RADHARANI
his ward, the lawyer sent for his own daughter, Vasanta Kumari, who had long been Radharani's friend and playmate. The two girls were of the same age and devotedly attached to one another. Kamakhya Babu directed Vasanta to sound her friend on the subject that now began to give him no little anxiety. Vasanta, somewhat bashfully, but with a merry smile on her lips, asked her father,
"Is there such a person as Rukmini Kumar Ray?"
Kamakhya Babu was puzzled, and said, "No, not that I know of. Why do you ask?"
Vasanta answered, "Because Radharani will not marry anyone except Rukmini Kumar Ray."
The good lawyer was much disturbed.
"What is that you say?" he cried. "How should Radharani make the acquaintance of a young man who is unknown to me?"
Vasanta laughed mischievously. She had repeatedly heard the story of the adventure on the way home from the Car Festival, and told
69
