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244 THE WRECK

which he had leased in the cantonment, and Hemnalini used to arrange these tastefully round the sick-bed.

Nalinaksha made periodical attempts to induce his mother to allow a maid to wait on her but she would never consent to accept services from a menial. The household included, of course, various servants — men and women — employed on the rough work of the estab- lishment but the old lady could not bear to have any of the more intimate personal offices performed for her by a hireling. Since the death of her old nurse she had never suffered a woman-servant to fan her or to massage her even when she was prostrate with sick- ness.

She had a weakness for pretty children of both sexes. As she returned from her morning immersion in the Ganges, sedulously sprinkling blossoms and holy water on each emblem of Siva that she passed, she would pick up some handsome peasant-lad, or a fair- skinned little Brahman maid, and bring the child home with her. Attracted by their looks she had won the hearts of several of the neighbour's children with gifts of toys, coppers, and sweets.

At times a detachment of these youngsters would descend upon her house and scamper all over the prem- ises, to the old lady's unfeigned delight. She had yet another weakness. She could never resist purchasing any dainty trifle that caught her eye, not that she collected such objects herself, but because she took special pleasure in bestowing them on such recipients as she knew would really appreciate the gifts. Even at the houses of distant relations and casual acquaint- ances mysterious parcels would be delivered from time to time to the great surprise of the inmates. She possessed a large ebony chest in which she had stored a number of pretty trinkets and silken garments. These were intended for the bride whom Nalinaksha was one day to bring home. She pictured her daughter-in-law

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