Page:Stories of Bengalee life - Prabhat Kumar Mukerji.pdf/146

134 saying—"You need not trouble about it, dear, for it is the fast of ekadasi."

The two sat down, engaged in conversation. Maloti could not fail to notice that her visitor's countenance betrayed a sadness and that there was something weighing heavily on her mind. She made bold to ask her the reason for it.

"You ought to know"—the Benares lady sighed.

"What is it"—faltered out Maloti, afraid of the reply she might receive.

"You suspect that I took away your jewel case. You have sent the Police after me—and still you ask why I am looking sad?"

Maloti was silent for some moments, overcome with a feeling of shame. Then she looked up and said—"Would you believe me if I told you that I did not, for one single moment, harbour any such suspicion in my mind?"

"But your husband did"—said the Benares lady ruefully.

"He never thought"—said Maloti in an apologetic tone—"that the Police would ever find you out. Why, only this morning he was saying to me that Benares contained no end of nunneries