"Nothing; I will tell you afterwards. Where is she then? Has any one seen her anywhere?"
"Ambika, Srimati," cried the matron, addressing the women who were engaged with the fish and the vessels respectively, "have you seen her anywhere?"
"No," replied each softly.
"Strange," said the matron; then, as if addressing the walls, she enquired, "has any one seen her?"
"I met her at the Elder House at bathing time," replied a voice from behind the walls.
"There!" exclaimed the matron in surprise.
"There! in Mathur Dada's house," exclaimed Madhav also, and then muttered between his teeth, a sudden light flashing upon him, "cousin Mathur! can he be the instigator? No, no, it cannot be, I judge wrong." Then speaking out he said, raising his voice, to one of the women present, "Go to the Elder House, and see if my aunt is there; if she is, ask her to return, and in case she refuses, know her reasons."
