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272 THE WRECK

afraid you are dissatisfied with me ; you had better let me go."

"1 certainly will. If you think I'm going to feed and clothe such an ungrateful creature any longer you're mistaken, but I'll teach you whom you have to deal with before I dismiss you."

Kamala did not venture out of doors again. She shut herself into her room, comforting herself with the reflection that her sufferings had reached their cli- max and that Heaven must needs grant her relief now.

On the following evening Mukunda Babu went out for a drive taking two of her servants with him, and the front door was bolted from inside after his de- parture. Dusk had fallen when a voice was heard outside inquiring if the master was at home.

Nabinkali jumped up at once.

"Goodness me, that's Dr. Naiinaksha! Budhiya! Budhiya!' But there was no sign of Budhiya, so she turned to Kamala:

"Just run down and open the door, will you? Tell the doctor that my husband has gone out for a drive and will be back very soon. Ask him to wait for a few minutes."

Kamala took a lantern and went downstairs. Her limbs trembled, her heart fluttered, and her hands had turned cold and clammy. She dreaded lest her per- turbation should blind her vision.

She slid back the bolt, veiled her face, opened the door, and stood on the threshold confronting Nalin- aksha.

"Is Mukunda Babu at home?" he asked. "No, please come in" replied Kamala.

Nalinaksha entered the sitting-room and had just settled into a chair when Budhiya appeared and de- livered the message that had been entrusted to Kamala.

Kamala's lungs seemed to be on the point of burst-

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