"Well, Thakurjhi fetches our water."
"If the daughter can do servants' work, cannot the daughter-in-law?"
The young woman said firmly, "I cannot argue about it, Kanak. You know my husband has forbidden me to fetch water, and you know him well."
Kanakmayee did not reply off-hand. She quickly glanced round to see if anyone was coming. When she saw there was no one about, she stood with her eyes fixed on the face of her companion as if wanting to say something. But she repressed the impulse from fear and remained musing with downcast eyes. The younger girl asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"If only you had eyes," replied Kanak.
The younger woman would not, however, listen to her. She made a sign to Kanak to stop and said, "Hush, hush, I understand your meaning."
"If you have done so, what are you going to do now?" asked Kanak.
The younger girl remained silent for a while. Her quivering lips and reddening brow betrayed the preoccupation of her mind. A slight tremor in her limbs also showed how agitated she was. After some time she said, "Let us go, but is it wrong?"
Kanak laughed and replied, "Wrong! I am not a fat-bellied Bhattacharya. I have nothing to do with the Shastras. But I would have gone even if I had fifty men."
"Oh! what bravery!" replied the other
