The new speaker who stood by the startled friends, was a middle-aged woman of dark complexion. Her hair had turned partly grey and her countenance was fast becoming wrinkled. She was dressed in a coarse thenthe,[1] rather clean; her freshly oiled face, the dirty napkin on her shoulder, as well as the empty kalsi on her waist, betokened the nature of her visit to the waterside.
"Why, it is Suki's mother," said Kanak, forgetting her tears and laughing and smiling in an instant, "why, Suki's mother, why this unusual visit to the Phulpukur today?"
"I rose late this morning," replied Suki's mother with benignant civility, "and so, hasty of going to work direct, I thought of washing myself first. But what has happened, child? Why are you both weeping?"
"Ah, Suki's mother!" said Kanak, her eyes again moistening, "how shall I speak of this poor woman's misfortunes?" A quiet but significant glance from Matangini's eye, which meant that her misfortunes were such as should not meet strangers' ears, warned Kanak against indiscreet disclosures; but Kanak, replying by a glance as full of meaning, seemed to imply that her secrets were safe.
"Talk not of her misfortunes," said Kanak to the newcomer. "The wretched woman has been turned out of her house by her husband and she knows not where to seek a shelter."
"Oh fie," exclaimed Suki's mother, "is that
- ↑ Plain hemless cloth.
