THE WRECK
S7
Akshay. "Wouldn't it be as well to have her in and make sure?"
"It would," and Annada Babu shouted for Hemna- lini. When she came in and saw who was present she took up a position behind her father where Akshay could not see her face.
"Has Ramesh given you any reason for putting off the weddin?" asked Annada Babu. "No," and Hemnalini shook her head. Annada Babu. "Didn't you ask him?" Hemnalini. "1 did not."
Annada Babu. "What an extraordinary thing! You're just a pair ! He comes in and says, 'I haven't time to be married yet,' and you say, 'All right, we'll be married some other day,' and then you drop the subject."
Akshay now ranged himself on Hemnalini's side. "After all" he said, "when a person clearly indicates that he doesn't want to give his reasons one can hardly question him further. If it had been anything that he could divulge, Ramesh would have told you of his own accord."
Hemnalini flushed angrily. "1 don't want to hear third parties' opinions on the subject. Personally, I am quite satisfied with things as they are," and she hurried out of the room.
Akshay turned green, but he forced a smile. "That's the way of the world — try to do a friend a service and a scolding is your reward. It only illustrates what a priceless thing true friendship is. I consider it my duty as a friend to express my suspicions of Ramesh, however much you dislike me and revile me for so doing. I can't rest easy when I see any trouble threat- ening you. It's a weakness of mine, I must admit. However, Jogendra will be here to-morrow. If after he has heard the whole story he has no anxiety on his sister's account; then I won't say another word."
