Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/134

 she cried. "Have you lost your senses, or don't you believe what I am telling you?"

"My dear," replied Hiranmayi gently, "I believe every word you say, and I am in full possession of my senses. But I cannot accept such a gift."

Amala argued with her in vain. Hiranmayi utterly refused to be persuaded. Finally Amala took the necklace to the raja of the place, known by the name of Raja Madan Deva. Making her prostration before this nobleman, she said to him, "Your honour will be pleased to accept this jewel. You alone are worthy to possess so costly a thing." The raja accepted the necklace, and gave a suitably magnificent reward to Amala. Of course Hiranmayi was not told of this transaction.

A few days after this, one of Purandar's maidservants came to Hiranmayi and said, "My master has sent me to tell you that he cannot bear the thought of your living in this thatched hut. You are the companion of his boyhood. Your father's house is as a second home to him.