48 THE WRECK
tising at Rangpur. Tarini Charan had made inquiries there but no one had heard anything more of him, nor did he know where Nalinaksha's native place was.
Ramesh now definitely banished from his mind the idea that Kamala's husband could still be alive.
The same post brought him a number of other let- ters. Several of his acquaintances had heard of his forthcoming marriage and had written to congratulate him. Some of them demanded a dinner from him and others rallied him playfully for keeping them in the dark so long. While he was reading these letters one of Annada Babu's servants came in with a note for him and his heart beat fast when he recognised the handwriting. It was from Hemnalini, "She could not help suspecting me," thought Ramesh, "after what Akshay said and now to reassure herself she has writ- ten me this letter."
He opened the letter. It was very short. "Akshay Babu was horribly rude to you yesterday," she had written. "Why did you not come round this morn- ing? I was expecting you. Why should you worry about what Akshay Babu said? You know I never pay any attention to his foolishness. You must come round early to-day. I am not going to do any sewing." Ramesh read between these few lines the pain that Hemnalini's gentle sympathetic heart had suffered, and tears came to his eyes. Since the evening before she had longed passionately to pour balm on his wound, and this craving had remained unabated with her throughout the night and the morning until, unable to restrain it any longer, she had given it expression in this note. He saw it all clearly.
He had felt since the preceding evening that he must reveal to Hemnalini his true situation at once, but yesterday's incident liad made his task harder. Not only would he present the appearance of a criminal caught in the act and trying to exonerate himself, but
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