Kamala:

Dearest — You must not regard this form of address as a mere epistolary convention, Kamala. I should never address you as "dearest" were you not actually the person whom I love most in the world. If you have entertained any doubts — if I have ever wounded your feelings, may the fact that in all sincerity I address you as "dearest" dissipate those doubts and assuage the pain of those wounds for ever !

What need to enlarge on this? Much of my behaviour in the past must have pained you. If in your heart you indict me for that, the charge is one that I cannot refute. I can only reiterate that you are my dearest and that there is none for whom I cherish the same affection. This may not be a complete defence for all my shortcomings of be- haviour but it is the only one that I can offer. So, Kamala, in addressing you as "dearest" I draw the sponge over all our doubt-infested past and lay the foundations of our fu- ture love. Believe me I have no thought for any one but you and you are indeed my "dearest." If you are once firmly convinced of this, doubts and questionings may be finally set at rest.

I would ask you next if I have won your love or not but I dare not ask that. Love prompts the question and I do not for an instant doubt that one day it will be answered.

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