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114 "I never think that way. But bad people may badly speak of you."

"Let them say as they like. The taint shall never touch me."

"We can't pass things to drift that way, as any ill-talk about you, will cut us to the quick."

"Let not yourselves be so touchy."

"I can stand even that much. But why should you make my brother unhappy?"

Kapalkundala cast a significant glance of her big bright eyes towards Shyamasundari and said "If it destroys his peace of mind, then there is no help for it. If I could but know that wedlock is a serfdom, I would never have suffered myself to be led to the marriage altar then!"

What followed then grew distasteful to Shyamasundari. So she left the place and went about her own work. Kapalkundala, as well, busied herself in doing the daily round of her household duties. Having finished her day-work, she left the house in quest of the drug. The first watch of the night passed away. It was moonlight then. Nabokumar was seated in a room in the front wing of his house, so he could clearly see, through the window-bars, Kapalkundala steal away from it. No sooner he saw this than he went out and, going forward at quick step, grasped her by her arm. Mrinmoyee turned back and questioned "What is the matter?"

"Where are you going" asked Nabokumar. He had not the slightest ring of reproof in his voice.