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 reputation of being a woman of excellent character. So Hiranmayi used to go and spend the night in her house.

One evening, when Hiranmayi had arrived at her new friend's house, Amala said to her, "I have heard a piece of news. They say Purandar Chetty has returned home after an absence of eight years." On hearing these unexpected tidings, Hiranmayi turned away her face, lest Amala should see the sudden tears that came to her eyes. It seemed to her as if her last tie with the world was loosed. Purandar had succeeded in dismissing her from his mind. Else why should he return? On the other hand, what mattered it to her now, whether Purandar remembered or forgot her? True. Yet it went hard with her to think that he whose affection had been the guiding star of her whole life should have forgotten her. Then the thought came, "Perhaps he has not forgotten me after all! How long was he to stay away from his home? Besides his father was now dead. His presence at home was absolutely necessary."