Page:Krishna Kanta's Will.djvu/137

140 come, the darkness of approaching night added to the darkness of the clouds obscured the steps of the tank, they could not be clearly seen. Gobind Lâl dimly perceived the figure of a woman descending the steps. Rohini's descent of that ghât recurred to his mind. The rain had made it very slippery, and Gobind Lâl became distressed at the idea that the woman might slip and fall into the water. So he called from the arbour, "Who is that? Don’t go down those slippery steps, you may fall!" Whether the woman understood I can't say, the sound of the falling rain may have prevented her hearing clearly. The woman with the kalsi resting on the hip went down the steps and came up again. Very slowly she approached the flower garden, opened the garden gate, came in, came up to Gobind Lâl, who saw Rohini standing before him. "Why have you come hither, Rohini, getting so wet?"

"Did you not call me, sir?"

"No, I forbad your descending the slippery ghât. Why stand there in the rain?"

Rohini, gaining courage, stepped into the bower. Gobind Lâl said, "If people see you what will they say?"