Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/133

 I was a child. There was nothing else to tell."

"Merely neighbours? Look here, what I have brought!"

So saying, Amala produced a casket. Opening it, she displayed a real marvel, a diamond necklace of extreme beauty and enormous value. The merchant's daughter was a judge of precious stones. She said in astonishment, "But this is worth a prince's ransom! Where did you get this?"

"Purandar has sent it to you. Hearing that you were lodging in my house, he sent for me and bade me give you this from him."

Hiranmayi reflected a moment. She knew that if she accepted so princely a gift, she would be relieved of all fear of want. The only daughter of a wealthy merchant, accustomed to luxury all her life, she was beginning to feel the pangs of poverty very cruelly. For a moment, she hesitated. But finally she sighed and said, "Amala, take this back to the merchant, and say I cannot accept it."

Amala was surprised. "What is this?"