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CHAPTER XIX

"Ramesh, who is that girl?" demanded Jogendra.

"A relation of mine," answered Ramesh. What's the relationship?" asked Jogendra; "she's not one of your elders, and I presume the tie has not been created by affection. You've told me about all your relatives, yet I never heard anything about this one,"

"Steady on, Jogen," broke in Akshay. "Surely there are things that a man likes to keep secret even from his friends."

"Well, Ramesh," said Jogendra, "is this such a great secret then?"

Ramesh turned red. "Yes, it is a secret," he said. "I should prefer not to discuss this girl with you."

"But unfortunately," retorted Jogendra, "I particu- larly want to discuss her with you. If you hadn't been engaged to Hemnalini there would be no need to investigate the ramifications of your family tree; you might have kept your own secrets."

"This much I can say," said Ramesh; "there is no one in the world with whom I have formed such a connection as would be a bar to my marrying Henma- lini with a clear conscience."

Jogendra, "There may be no bar from your point of view, but there may be one from the standpoint of Hemnalini's relations. I'll merely ask you this much — whether you're related to her or not, why do you keep her hidden away here?"

Ramesh. "If I tell you my reason the secret will be out Can't you take my word for it without ask- ing for reasons?"

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