THE WRECK
27
worthy of serious notice. He and Hemnalini could meet on the common ground of literature but where needlework was concerned he had to retire into the background.
"Why are you so keen on sewing nowadays?*' he would exclaim a little pettishly, "It's all right for people who have nothing better to do." Whereat Hemnalini would merely smile and thread her needle.
Akshay once remarked sarcastically : "Ramesh Babu despises everything that is of any use in the world. His Worship may be a great philosopher and poet but mere depreciation won't carry him far."
This aroused Ramesh and he girt up his loins for an argument.
Hemnalini, however, interposed. "Ramesh Babu, why must you always have a retort? There's enough useless talk in the world as it is." And she bent down to count her stitches and once more plied her needle carefully through the silk.
One morning when Ramesh entered his study he found on his table a blotting-book in a silk binding with flowers embroidered on the cover. In one corner was an "R" and in another a lotus worked in gold thread. Ramesh was not long in doubt concerning the donor's identity or the instinct that had prompted the gift, and his heart beat fast. All his contempt for needlework vanished in an instant and he was prepared to stand forth as its champion against all comers. As he clasped the blotting-book to his breast, even Akshay would have found him ready to acknowledge his error.
He opened the book, put a sheet of paper in it, and wrote :
If I were a poet I should send you a copy of my verses, but as it is I cannot make any return. The power to bestow has been denied me, but there is such a thing as the power to receive. What this unexpected gift means to me is a secret between the Omniscient and myself. The gift itself
