Page:Indira and Other Stories.pdf/84

 the tale at length to her father, who was much impressed by the delicate generosity of the unknown Rukmini Kumar.

"But tell her from me, my girl," he added, "that she has fallen into a deplorable error. Tell her that marriage is not a matter of gratitude. It is right and proper, I admit, that she should be grateful to this generous stranger, and if time and occasion serve, it is fitting that she should show her gratitude in some suitable fashion. But to give herself in marriage to him is a different thing altogether. We know neither his caste nor his condition, his age nor his means. In all probability he is a married man with a family. What likelihood is there, then, that he will be in a position to marry Radharani?"

"Well, but, father," answered Vasanta, "Radharani knows all this just as well as you and I do. But ever since that night the girl has made for herself a mental image of her protector and has set it up in her heart. As others do daily worship to their family gods, so Radharani daily worships her idol. During the