CHAPTER III
THE TRUANT'S RETURN HOME
KANAKMAYEE and her companion silently pursued their way home. The latter was feeling extremely shy before men, and at her silence Kanak also had to remain silent. Kanak, however, felt the missed opportunity of wagging her tongue very keenly. The pathway was more lonely near their homes, and the younger woman began, "How the wretched wind hustled me!"
"Why?" replied Kanak laughingly, "has your brother-in-law never seen you before?"
"I am not thinking of him. But there was another man with him."
"He is Mathur Babu. Have you never seen him?"
"No, indeed! Is he Mathur Babu, the cousin of my sister's husband?"
"Yes, who else?"
"What a shame! Please don't talk about it to anybody."
"Oh no! I am going to tell people that you dropped your veil and showed your face when coming back from the river," said Kanak and began to simper. The younger woman said angrily, "Go to Jericho! How she goes on! I
