Page:The Wreck.djvu/194

190

THE WRECK

"All right, you'll find me here when you come back."

Arniada Babu found the sitting-room in darkness. Some one rose hurriedly from a chair, and a moment or two later a tearful voice said, "The lamp went out, dad. Shall I tell the bearer to light it?" but Annada knew full well that the lamp had not been extin- guished accidentally.

"Never mind, dear," he said, "we don't need a light;" and he groped his way to a chair beside his daughter's.

"You're not taking enough care of yourself, dad," said Hemnalini.

"And with good reason, dear. My health is all right, so it needs no care. It's you that ought to take care of yourself."

"You all say the same, dad," exclaimed Hemnalini petulantly. "It isn't fair at all. Surely I'm a perfectly amenable person! What makes you say that I'm in- different to my health? If you prescribe any particu- lar treatment for me you have only to say so. I've never said 'No' to you yet, dad, have I?" and the sobs came back with redoubled force.

"Never, dear, never," exclaimed Annada, anxious above all to console her. "I've never even had to tell you to do a thing. You know what is in my thoughts just as though you were my own mother; and you've always done what I wanted without being told. If a father's whole-hearted blessing is of any avail you will be happy all your days."

"Won't you keep me with you, dad?"

Annada. "Of course I will."

Hem. "May I stay with you as long as Jogen re- mains unmarried anyway? Who is going to look after you if I'm not there?"

"Look after me? Never mind that, dear. I'm not worth it."

Digitized by Google