go home in the evening, it being impossible to find a servant who would stay for the night.
"I can't sleep any longer with Kamala," thought Ramesh, "but how's the child going to spend the nights alone in a strange place?"
The servant went away after supper. Ramesh showed Kamala where she was to sleep, and said, "You go to bed now, I'll come later when I've finished reading."
He opened a book and pretended to read. Kamala was tired and soon fell asleep.
This served for the first night. On the following night, too, Ramesh contrived to send Kamala to bed alone. The day had been very hot. Ramesh spread a coverlet on the balcony outside the bedroom and settled down there for the night He lay for a long time meditating and fanning himself, but at last towards midnight he fell asleep.
At two or three in the morning he half-awoke and realised that he was not alone; some one was fanning him gently. Still not fully awake he drew the girl towards him and murmured drowsily, "Go to sleep, Susila, you musn't fan me." Fear of the dark made Kamala nestle into the fold of Ramesh's arm, where she went peacefully to sleep.
Ramesh awoke early and started up in consternation. Kamala was still asleep and her right arm was round his neck. With alluring confidence she had exercised her authority over him and was using his breast as a pillow. His eyes filled with tears as he gazed at the sleeping girl. How could he rudely tear asunder the soft noose of the trusting child's arms? He remembered now that she had stolen to his side in the middle of the night to fan him.
With a deep sigh he gently released himself from her clinging arms and arose.
After much anxious thought he decided as a tem-
