l building, was not as large as the silk merchant's; nor was the compound as extensive. A similar preparation had been made by the family, but not on so large or expensive a sc

s the restoration of caste was accomplished. She would not be present at his home-coming. The girl was a stranger to him, and he had yet to make her acquaintance.

rried in her infancy to Coomara. By Coomara's death she had become a widow, although she had been only a wife in name. Her degradation was ag

een, under the ban of broken caste. It was irrevocably broken,

cles were splintered under a sharp, irritable blow that in itself indicated how deeply her fate was resented by the family. The soft brown-and-gold saree that harmonised with her complexion was ruthlessly unwound with unnecessary force as she stood weeping and unresisting in

no part. When his eye should first fall upon her, he ought by all precedent to curse her, and command her to get out of his sight. It was this thought that hurt her most, and caused a sharper grief than she had felt for the loss of her husband. She was bu

of people to do the work, and she was not called upon to take any part in the household duties. She would have been happier for a little employment; but she was denied both work and play. The other children refused to allow her to join their games; and when she approached the w

n, who loved above all things her own comfort. Until her daughter was widowed she was rarely seen without a placid smile of content. She still wore it at tim

itted in a former birth that such h

the house, and the child knew that she was not expected

le house. Such a misfortune can only come to those

irl became possessed with a vague sense of wrong-doing. Its responsibility added

belonging to Pantulu's family slipped away to carry the news to h

o they come? We ha

known when

gloomy? Is the news

tell? Aiyoh! to thi

ease of the oriental. The sensation created was gratifying

ak! we are all o

o think that the young excellency should return to his father's house without rejoicin

ys the m

t coming. If there is bad luck it will be the waning moon that will have caused it. Next week all wou

a thin slip of paper, and i

did it

n safety, and that they would leave

e rejoi

o order to

e swam

isciple arriv

ess of an honourable fami

y one trouble; it is the pr

g misfortune on the young master if he m

e till the middle of the next day. In the afternoon, when there is less fear of the fr

he story was told and retold with variations till the whole town was agog with curiosity

happened. No one knew whether Pantulu would be in the same train. It was Bopaul to whom they looked for news. Friends and fellow-ca

assembly gathered in and round the building; but the attention of Bopaul and his father was diverted to the recovery of personal baggage fro

ain them for a greeting which could be made with more dignity later. Pantulu led the way, passing straight through the station and out into the public road, where stood a row of carria

the day. His exclusion would have been insisted upon even if he had not taken the momentous step. Until the restoration of caste it was imperative that he should lead a life apart from the rest of the family. It would mean the occupation of an isolated room well away from the kitchen, the taking of his food in solitude, the reservation of earthen drinking vessels exclusively for his own use, to be destroyed afterwards. But with all this there would be nothing

writing-table, bookcase, a table at which he could sit to take his meals. He could join the family in the pial, but otherwise lead his own life as he had learned to lead it in England. No difficulty presented itself to his mind in the arrangement; in truth, there was none. Provided he did not

were to have supported ropes of Chinese lanterns had also been left standing, some of them bare of decoration, others gaudy with red and white twists of calico. Not a living creature was visible. The big iro

ly averted his gaze. The sight of the wound on his son's face hurt him more than a little. Ananda followed his father, and the coachman was paid and ordered to leave without

s father, stern

ned the door of a room that had no communication with the rest of the building. The room was empty, except for a thick layer of dust and dried leaves blown in by the wind through the open door. A tiny, ung

her, shortly, as though the necessit

e room might be swept out with advantage," said

Venetians to peer through a chink and take a look at the arrivals. She could tell by the expression on her husband's face that something had happened to disturb him greatly. Nothing less than some serious misfortune could bring those de

her breast, stood behind her mother

d?" she ventured to ask at last,

tive was all s

e?" she ask

the women to secure her place. They were disappointed. The road and the short carriage-drive up to the house were empty ex

and, without a word, went straight to the front room, into which the big iron-studded door opened. He greeted no one. The men and women who had been waiting in the courtyard and inner ro

r brother! May the gods continue t

ung his arms up and

gods have cursed m

most excellent ma

Christian!-my only

rom mouth to mouth with gathering consternation as the catastrophe was gradually realised. Gunga heard them, and at first seemed

e played me false. I have not heard aright

ld have been convincing if she could have brought herself to believe in s

r son has become a Christ

himself by the accursed na

im. "A Christian! a Christian!" was caught up by

oh! Aiyo

ation and silenced every other tongue. Suddenly the sound of a thu

f the women. "The lady Dorama ha