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THE WRECK 257

his indecent haste; he wanted to avoid a heavy outlay on the wedding festivities. However, the marriage duly took place."

"The marriage took place!" exclaimed Kshemankari in consternation; "are you serious, Nalin?"

Nalinaksha. "Perfectly serious, mother. I re-em- barked on the boat with my bride. We set off in the afternoon — it was only March, mind you, when one has every reason to expect fine weather — and that same evening, only a couple of hours later, an in- tensely hot blast of wind descended on us and in some inexplicable way overturned the boat and left no trace of it."

"Gracious heavens!" ejaculated Kshemankari with a thrill of horror.

Nalinaksha, "When I regained consciousness a lit- tle later I found myself struggling in deep water and there was no sign of the boat or of any of its occu- pants. I informed the police and a thorough search was made, but without result."

Kshemankari's face had turned grey.

"Amen," she said; "we cannot help the past, but never mention this to me again. I shudder to think of it."

Nalinaksha. "I should never have told you, mother, had you not been so insistent about my marriage."

Kshemankari. "Why, is this calamity to prevent you marrying at all?"

Nalinaksha, "The girl may have survived after all ; that is why I have scruples about marrying."

Kshemankari. "Are you mad? You would cer- tainly have heard of her had she been alive."

Nalinaksha. "She knows nothing about me. I was as complete a stranger to her as any one could be. T don't suppose she has ever seen my face. When I arrived in Benares I wrote to Tarini Chaturjye giving him my address, but apparently my letter never reached