Page:The Wreck.djvu/25

"Why didn't you let me know that you had passed?" she inquired, instead of answering his question.

Ramesh could not think of any reply, so he merely remarked, "I saw that you had passed too."

Hemnalini laughed. "Oh, well, you didn't forget us altogether, that's always something!"

"Where are you putting up now?" asked Annada Babu.

"In Darjjipara," said Ramesh.

"Why, your old lodgings in Kalutola were all right," remarked the old gentleman.

Hemnalini looked at Ramesh, intensely curious to see what his answer would be. Ramesh did not fail to notice her glance and he was conscious of the re- proach in it.

"Yes, I've decided to go back to them!" he blurted out. Ramesh was fully aware that Hemnalini had sat in judgement on him and had mentally found him guilty of a serious crime in changing his domicile. The thought caused him acute distress and he could not immediately think out a line of defence. How- ever, cross-examining counsel was silent for the mo- ment and Hemnalini ostentatiously kept her eyes fixed on the road outside.

When the silence became unbearable Ramesh volun- teered the statement:

"A relation of mine lives near Hedua and I took quarters in Darjjipara in order to keep in touch with him."

This was not an absolute lie, but it sounded a piti- fully inadequate explanation; as if Kalutola were not near enough to Hedua to enable him to make occa- sional inquiries after a distant relation!

Hemnalini kept her gaze fixed on the road and poor Ramesh racked his brains for another remark. Once only he asked,"What's the news of Jogen?"

But it was Annada Babu who replied "He failed