hy he had invited himself
to eat with them, but waited anxiously for further developments.

Meanwhile the elder wife was eating her heart with vexation and
forming resolutions to give her husband a curtain lecture. But he
slept that night in the parlour and on the morrow took both meals
with Nalini. When a woman fails to gain her object she is apt to
take refuge in tears, which are generally enough to force a mere
man to bend to her wishes. Jadu's wife watched for an opportunity of
having it out with her husband. On finding him alone, she burst into
lamentations, beating her heart and praying that God would put an
end to her wretched life. He calmly asked what was the matter and,
on receiving no reply, went to bed. Presently she asked, "What has
induced you to put me to shame?" Jadu Babu pretended ignorance,
and thus made her only the more angry.

"Oh, you Neka" (buffoon), she groaned, "didn't you swear to separate
from Nalini, and have you not taken all your meals with him ever
since? Is that the action of a truthful man?"

"Well, I should like to know how Nalini has injured me?"

"I say that he is your enemy!"

"Tut, tut, you ought to be ashamed of yourself! Where could I find a
brother so faithful and obedient as he? You wish to live apart from
him? Very well; I have made separate arrangements for you." Then in
dispassionate tones Jadu Babu pointed out the treachery of Debendra and
his parasite. The woman's eyes were opened. She fell at her husband's
feet and implored his pardon. Then she suddenly rose, went across the
courtyard to Nalini's room, and knocked at his door. He came out and,
seeing his sister-in-law there at an unusual hour, asked anxiously
whether Jadu was ill. She reassured him and took him by the hand to
his brother, in whose presence she asked him to forgive and forget
the offence. Nalini was nothing loth; and harmony was soon restored
in the family.

Meanwhile old Hiramani had not failed to report progress to her patron
daily. He was delighted to think that the rift in the Basu lute was
widening, and promised her a handsome reward when the estrangement
should take place.

On learning the failure of the plot, he paid Hiramani a surprise
visit, abused her roundly, and, when she retorted in the like strain,
he administered a wholesome correction with his shoe. On his departure
she ran to Jadu Babu's house intending to have it out with his wife
for her breach of faith. The doorkeeper, however,