Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/74

 woven saris from Santipore, which he put into the girl's hands.

"These", he said, "are for Radharani."

Radharani exclaimed, "There must be some mistake! How can these be for me?"

Padma Lochan—who may or may not have deserved the mental disapproval with which the disappointed girl received him—seemed surprised at her question.

"All I know," he replied, "is that a Babu paid for them in hard cash and ordered me to bring them to you."

Radharani exclaimed, "It is he, I am sure it is he! He has bought the cloth and sent it to me. Tell me, Padma Lochan."

I ought to stop here to explain that the worthy cloth-merchant had known the family in the days of their prosperity. On the occasion of Hindu festivals, when it is the custom to make presents of cloth to friends and dependants, often and often had he sold them four rupees worth of cloth at its proper price (on his solemn word of honour) of eight rupees twelve annas and odd