Page:The Wreck.djvu/49

THE WRECK

45

air. By midday her housework was finished and she shut herself into her room and sat down to her sew- ing. Her tranquil features glowed with supreme hap- piness and the consciousness that she had found her destiny in life seemed to pervade her whole being.

It was some time before the usual tea-hour when Ramesh flung aside his poetry-book and his harmonium and hurried across to Annada Babu's. On ordinary occasions HemnaHni was always prompt in putting in an apearance, but on this afternoon he found the room empty, nor was there any one in the sitting-room upstairs. Hemnalini was still in her own chamber. Annada Babu appeared at his usual hour and estab- lished himself at the tea-table while Ramesh kept glanc- ing nervously at the door.

A step sounded, but it was only Akshay. He greeted Ramesh with the utmost friendliness. "Hullo, Ramesh Babu, I've just been to your rooms." Ramesh looked a shade uneasy when he heard this.

Akshay laughed and went on, "Nothing to be afraid of, Ramesh Babu; my intentions were perfectly peaceful. It's only right that your friends should con- gratulate you on the good news; and that was the object of my call."

This speech drew Annada Babu's attention to Hem- nalini's absence. He called to her but there was no response, so he went upstairs in person to fetch her. "What's this, Hem?" he cried. "Still at your sew- ing? Tea's ready and Ramesh and Akshay are here."

"Please have my tea sent up here, dad," said Hem- nalini with a faint flush, "I really must finish my sew- mg."

"Now that's so like you. Hem. Once you're keen on a thing you forget everything else. When you were working hard for your exam, you'd never lift your nose from your book. Now you're so taken up with your sewing you'll do nothing else. No, no, it'll