Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/115

 "I shall never ask you to come again," he said, sadly. "I am going to a far country. I wanted to tell you before I depart."

"To a far country!" She exclaimed. "Where are you going?"

"To Ceylon, " he replied.

"To Ceylon!" she said. "Why is that? Why to Ceylon?"

"Why am I going?" he answered. "Because we are merchant folk, and travel by sea is our business."

As he spoke, in spite of his efforts, the lad's eyes filled with tears. Hiranmayi seemed as though she had not heard. She said not a word. Her looks wandered to the fair scene about her. Her wide-open girlish eyes seemed to be gazing at the play of the sun's rays on the twinkling waves of the sea. It was early morning. A gentle breeze was blowing. The sun shone gaily on the wavelets that ran before the breeze; the long line of breakers stretched endlessly