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 Damini; ‘what will your people have to say to it?’

‘My people are my best friends. So they are sure to turn me out of their house,’

‘What next?’

‘Next it will be for you and me to build up a home, fresh from the very foundations, that will be our own special creation.’

‘You must also fashion afresh the mistress of your house, from the very beginning. May she also be your creation, with no trace left of her old battered condition!’

We fixed a day in the following month for the wedding. Damini insisted that Satish should be brought over.

‘What for?’ I asked.

‘He must give me away.’

Where the madcap was wandering I was not sure. I had written several letters, but with no reply. He could hardly have given up that old haunted house, otherwise my letters would have been returned as undelivered. The chances were that he had not the time to be opening and reading letters,

‘Damini,’ said I, ‘you must come with me and invite him personally. This is not a case for