Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/119

 discuss the matter. His wife reproached him with allowing the proper time for marriage to slip by, but he paid no attention. He merely said, "Let our Spiritual Instructor come. When he arrives we can talk about it."

Purandar departed for Ceylon. Two years passed without any occurrence worth mentioning. But Purandar did not return, and no arrangements were made for Hiranmayi's marriage. Yet the girl, now in her eighteenth year, was as lovely and attractive as a mangoe tree in full bloom in the spring time.

Not that Hiranmayi was any longer distressed at her prolonged maidenhood. If any question of marriage arose, her thoughts flew to Purandar. Her mind dwelt on his happy smiling face, fair as a flower, and set off by the crisp curling black hair around it; she thought of the brave blue cloak with gold embroidery that hung so gallantly from his manly shoulder; she remembered the brilliant rings on his fingers. She knew that she would have to marry in obedience to her father's wishes. But that