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THE WRECK

201

know; I can praise as well as blame. I'm quite pre- pared to tell a man my opinion of him to his face and back it up with my fists if necessary

"Don't be foolish, Jogen," Annada hastened to re- ply, "of course, I wasn't thinking of you. Surely I know you by this time!"

Jogendra now launched forth into the story of Na- linaksha, lavishing on his subject all the eulogy at his command.

"It was to make his mother happy," he concluded, "that Nalinaksha subdued his natural instincts and went to live in Benares ; and all these friends of yours, dad, have seized the opportunity to invent scandalous stories about him. Personally, I admire his conduct. What do you say, Hem ?"

"I'm of your opinion," said Hemnalini.

"I knew that Hem would approve of his action," resumed Jogendra. "I haven't the least doubt that if the occasion arose she would exercise equal self-denial to make her father happy."

Annada cast an affectionate glance at his daughter. Hem's face turned crimson, and she dropped her eyes in confusion.

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