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for the day. The bearer, however, returned with the announcement that the Brahman lady was nowhere to be found

"Do you mean to tell me she has bolted?" exclaimed Nabinkali, and snatching up a lamp she personally searched the house from top to bottom but found no trace of Kamala.

She sought out her husband, Mukunda Babu — he was pulling at a hookah with his eyes half -closed — and informed him that to all appearances Kamala had run away. Mukunda Babu took the news quite calmly. "I told her not to," he murmured drowsily; "she's an inattentive creature. Has she taken anything with her?"

"The wrapper that I gave her to keep her warm in this weather — it's not in her room now. 1 haven't noticed if anything else is missing."

"Send word to the police," said her husband in a matter-of-fact tone. One of the servants was accord- ingly despatched with a lantern on this errand. Kamala had in the meantime retired indoors, where she came upon Nabinkali turning the whole contents of the room upside down in die endeavour to ascertain if anything had been stolen.

"Well, what mischief have you been up to? Where did you go?" she cried, as soon as she caught sight of Kamala.

"I went for a walk in the garden after I had fin- ished my work."

Nabinkali opened the vials of her wrath. She did not pick her words, and the servants all gathered round the door to listen.

Storm as Nabinkali might, Kamala had never al- lowed her to see her in tears, and this occasion was no exception ; the girl never flinched but stood like a statue under the torrent of vituperation. When it showed signs of slackening she interjected: "I am