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THE WRECK

THE WRECK

him for it came back to me through the dead-letter . office."

Kshemankari, "Well?"

Nalinaksha. "I have decided to let a whole year elapse before I take her death for granted."

Kshemmikari. "You always were over-scrupulous! Why make it a whole year ?"

Nalinaksha, "It'll soon be over, mother. This is December; next month's unlucky for weddings. That only leaves February and the year is up in March."

Kshemankari. 'very well. Still you must consider yourself definitely engaged. I made a formal proposal to Hemnalini's father."

Nalinaksha. "Man may propose ; but there is An- other who disposes, and I leave the matter in His hands."

Kshemankari. "So be it; but, dear, what an awful thing it was that you told me! I'm still trembling at the thought of it."

Nalmaksha "I was afraid of that, mother, and I fear it will be a long time before you are your nor- mal self again. Once anything disturbs your com- posure you do not regain it easily. You understand now my reluctance to tell you this story."

Kshemankari. "You did well, my son. I don't know what has come over me nowadays but when I hear any evil tidings the horror of it grips me. I shrink from opening a letter for fear it may contain bad news. As you know, I have even requested you to keep news back from me. I fear that I have lived too long, else why these repeated shocks?"

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