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The "Poja" holidays in Bengal correspond to the English Christmas. For ten days or so all work is suspended and families are reunited.

Almost every autumn Annada Babu and Hemnalini took advantage of the cheap tickets issued at the holiday season and went for a change to Jubbulpore. They stayed with Annada Babu's sister's husband, who was in Government service there, and Annada Babu regarded this annual outing as a tonic to his digestion.

It was now the beginning of September, the holidays were not far off, and preparations for the journey kept Annada Babu busy. Hemnalini's absence would interrupt the harmonium lessons so Ramesh tried to make the most of the time left to him. One day in the course of conversation Hemnalini remarked: "Ramesh Babu, I think you would be better for a change of air. It would do you good to get away from Calcutta even for a short time. What do you say, dad?"

Annada Babu considered the suggestion appropriate. Ramesh had suffered a bereavement and a change of air would cure his depression.

"Certainly," he said, "a few days' change of air is an excellent thing. Do you know, Ramesh, I've noticed that—whether one goes up-country or anywhere else — it's only for a few days that one gets any benefit. For the first week or so one's appetite improves and one eats heartily, but after that there's no difference, the old feeling of oppression in the stomach returns, heartburn comes on, and whatever one eats ———"